My due date with Yani was actually on October 9, 2021. But weeks before, I remember telling EJ, my husband, how heavy and sluggish I’ve become. I had a history of having Gestational Trophoblastic Disease during my first pregnancy, so I had a Caesarean section with Zeeka. So with this, just for the doctor to make sure that everything is fine and dandy inside, I also had a C-section with Yani.

So going back, I initially wanted Sept. 29, 2021 to be the date of the delivery. Since we had weekly checkups with doctor and weekly ultrasounds, the last Ultrasound stated that my placenta was grade 2-3. Doctor Sarmiento explained that she wanted it to be at grade III, meaning the baby could breathe on its own already. So personally, I chose the delivery date to be moved a little bit further, to October 1, just to be sure.

So once we chose the date, Dra. Sarmiento gave us instructions to get a RT-PCR test (validity of the results is only for 7 days) and the instructions to show the admissions of Asian Hospital once we get to the hospital. She advised me to come a day before the operation, Sept. 30, 2021. Check out of hospital patients are at around 5:00 pm so she advised me to be in admissions at 3:00 pm. There are instances when there are no rooms for the patients, so if this happens, she advised us to go home and be in the hospital 3 hours before the operation (again, just in case there were no rooms). The husband can just wait outside the delivery room.

Getting Ready for the Hospital

For some reason, we had 3 huge luggages prepared for a 4 day stay at Asian Hospital. As compared to the one luggage, one duffel bag and a few backpacks that we brought during Zeeka’s delivery, we had to bring a lot of bags with other extra stuff because of safety and security. First of all, one difference is that we had to bring food for EJ. We didn’t want him going in and out of the room. We had brought a lot of cup noodles, Jamaican patties (which surprisingly lasts a while), our own bottles of water, coffee, etc. We brought a lot of food!

Next, we had to bring lots of alcohol, disposable and reliable face masks, and other disinfectants.

We brought all of these stuff, apart from the usual baby stuff, mommy stuff and daddy stuff that we brought.

For those undergoing a Caesarean section, don’t forget to bring your binder and maternity pads, too.

Checking In

We left our home at 2:00 pm. We were at Asian Hospital at around 3:00 pm. It’s usually a one hour drive from BGC to Alabang (less than an hour if you use Skyway). We parked in the basement and there were elevators that took us directly to the Upper Ground floor where Admissions is. When we got to admissions, we gave them a copy of doctor’s orders and our RT-PCR tests. There were just around 5 people there. Normally, those who are suspected to have COVID go directly to the Emergency Room. Most of the patients in admissions were there for other operations and procedures.

I was secretly praying that they would have an available room. I really didn’t want to come back the next day. It was fortunate that after waiting for around 30 minutes, we got to book a standard private room at the Asian Hospital. We just had to wait for the patient to check out, which was totally fine. By around 5:00 pm, we were in our room and we fixed our things and settled in.

My CS operation was at 8:00 am the next day, so the nurses would pick me up at 7:00 am. I only had until 12:00 midnight to eat and drink water. In the room, the nurses would do a routine check of my blood pressure, oxygen levels, etc. I also had a urinalysis test. The representatives also of the anesthesiologist and the pediatrician came to visit and check up on me.

I got to sleep for a few hours. I wasn’t nervous, but as mentioned, I felt heavier every minute. The baby, I felt, wanted to come out already. It felt more comfortable for me to sit on the chair than to lie down on the bed. So all throughout the night, EJ and I were looking for the most comfortable position for me. I told him that we switch places and for him to sleep on the bed instead, but he didn’t want to. So I moved back to the bed so that he could also get a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, both of us were excited and anxious that we both didn’t get to sleep. Lol!

Day of the Delivery

The nurses & doctors started coming in at 6:00 am (did an allergy test for the medicine that they will give me… don’t know which medicine though) and finally at 7:00 am, they wheeled me out of the room. By the way, as much as possible, even while in our room, we hardly removed our masks. We only removed then when we ate. So while I was wheeled to the triage room (where they prepare you for delivery), I had my mask on.

In the triage, they gave me antibiotics via the IV line. Oh man, I forgot how much that hurt. It hurt in the arm, but after a while, it was fine. My nurse gave it in two parts so as to make the pain bearable.

Then if you are undergoing CS and you haven’t shaved, the nurses will shave it for you. This is so that the cut won’t get infected and to keep the area clean and free from any obstruction.

Dra. Sarmiento, my doctor, talked to me right before the operation. I love my doctor. She makes everything feel so easy, and she has a way of calming me down. I love knowing what will happen; keeping me out of the loop makes me panic. She did a good job explaining what will happen, because I totally forgot what happened 8 years ago when Zeeka was born.

At 8:00 am (probably… I didn’t have a watch), I was wheeled into the operating room. My anesthesiologist then told me that he had to inject the anesthesia at my back. I had to roll up like a baby, which was hard to do since my belly was huge. Lol! I had to sit up and roll forward for him to finally inject it.

Little by little, I started to feel numb from my upper belly to my toes. I could breathe and I could hear them talking. I could also feel a little bit of pressure on my lower half of my body, but nothing hurt.

I could hear them saying that they needed to apply pressure to push the baby out. I said … “go ahead”. I remember responding to their questions.

Then at 8:41 am, I heard them say, what a huge baby. Lol! The doctors asked me if I had a name for her, and I said, “yes, her name’s Yani”. I saw EJ say “hi!” and “are you okay?” from a distance and I heard them talking to him. I heard Yani’s cry as they were cleaning her up.

After a while, they brought her to me. It was love at first sight! Just like how it was with Zeeka, I got teary eyed as Yani latched on to me. We also had our first picture with Yani.

The nurses then had to take her after latching, because the doctors had to close me up and stitch me up.

For some reason, I then couldn’t breathe as my nose filled up with mucus. The anesthesiologist said that the medicine really had that effect. He put drops on my nose and after I got stitched up, I could then blow my nose. I think that was what made me feel uncomfortable during the whole procedure… just that.

Meet Rafaela Ariadne P. Arboleda (Yani)

Yani was born 8 pounds and 1 ounce at 8:41 am. Even if I’m a second time mom, everything about this pregnancy was special and there were (and will be) a lot of firsts!

Yani, we can’t wait to see you grow up and be there to witness each milestone. We love you so much! When you read this in the future, we’ll gladly share with you more stories of how we prepared for you during these crazy times! Hugs and kisses from mom, dad and manang Zeeka. 🙂