Social media influencer Janica Nam Floresca opened up about her challenging yet heartwarming journey to motherhood as she welcomed her baby boy with husband Lorenz Sia through a cesarean delivery.
In a post on Instagram, Janica shared that she was induced at 37 weeks due to her Type 1 diabetes and detailed how her labor experience began with high hopes for a normal delivery but eventually led to a C-section after hours of pain and little progress.
“It wasn’t the birth story I expected, but it’s the one that taught me how strong a mother’s love can be.”
“On October 27, we decided to go for an induction. I was admitted to the High Risk Pregnancy Unit (HRPU) with Lorenz by my side from start to finish. At around 7PM, they started the first induction. After just 30 minutes, I already felt the contractions and since l've never experienced dysmenorrhea before, the pain was something completely new to me,” Janica said.
According to Janica, doctors advised her that if induction didn’t progress after several rounds, she would need to undergo a cesarean section. Despite her determination to deliver naturally, Janica decided to proceed with surgery after 36 hours of painful labor and minimal dilation.
“I kept hoping I'd progress. I really wanted to try, but the pain was unbearable. I was crying nonstop, couldn't sleep, and honestly begged to be sedated. Can you imagine? all that pain, and I still wasn't even in ACTIVE labor yet pero for me 36 hours ako nag labor kasama na yung induction,” she added.
“After the 3rd induction and oxytocin, I was only 1-4 cm dilated. My body was exhausted. They gave me an epidural at 4cm to help manage the pain, but by 6cm, I stopped progressing so we decided to go for C-section since my bag of water ruptured already at 2cm.”
Despite the difficult experience, Janica expressed gratitude that her baby boy was born healthy, only experiencing low blood sugar with no major complications.
“After everything, all the pain, fear, and exhaustion my baby boy finally arrived. He came out healthy, just with low blood sugar, but no other complications. Hearing his first cry made every single thing worth it,” she expressed.
She also shared that her baby had been positioned low in her pelvic area, which caused intense pain and hindered normal delivery.
“Later on, my doctor explained that baby was already pushing down and sumisiksik sya sa pelvic area akala niya siguro dun yung way out. That's why even though my cervix was soft and opening, he couldn't move down properly for a normal delivery. That also explained why the pain was unreal and my bladder was super full. When they inserted the catheter, they drained 700ml of urine! No wonder it hurt so much,” she further said.
Janica then took time to thank her doctor and medical team for their care and support throughout the process, as well as her husband Lorenz for his strength and presence.
“Thank you for taking such good care of me and baby. You stayed with us through everything, made sure we were safe, and never left our side. I’ll forever be grateful. 🤍,” she said.
She also thanked her husband, Lorenz, for being her strength: “I know how hard it was for you to see me in that kind of pain, but you never left. For every sleepless night, every whisper of reassurance, every ‘I got you’ thank you. We did it and iloveyousomuch 🥹🤍.”
The new mom also expressed admiration for all mothers who go through childbirth in any form, saying: “To every mom who went through labor, in whatever way natural, induced, or CS ,you are strong. You are brave. You are enough. There’s no easy path to bringing life into the world, but love makes every pain worth it. 🤍🙏🏻”
Janica shared that she is recovering and under observation for postpartum preeclampsia, taking things one day at a time.
READ: Janica Nam Floresca announces pregnancy, opens up about living with Type 1 Diabetes
Janica and Lorenz tied the knot on May 31 in an intimate wedding attended by close family members. The couple later revealed their pregnancy journey, with Janica opening up about managing her condition while expecting, expressing gratitude and determination throughout.