A Close Call

When I was in labor with our first born, something happened to me in the hospital that almost caused me my life and our child's. I was already almost 9 hours into labor when my temperature and blood pressure started to elevate. They immediately administered antibiotics via IV infusion to help me and the baby fight against possible infection and to keep the baby from getting stressed while inside the womb. I remember that time, I wasn't even concerned about the pain anymore. I was too worried about the baby that I completely forgot about myself and what possible danger I was faced with. When I was told that I had pre-eclampsia, I got scared. I know what it is and the harm it can do to the baby. Pre-eclampsia is a symptom that has many causes for the condition. More than likely, there are substances from the placenta that can cause some endothelial dysfunction in the maternal blood vessels. I felt so helpless at the time. I even came to the point where I asked myself what I've done wrong that led me into that situation. All I could remember was me praying that if anything was bound to happen, save my child instead of me.

As the labor progressed and I was ready to push him out, things got even a little worse. I couldn't push him out of me and the doctor already told me that if I didn't get him out immediately, they'll have to do emergency C-section because the baby started going in distress and that was the thing they were doing their best to prevent from happening. Although, I was so weak and could barely feel the lower half of my body, I started pushing with all of my might. And I can only thank God so much that after a 13-hour long labor, he finally came out - a healthy 7-pound 4 ounces, 21 inches long baby boy, and we named him, Skyler!

That experience changed my life completely. Things got out of the way and I had to fight for my life and for our son's, definitely not the kind of first delivery I hoped to have. But amidst all that, I wouldn't have it any other way. It transformed me into a better person, and above all, the joy of knowing that I brought a new life into this world is far beyond compare. That day wasn't only the birthday of our son. It was on that same day that a brand new person was born as well - it was me, as a first time Mother.