01/10/2026
“I guess your mother told you this would be painful”: The nurse said as she checked and confirmed that I was really at 4cm but lying calmly on my bed with a smile on my face. If you’re lost, I’m talking about labour. All the other women had been examined and rushed to the labour ward but I had been left behind because they assumed I must be at the very early stages.
My favourite part, the Doctor on duty that day was a Francophone. You know me and French, we had a good chat. Then, I was moved to the labour ward. That’s when the “real show” began. My new Francophone Doctor friend, passed by and saw me screaming like crazy. He quietly walked away, only to tell me after delivery that He was coming to “blow me fans”, but realised the gear had changed 🤣. In that very moment, my mum and husband were outside, going through their own stress because they could hear me screaming. They wished they could help but that was a “battle that had to be fought alone”. Someone can be by your side at the labour ward, but the pushing and everything there depends on you.
The days after delivery were an entirely different kind of torture. My mum had told me to give the child baby formula since the breastmilk wasn’t forthcoming. I refused because the nurse had “preached” to me about exclusive breastfeeding, she’s the professional right? And my mum’s “nightmare”, her daughter is “book long” : I won’t just say yes to anything you say because I love or respect you. I need facts and solid reasons. That’s how my baby ended up with drips on the legs and the incubator sessions. Yet, everyone supported: My mum, Dad, brother, husband, our amazing nurse friend and everyone around me.
Let me try to make it short. Lessons learnt from this experience:
✅ It behoves on the older generation to teach the younger generation. Let them know the truth about life: both good and bad, the sweetness and the pain. That’s how to prepare them for the hard days.
✅ You can be very well prepared in life and still come to a point where you are stretched beyond your ability. Don’t beat yourself for it. Push through it.
✅ No matter how much people love you, some of the battles, you will have to fight it alone. All you can get from them is their words, support and prayers.
✅ Experience is mostly stronger than book experience. Learn from those who have gone before you. Always find the balance between experience and book knowledge.
✅ Don’t impose your opinions on people. Sometimes, people need to experience things for themselves. We are all shaped by our different experiences.
✅ Having family and friends support you, not only in good times but even in bad times makes life a lot easier. And I really hope we would all seek to be that kind of support system our loved ones can fall upon, not just one-sided beings seeking to be supported while refusing to support others.
Did you learn any lesson here too? I’d like to know in the comments.
Wishing you the very best of this new month. Happy new month everyone.
