By 5:30 AM of August 5, andrea’s cervix has fully dilated, or at least that’s what I thought I heard. That’s why they’ve started asking andrea to push since 5:30. I, on the other hand, was called into the DR by 7AM. Perhaps because that was supposed to be the peak time of the labor (when they expected the most pushing to happen and when anika was expected to come out).

Unfortunately, when I came, she wasn’t crowning yet. The doctor explained that anika was not going down as expected. Something keeps on pulling her back up after each push. They tried several methods until finally the doctor decided that it was going to be less risky if they did a C-section instead of going through with the normal delivery. They gave us a deadline. By 8:30, if the situation doesn’t progress, we’ll have the operation. We agreed.

When 8:30 came, andrea and I sadly said yes to the doctor, but we know it’s for the better. After cutting in, they immediately discovered that anika’s umbilical cord made several coils on her body (1 around the neck and 2 around the shoulders much like how the straps of a backpack go around the armpit). All the doctors in the room hurriedly work on getting her out of the coils and checking her vitals. She seemed okay.

I was relieved. I remember asking myself about what to give people after having a daughter delivered – oliva cigars, daisies, dolls? I had no idea. All I know was that I was just so happy to see my baby. I wanted to cry but I didn’t want to make andrea worry. The doctors were still working on her but the atmosphere seemed a bit more relaxed after anika came out.

Except for the fact that andrea was still lying on the table and getting stitched up, everything was so beautiful. My wife and my baby were safe and so the world seems perfect again.