The Smooth Delivery of BABY ANGEL

From the stories she had heard, Catherine Wanjiru expected to push and push harder during the delivery of her baby. What happened on the D-Day, however, surprised her pleasantly! She narrates her story to Roseline Atieno.

My husband, works with a tour and travel firm. While he was away I told my sister that I felt as though the baby would come the next day, on 21st October. It was the same day my husband was due to return from travel. I prayed that he would be present because I was not confident that my sister and I could handle the onset of labour on our own. I did not think we were prepared. My EDD was 12th November 2007.

A few weeks earlier I had noticed some vaginal discharge which was different from the discharge I had before. I used to walk a lot but I started experiencing abdominal pains which curtailed my movement.

I suspected it had to do with my approaching EDD, but when I consulted my sister, who has a two-year-old baby boy, she doubted that my baby was anywhere but due. Nevertheless, I was upbeat and surprisingly excited by the pains because I believed the baby’s time had reached.

I called my husband and explained that I had a hunch about delivery on the next day. He laughed it of, telling me that when the time came I would not be able to utter a single word since I would be in so much pain!

When he came back on 21st October at around 10.00 p.m., I was not in any pain. However, before I went to bed I noticed some discharge and thought that my water had broken. I discussed this with my husband who advised me to enquire from my sister how someone felt when the baby is due. When I informed my sister about it she told me that since the discharge was in small amounts it could not be my water. We just laughed about the whole issue and went back to bed.

Unfortunately sleep would not come. My husband on the other hand looked tired, having been on a one week tour. My constant worries and suspicions were disturbing his sweet sleep.

At one point I asked him whether we should go to hospital, but he was looking fatigued, almost irritated. Finally he agreed at around midnight and we left for hospital.

Since I was not in much pain, he predicted that I would be checked up and released. It did not occur to him that I could get admitted, but that is exactly what happened.

After being examined it was found that I had dilated between three and four centimetres. I settled on a labour ward bed and let him go back.

After a few hours, at one thirty, I started experiencing labour pains. The nurses informed me that the pain would recur after every five minutes. I therefore looked at the ticking wall clock and noticed that the pains were recurring after nearly every minute. I became afraid!

After a while I was put on a drip. When my doctor came, I thought this was it, but he told me it could be another seven hours before I delivered!

Close to me was a girl who was also in early labour. Hers was not yet intense and she was kind enough to massage my back. The nurse advised me how to breathe.

At around a quarter past four the pain became unbearable. The nurse came over and I explained to her that the pain was not normal. She however advised me not to push as yet, but at that time I could not listen to anyone. I got so agitated that even the drip came off.

Based on what I had heard from other women, this would be my worst part of labour: the pushing. I readied myself and pushed in one strong effort. The baby was out! At exactly 4.20 a.m.. my baby girl was born I was pleasantly surprised that I did not have to labour in pushing; she just popped out! She weighed 2.5 kilograms and we were additionally excited because we had both wanted a baby girl.

This is my first pregnancy and the first time I saw my baby she looked like an angel. Incidentally, I had planned to name her Angel. My mother-in-law also gave us her choice of the baby names. We therefore called her Rose Angel Nanaeu.

My baby loves sleeping a lot and breastfeeding. I believe that will make her grow faster. My husband and my in-laws are very supportive and my sister also advises me concerning baby care.

END:PG12/50-51