We are Family

It was during one hot summer weekend when our baby decided to enter this world. I didn't really expect her to arrive a week earlier as I have read that most first time mothers deliver later than their due date. So on my 39th week, hubby and I decided to plan our own appointments with our own set of friends as some sort of a "last party" before the big day. While hubby planned a night out with his mates, I opted to invite a couple of girlfriends for a late lunch at our place and was really looking forward to a relaxing quiet evening on my own.

However, I guess our daughter had different ideas. Yes, I did enjoy the lunch gathering while hubby managed to have a couple of drinks with his buddies. By the time my girlfriends left early evening, I noticed that I had some bloody discharge, which I read could be really harmless. Upon calling the hospital, the nurse instructed me to go to the maternity ward just for a routine check-up. Hubby had to drive hurriedly 50 kilometers from the bar to our place while I waited calmly for him to arrive. I seriously thought that we would still be getting home that night after the check up. I even told hubby that we would just cook the steak we bought the day before since he did not have the chance to join his friends for dinner.

Luckily my gynecologist was on duty that weekend. To my disappointment, she suggested that I should stay overnight in the hospital for observation. By 11 pm my waterbag broke so I knew then that there was no way I would be going home the next day without the baby. After 24 hours of active labour and several frustrating pushes, our baby daughter was finally born close to midnight.

Until now I am still very much overwhelmed by the whole birthing experience. I just remember being so tired and telling my doctor that I just wanted to sleep when she instructed me to push more. I remember my daughter crying. I still vividly remember seeing my daughter the first time and thought what full lips and long fingers she has. I remember when they brought us to a room and my husband immediately called my mom and my mother-in-law to share the good news. I remember hubby being emotional, thanking me and praising me for being so brave. I remember just being tired, thirsty and wanting to sleep. Strange, I don't remember the pain of giving birth anymore.

Now I am just completely out of words when someone ask me about my birthing experience.However, if anything could put into words how I feel about the whole experience, one of the authors of the book I read while I was pregnant has best described it:

"Labour is something that makes me feel proud to be a woman and a privilege to have experienced childbirth, something which men will never have the benefit of experiencing. It is such a precious thing, which no one will ever be able to take away from you". (The Fat Ladies Club)

After my husband and I celebrated briefly the birth of our daughter, I was led to my room where I would stay for another night. I requested the nurse to bring my daughter to the nursery instead of letting her stay with me that night. I seriously felt guilty but I must say that it was the best decision ever. I was soooo tired. I slept so deeply. I slept like a log...and that seems to sound to me now as pure luxury.