A dream, A miracle - My Birth Story

kutti "r" hits the 2 month birthday today and here's my birth story written a week after kutti "r" came out to greet the world. Goes on this blog for my record.

Labour was definitely a suprise...aunts, grandmas, relatives and friends - had given me their perspective....I thought it would be an ordeal..but well...it wasnt too painful...didnt expect it. I call it a divine blessing :)

And here's the story...

At 33 weeks, my baby was in breech....the sonologist said that I could end up having a C- Section and this was definitely not something that I wanted to undergo...From all the birth stories read on baby center and from experiences shared by friends...I wanted to experience a vaginal delivery....

...I kept doing my yoga and other traditional methods my granny and mom suggested or those that they put into practice while they were pregnant.

On my Oct 22 visit - u/s  declared that he was in the cephalic position  but still needs to move down. But that was good news to me... I was hoping I could do all that I can to keep him in place....I was so conscious every night and prayed hard that he shouldnt turn breech again...lol...

Baby was due between Oct 28 - Nov 6 (as per LMP and revised EDD based on u/s)

Oct 29 we had another visit and the doc did an internal examination. She said u r 25% ready and you might go into labour anytime today and if not most definitely tomorrow (Oct 30). She said its better I get admitted on 29th...it was already noon.

Mom left V and me in the hospital room to get my bags.

29th evening it started with mild lower back ache...the nurses said that its normal and these are not contractions but thats the way body sends signals...All they asked me to do was take plenty of rest and sleep well so that I will have all the energy for next day morning when I go into labour as predicted by the doctor.

My parents/V/Inlaws and other relatives came over to see me...fun evening...I was filled with excitement...Didnt know what to expect and what not to... :)....Slept well that night...Next day morning....7.40 am they put me on fluids....Nurses were checking with me if I felt any pain...I didnt realise as I was lying on my side wondering how its all going to start and what might happen in the next few hours...

Around 8.40am when they checked again (I am sure about the time cos the clock was positioned just across me :)...couldnt help but look at it constantly) I said I dont feel any pain but its mild cramping like the one you get when you have periods...no discomfort....they said thats how it starts.....Around 9 - 9.15am the Asst doctor came and did an internal examination...didnt tell me anything....was bleeding mildly...they said its fine...Meanwhile NST was being done....they said my contractions are regular and frequent but mild...

After the internal examination, 2nd level intensity of cramping came in....this is where the breathing exercises/pranayama helped me greatly... So didnt feel any discomfort...becos I was enjoying how the breathing worked in relation with the contractions...it was truly amazing as to how some simple exercises can make a difference....

10am the chief doc came...or I should say the one whom I was seeing came in...Did another internal examination and said...that another 4 more cms before I get into active labour...

All my reading about labour told me its going to be 1 hour / cm ...so another  4 - 6 hours before I would deliver my baby...The doc said I need to relax to let the baby get down into the pelvic canal...I had no clue what she meant by this...but after her examination I got into level 3 intensity pain....breathing exercises - nope...didnt work...yes this one was defntly uncomfortable...I was cringing....and I was telling myself I shouldnt cry out aloud or scream cos I need all the energy for the next 5 -6 hours...small moans....and I would say around 8 - 10 contractions and I felt something hit my pelvic area...something forcibly pushing down...2 times.. This was around 10.45am....

Called out to the nurse...she asked me to spread and asked me to push a little harder...and yes she wanted to confirm that its the head...as soon as she saw the head she said...its the head.....once the contraction goes away she asked me to get up and walk into the L and D room... And I did...The doctor was called in...Although I had the urge to push they asked me to hold on until the doc came in....

Doc got in...V was called in...and then the doctor asked me to push...one push and one hard push...I was hoping that I will have to push a couple of more times....I think I went blank....V said "R is here"....and I heard the little one cry...and I couldnt believe he had come out so soon...V had to tell me "what happened after I got into the labour position" while the doctor was stitching the tear...Didnt even realise when she had done the episotomy...

Pushing is not about pain....its just magical...thats what I would say....

Whatever I had read and whatever I had heard had given me an idea that this would take easily anywhere from 6 - 10 hours...but I guess its Divine Intervention that it was not more than 3 hours....It was definitely a pleasant surprise....

Our little boy came out at 11.00 am and was 2.8 kgs and 50 cms long...

.It was such a wonderful feeling to see him with all the mucus and blood and with the umblical cord still hanging....It was double pleasure when I got to hold him....He was wide awake from the time he got out...and V and me were watching him being cleaned while he was blinking and rolling his eyes.....I was being stitched....Then they gave him back to me to start feeding....Didnt know feeding would get established within an hour of the little one's birth....Its so magical and miraculous....Ahh the power of NATURE :)

I owe it all to the yoga I have been doing and God's grace....plus all the positive energy around....I would love to recap every single moment...and cherish it....

Life has definitely taken a whole new dimension the moment the little boy got out!!!! Cheers to sleepless nights...Wonder why I dont crib...This is what all of you would call "Motherhood" :)