My first daddy moment

While on my 4th hour of overtime work earlier this morning I received a text from the mother's roommate asking for a call. I called and I was told that 2 OB-Gynes advised for the mother to be confined because she may go into labor.

This caused a major internal panic and a lot of things came rushing in my head. The major thoughts going through my mind was the fact that I haven't told my parents and the impending premature cost of the whole ordeal. My baby was also 2 months shy of the complete 9 months and coming out early may not be the best for him. However, I have literally no clue about medical conditions of newborns and it's futile to think about something I really don't have control over. I was concerned but worrying about it won't help at all. Lastly, I don't have a name for him yet. He may end up as Baby Boy Del Rosario.

There was a ton of things to do at work which I haven't even started yet but with everything going on at that time, I left everything and I was immediately out the door.

I didn't want to be alone at the time so I tried to call a few friends. Dairy and Ivy were available and they agreed to accompany me to the hospital. I also called my older sister while I was waiting for them for moral support. My sister stayed with me while I decided to go ahead and tell my mom. This is how the phone conversation went as far as how I remember it, (translated to English).

Ross: Hi Ma, are you busy?
Mama: Not so much, why?
Ross: I have something to tell you...
Mama: What is it?
Ross: Ummm...
Mama: What?
Ross: It's kinda hard to say...
Mama: Just say it.
Ross: You're going to have a grandchild.
Mama: (laughter)

She asked me some of the normal questions anyone asks me when I break the news to them but she didn't sound angry, disappointed, or sane. I was actually surprised of her reaction. It was the last thing I expected. I was thinking maybe it hasn't sinked in. But in retrospect, I may have just been putting too much thought into it. When I first knew I was going to be a father, I think I just thought to myself, "Ah, I'm going to be a father. Ok."

My mom's primary concern was if my son was going to stay with us, we should make it legal so the mother can't take him away from us if she changes her mind. But aside from that, I really think she was excited to be a grandmother. That's one concern down.

Next, I was concerned about the cost of the whole thing. I was expecting to get my quarterly bonus by Nov15 and the 13th month pay by Nov30. Premature delivery would actually change all that. It was however solved by my mother because she already knows I don't have the money yet and she said it won't be a problem. Problem solved.

She did remind me that we don't have any baby stuff. The only thing I had was a set of baby clothes from my co-worker Wendy. When Ivy arrived, we went directly to Landmark to buy some baby stuff. We bought a lot of stuff. I would not have known what to buy if not for input from friends and the salesladies. We bought newborn diapers, feeding bottles, nipples, baby oil, baby powder, alcohol, a rubber mat, cloth diapers, a blanket, receiving blankets, bonnets, mittens, booties, a piece of cloth to put over the belly button, bibs, burping cloth-like thing, clothes without sleeves, clothes with short sleeves, clothes with long sleeves and cute little pants with no holes for the feet. And that's just what I remember.

So we finally arrived at Makati Medical Center. The mother was there as were her 2 housemates and I was with Ivy and Dairy. It was a looooong day of waaaaiiiittttiiiing for all of us. We waited for her turn to be seen by the doctor. She was advised that she can get an injection of some sort so the baby would stay in the womb. Then we waited to see if it would take effect. Symptoms were good and it didn't look like we were going to have the baby then. Then we waited for the doctor again. We were given the go ahead to go home. Then we waited for the elevator. Then we waited to get her prescription filled out. Then we waited for a taxi. And we're home.

All the while we were waiting, my mom told my dad, and our extended relatives. Surprisingly for me, they were all excited. They were probably as excited as I am. This baby is very lucky to be part of a very understanding and loving family.

It was a false alarm but it jumpstarted everything for me. It forced me to tell my parents everything. It made me buy baby stuff. And it showed me that I really wasn't going to be a single dad. My whole family and all my friends will be there. Actually, they won't only be there for me. They will be there for my son. And that's what's more important.