THE ARRIVAL
It was a chilly September midnight when I first set foot in Winnipeg, Manitoba. With a heavy handbag on one shoulder, a huge long carry bag on another, and my 6 ½ month pregnant belly in front of me, I waddled my way to the airport washroom before I even tried to claim the rest of my baggage. That’s where I saw this lady, a Filipina, and I asked her if she was there to pick up a relative. It turned out that she was Mama’s neighbour and they, along with a bunch of friends, were there to pick me up.
When we got out of the washroom, I saw Mama and her friends. They were very excited to see me. They embraced me and my huge belly as if I belonged to their family. It was an overwhelming feeling. There were these strangers who had seen me for the first time and they welcomed me warmly, regardless of my condition. Quite a contrast on how my neighbours back home, who had known me for a while and yet treated me coldly when they learned that I was pregnant. And to think that the father of my unborn child was a member of their family. That night, we all went to Mama’s apartment where she prepared a small feast for my arrival.
Mama took a day off the following day and we got busy applying for my Manitoba Health Card and Social Insurance Number. She also got me a doctor’s appointment. But the days following that, I spent mostly alone at home. The days got colder and snow started to fall. I was just cooped up in the apartment. There were times when I felt so lonely and started to think if I made the right decision leaving my boyfriend behind in the Philippines. Then one day Ate Alice, Mama’s friend, came to pick me up. She said that we were going to her friend’s house and meeting up Mama there. Her friends threw a surprise baby shower for me. Mama’s friends were really sweet and very supportive.
I wanted to help Mama out. I felt embarrassed giving her this burden. But I couldn’t work even if I wanted to. For who would hire a 6 ½ month pregnant girl? I asked Mama to teach me how to crochet these tissue box holders, which she sold to her friends at $10.00 each. I was happy to help her out with even that little income.
As my due date drew closer, I just tried to enjoy the last days of my pregnancy. My belly grew bigger each day and my baby got busier inside. I could literally see the movements and I could tell that it was the baby’s heel that was poking me from the inside.
On November 19, I started to feel uncomfortable. I couldn’t sit long. I couldn’t stand long either. By this time, my stomach was already so low. But I wasn’t due until a couple of weeks more.
At around midnight of November 20, I was tossing and turning in bed. I was feeling what I later on learned was labour contractions. At one time, I got out of bed to go to the bathroom. There was a little bit blood when I looked in the toilet. I knew it was time. I took a quick shower before I woke up Mama to bring me to the hospital.
“Take a deep breath whenever you feel a contraction coming,” the nurse told me. “Didn’t you take pre-natal classes?” I just shook my head as she went about how I was probably relying on my mother to teach me what she learned from experience. I didn’t even know anything about any pre-natal classes. I think my doctor here in Winnipeg mentioned that but it was already too late for me to sign up. The clock ticked away that day and my contractions became closer. I was later on given an epidural. I was not given any food, nor water, just ice chips to relieve the dryness of my mouth.
After 21 hours of labour, I was only 5 cm dilated. The doctor decided to perform an emergency C-section. I was nervous but my mother was there beside me at the operating table.
At 9:00 p.m., I heard REGINALD’s first cry. The nurse wiped him clean and brought him to me. He was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. He looked like his father. I knew right away that those eyes would turn out to be like his father’s deep-set eyes. I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I was overcome with emotions. I couldn’t believe that his father and I created this beautiful baby and that this baby developed and grew inside my womb.
Later on, the nurse taught me how to wash my baby and take care of him. He had this tiny body, with ten perfect little fingers and ten perfect little toes. And how I treasured caressing that familiar little heel that kept poking me when he was still inside my womb. I continued to marvel at this being. This baby whom I didn’t expect to have nine months before. An unplanned pregnancy which some may consider as a mistake, an accident. But no. Isn’t an accident something that happened that you wished didn’t? Reggie was not an accident. He was a surprise. Something that I didn’t expect but I was glad that he happened to me.
Born at 21 inches long, this little baby now towers me at 5’ 5”. He has grown to be a kind, compassionate, responsible, and talented young man.
My boyfriend, Ronald, and I got married about a year and a half after Reggie was born. He later on joined me here in Winnipeg. Reggie now has two brothers who love and adore him.
