Ziggy’s Amazing Birth Story

For all of those who have been following this blog for the past few months, you know just how excited I was about the coming of my first son, Ziggy. You would also know that for the past two weeks, since my OB told me that I was already 1cm dilated, that I’ve tried to do everything in order to speed up the process but that nothing worked. Just when I was about ready to give up trying and have accepted that this baby just isn’t ready yet, IT happened. Let me just warn you at this point, that this is quite a long story but an amazing one, I promise. So, please bear with me.

Last Sunday night (Feb. 27), around 10:30 p.m., my hubby and I were on the couch watching TV. He was supposed to go back to work that night after a one week leave. Since the baby hadn’t come yet, we thought it best for him to go back to work that night so that the leaves will not be wasted. But he just didn’t feel like working and decided at the last minute to stay home. I was on the couch, when he got up and went to the bedroom for a while. I suddenly felt a little gush of water come out of me. With my two previous pregnancies, I never experienced my water breaking on its own so I wasn’t sure this time around if it was indeed my water breaking already. When Kai came back to the couch I told him I felt the gush and I stood up to go to the bathroom. On my way, another heavier gush came out so I decided to text my OB about it then went to the bathroom. That’s when the water really came gushing out. So of course, at that point my OB told me to go to the hospital already.

At the hospital, I was taken into the Labor Room a little after 11 pm. I was still about 4 – 5 cm dilated but felt no labor pains at all. My OB arrived and so did my anesthesiologist, Glenn, who happens to be hubby’s older brother. He prepared me for the epidural but did not administer the medicine first since I still wasn’t feeling any pain. They were monitoring the baby’s heartbeat. I was told that the heart rate just wasn’t what they deem to be regular. I was only told the day after Ziggy’s birth that at some point, his heart rate fell to only 90 bps from his regular 140 to 145 bps. They were already speculating that there was a chance his cord was wrapped around his neck but since I wasn’t fully dilated yet there was still time to check if things will improve. They didn’t give me much detail, maybe so that I wouldn’t worry. But I’ve done my research and knew that if things don’t improve, I will have to be given a Ceasarian Section and I definitely did NOT want that. I started praying so hard. I think I’ve never prayed so hard in my life.

Anyway, I was monitored for 3 long hours, and I still wasn’t feeling any pain. They finally administered oxytocin around 3am so that the contractions will become regular and it worked. I asked to be given epidural about 30mins after when the pain became unbearable. Let me just say that Kuya (big brother) Glenn was the best. He was there waiting with me the entire time and was very supportive. Best brother-in-law ever. Actually, all the staff in the hospital were also great to me. I was the only one in the Labor Room that time so they were actually also bored waiting. Good thing there was a TV.

By 4am, my contractions were already at 2 minutes apart but I was still only 5cm dilated. Apparently, Ziggy hadn’t dropped down enough and my cervix was still thick. So, they decided to let me have Buscopan to help the cervix. They were expecting I will need at least 3 doses. But just after one dose and within one hour I was already fully dilated. Everybody in the room suddenly woke up from a sleepy state and rushed me to the delivery room and after five or six pushes, Ziggy was finally out!!! And they were right, his umbilical cord was tied TWICE around his neck! They quickly unwound it and Ziggy immediately began crying. I tell you, it was the SWEETEST sound ever! I have never felt so happy and so relieved! God answered my prayers and nothing else mattered after that point. Everybody in that delivery room were so shocked that Ziggy survived a double cord coil. I was told that incidents like those would normally require a C-section already. But apparently, my Ziggy is just one tough baby! I am so proud!

Ziggy was born at 5:15 a.m. on a Monday, February 28, 2011. He weighed 6 lbs and 49 ounces and measured 49 centimeters long. He is a blessing! Kai and I couldn’t be happier. And now that we’re back home, our life just seems more complete. Zoe and Ziya are just so excited big sisters and are being so helpful, assisting us with whatever Ziggy needs.

Life is just BEAUTIFUL!