When I embarked on my pregnancy journey..
It's been six years and God has
blessed me with 2 beautiful daughters. Now looking back, I wonder the phrase
"time flies" is true. But, it's still so vivid, seems like yesterday
when I got the confirmation that I am pregnant with my first baby.
It was 3 months of marriage and I
got this severe toothache. We had moved to Pune immediately after marriage and
as I don't trust any doctors of Chinchwad I had come down to my mum's place.
Before visiting the dentist I got this strong feeling that I am pregnant. I still had time for my chums and I had not shown any typical pregnancy symptoms - nausea, vomiting, craving etc. Even then, a strong intuition from within what if I am pregnant? As a science student, I knew that any X-ray could be harmful to the foetus. And since tooth extraction involved X-ray I wanted to 1st confirm my doubt.
So feeling shy and uncomfortable, I got for me self-pregnancy test kit. And voila! I was Pregnant.
Before visiting the dentist I got this strong feeling that I am pregnant. I still had time for my chums and I had not shown any typical pregnancy symptoms - nausea, vomiting, craving etc. Even then, a strong intuition from within what if I am pregnant? As a science student, I knew that any X-ray could be harmful to the foetus. And since tooth extraction involved X-ray I wanted to 1st confirm my doubt.
So feeling shy and uncomfortable, I got for me self-pregnancy test kit. And voila! I was Pregnant.
My heart raced with this new
feeling, we had not planned for one and so this was an unexpected one. Somehow,
in my heart I was prepared for it. I was very happy, I am going to be a MOMMY!
And the first thing I did was I told my baby, "I love you, and I want you." and this had been my mantra during the entire pregnancy.
As a science student I knew that it is not when the foetus is fully formed in your womb but Life begins at the moment of conception, when an ova (egg) and sperm unite. So I had to make sure that no wrong feelings or message is passed to my baby.
And the first thing I did was I told my baby, "I love you, and I want you." and this had been my mantra during the entire pregnancy.
As a science student I knew that it is not when the foetus is fully formed in your womb but Life begins at the moment of conception, when an ova (egg) and sperm unite. So I had to make sure that no wrong feelings or message is passed to my baby.
Now this was my side I didn't
know how my husband's reaction to it will be. So before telling him the
news, I decided to visited the gynaec to confirm it.
Aah! when I entered the OPD, it was packed with ladies with varying belly sizes. And as I sat waiting for my turn, fear of unknown gripped me.
My mind was racing with questions. And I am so grateful that my mom was with me. I hounded her with all my doubts and she patiently told me her journey. Her life comforted me, provided me peace, and inspiration than I could have ever imagined.
Aah! when I entered the OPD, it was packed with ladies with varying belly sizes. And as I sat waiting for my turn, fear of unknown gripped me.
My mind was racing with questions. And I am so grateful that my mom was with me. I hounded her with all my doubts and she patiently told me her journey. Her life comforted me, provided me peace, and inspiration than I could have ever imagined.
So after a
long awaiting when my turn finally came I was prepared. And when the doctor
asked, "You want this baby", I was like hell yes. I still don’t know
why she asked, but it helped me reconfirm my acceptance and a strong sense of protecting
my unborn came within me. She checked my Blood Pressure and weight and asked me
to take blood and urine test.
Now I couldn't
wait for the test result to come, to tell my husband and so I called and told
him the news. And as much as I knew him, I know he was happy and will be
prepared.
Because of my husband, I enjoyed my pregnancy. He was there like a rock in every stage. Extremely tolerant to my worst mood swings. Being there for me every time I needed him.
But one major
problem was still hanging in the air, tooth ache. And on consulting, the doctor
said that we cannot risk an X-ray and the tooth extraction won't be possible so
I will have to enter the pregnancy with the pain!
The painkiller
prescribed was of no much help and as the pregnancy side effects - morning
sickness, nausea, heartburn started alongside - I felt like running away.
But the
thought of new life within me, was enough to give me the strength to go through
the pain.
I embarked on a pregnancy journey and life, my self-work deepened, and I learned how to trust in myself, my intuition, and how to communicate with my unborn child.
But by the end
of 1st trimester everything subsided. And I began to enjoy the gestation period. I
faithfully took the prescribed Folic Acid, iron and calcium tablets. As
this was my 1st pregnancy we decided to do it at my mum's place. Now I didn't
want to consult two different doctors so for every routine check-up I would
travel 5 hours by bus until 9 month.
From the beginning, I did take care that the amniotic fluid is balanced and for this, I used to drink lots of fluid. I made sure that I drink 1 coconut water every day.
Also as the months progressed and I started nearing my due date. I started walking a lot and doing Kegel exercise and learned breathing techniques to help me have a normal delivery.
The 2nd trimester was fun, no pregnancy side-effects, with each passing days as I saw my belly growing I knew my baby is also growing.
I became
absolutely fascinated by all things connected to birth. I simply couldn’t
get enough of it.
I started
reading anything I could get my hands on connected to pregnancy, birth, and
motherhood: www.babycenter.in
But it was level 2 and it had its own challenges.
The First trimester was all about sleep. I couldn’t keep my eyes open. (NOT the CASE in my 2nd preg: Once there’s another kid already terrorizing your house, you will be that much more exhausted.)
The First trimester was all about sleep. I couldn’t keep my eyes open. (NOT the CASE in my 2nd preg: Once there’s another kid already terrorizing your house, you will be that much more exhausted.)
Second
trimester is mildly okay in the sleep category as I could still sleep
comfortably but the dreams had kicked in. Many of them about how I’ll be an
awful mother who loses her baby or something. Now I am glad they were just
dreams
You can
only sleep on your side. I’m a stomach sleeper so I was dreading the day when I was so overly
pregnant that I could no longer lay comfortably on my stomach. What I didn’t
know, was that you also can’t lay full straight on your back either!
2nd trimester begins with baby moving, which is magical, awesome and life-changing.
But,that cute
little human I was growing. It was actually a ninja. With very pointy
elbows/hands/feet, the baby jabbed me any which way she wants.
I downloaded my own pregnancy calendar, to help me understand my baby's growth more.
The moment my pregnancy news was
out, people started guessing the gender of my baby, which was anyways annoying
and because till 7 month my belly size was not very prominent With all this added attention often came the inevitable question
of "How many weeks/months are you?' followed by "You're very small'.
Initially it made me feel proud that I am able to 'look slim' while heavily
pregnant. Then comments like these started making me feel concerned that
something may be wrong.
The fear of how my baby is doing
and birth/labor brought me more closer to God, I started reading and confessing
scripture related to birth and labor out loud every day. The more I read the
more my faith in HIM increased. And I knew that no matter what He is in Control
and He won't let anything wrong happen to me or my unborn baby.
After my 1st sonography around 7 month I
was rest assured that I and my baby are doing fine. I got goose-bumps when I first saw my baby, those tiny hands and feet. Words cannot describe. But the gel that they put all over your belly is YUCK!
The 3rd trimester is the Ultimate: My patience was tested up to its limits!
It was as if the baby was prepping me for when she comes out. An endless rotation of exhaustion yet the inability to sleep.
I was large and uncomfortable in any position. I could not sleep on my belly because, well, that’s like sleeping on a speed bump.
I could not sleep on my back because the kid would crush my insides and then make my legs go numb.
That left me with sleeping on my side, but my body would retaliate and make my hips scream out in pain and I’ll wake up with a ridiculously painful cramp in my calf that made me call out for my mother.
I had developed the linea nigra (a dark line that goes from your navel to your pubic area.)
Then during the last week of pregnancy, the doctor called me every alternate day!
All of this was making me cranky, extreme mood-swing, WILD!
I cry a lot, a lot of the time. For a myriad of complicated reasons that no one will understand, not even myself.
But the good news was when I would hear my babys heartbeat, knowing I am growing a new life and the anticipation that I am going to meet her really, really soon.
It was as if the baby was prepping me for when she comes out. An endless rotation of exhaustion yet the inability to sleep.
I was large and uncomfortable in any position. I could not sleep on my belly because, well, that’s like sleeping on a speed bump.
I could not sleep on my back because the kid would crush my insides and then make my legs go numb.
That left me with sleeping on my side, but my body would retaliate and make my hips scream out in pain and I’ll wake up with a ridiculously painful cramp in my calf that made me call out for my mother.
I had developed the linea nigra (a dark line that goes from your navel to your pubic area.)
My stomach had become itchy. (The combination of dry skin and a stretching stomach can make for a very
itchy situation. I spent a lot of time scratching)
I developed heat rash (prickly red rash on my thigh)
From 8th months onwards, the
visits increased from 15 days to every week. Which I dreaded, the long waiting hours before my turn would come. And If She got an emergency Call in-between, you are screwed. Then during the last week of pregnancy, the doctor called me every alternate day!
I cry a lot, a lot of the time. For a myriad of complicated reasons that no one will understand, not even myself.
But the good news was when I would hear my babys heartbeat, knowing I am growing a new life and the anticipation that I am going to meet her really, really soon.
The last month was the most
unbearable as I could no longer wait for my baby to come rather GET OUT. My belly suddenly
shoots out and people wondered whether I had twins.
I started having shortness of breath. (which would be worst when I lie on my back) I was having discomfort while sitting down. My ribs hurt with the movements of baby. I would get stabbing pains in my hips
By the end I was tired, irritable and frightened. I also got false labor pain/contraction twice. I had some light cramps at the beginning. Later on these cramps turned into contractions. I even had difficulty breathing during my Braxton Hicks contractions
A lot more pressure on the bladder caused me to leak when I
laughed/sneezed/coughed. I felt bloated!
I started having shortness of breath. (which would be worst when I lie on my back) I was having discomfort while sitting down. My ribs hurt with the movements of baby. I would get stabbing pains in my hips
By the end I was tired, irritable and frightened. I also got false labor pain/contraction twice. I had some light cramps at the beginning. Later on these cramps turned into contractions. I even had difficulty breathing during my Braxton Hicks contractions
It was 39 weeks and when the baby didn't show any sign of vacating, we tried natural ways of inducing labor. Out of luck!
I reached my due date and I showed no sign of labor. So, I went for my routine check-up and on the doctor on doing internal finger test for Effacement and Dilation said that the mucus plug is out and I need to be admitted. Whole night I didn’t get sleep and I tossed and turned in the new environment. Next morning they gave me a pill to induce contraction and within hours, my baby was out.
In this whole season, I enjoyed
labor phase the most. Since my water didn’t break naturally, the doctor pricked my water bag, (a bloody show). I didn't notice any pain as I was already having contraction pains. But this
was the part I really hated, they gave me enema. (An injection of a liquid
through the anus to stimulate evacuation)
During the cramps, I kept walking in my room. Taking long breath in between. At times, I was completely bending over, as I could not bear the painful contractions. Initially they were of shorter intervals, 15 min apart, and then became longer and stronger in intensity, it came after every 5 min.
The doc kept checking for Effacement and Dilation. Finally when they took me in the operation room. As per mum’s advice and all that I had read so far, I made sure I didn’t scream or make a sound during the contraction so that I retain my strength.
The doctor did Episiotomy(a small cut for faster delivery) and then I felt the heat as crowning took place, after 3-push whoop the baby was out.
Oh what a beautiful feeling! For a few minutes, I kept touching my stomach, which was flat and light.
But along with this feeling I
battled with fears and expectations of my in-laws “boy/girl”. So, when I got
the news girl, my heart sank for a few minutes. I went through stress after the
delivery. It took time for me to connect with my baby and nurture my mind and
body. I still feel guilty for stressing myself to their expectation.
During this entire journey, my
husband and my mother were a strong pillar I could lean on to. Because of finding love and support from a loved one my fear were
turned into peace.
Unlike the 1st one my
2nd pregnancy was a planned one, and even though I had a prior
experience, it had its own challenges. This time I had to take care of 2 lives,
one hyperactive baby out and another yet to come.
At the end of 2nd
trimester, I developed varicose vein on my left leg, which was very painful. I
could not stand for long hours and carrying my 1st child who was 2.5yrs
old by then took toll on my health.
Oh! and I had my two root canal treatment done when I was 7 month pregnant.
This time the expectation for a boy was more high. But I too had decided that I will not let this affect me in anyways.
Oh! and I had my two root canal treatment done when I was 7 month pregnant.
This time the expectation for a boy was more high. But I too had decided that I will not let this affect me in anyways.
Both my babies took 40 weeks to come OUT!
People give you false hope that delivery might be earlier.
Believing that the second baby will come earlier actually makes that time worse.
And both the time I didn't get labor till the end!
Everyone told me that since this is my 2nd, Delivery is going to be way, way easier.
Thankfully in my case both my delivery were quite quick.
I had a normal delivery and am blessed with a beautiful 2nd daughter.
 |
| Delivery isn’t going to be earlier. |
Believing that the second baby will come earlier actually makes that time worse.
And both the time I didn't get labor till the end!
Everyone told me that since this is my 2nd, Delivery is going to be way, way easier.
Thankfully in my case both my delivery were quite quick.
I had a normal delivery and am blessed with a beautiful 2nd daughter.
If I had to summarize pregnancy:
It is almost like a boxing match with 4 rounds. You will have to qualify to get to the
next round. Every round has its own challenges and as you cross the obstacles,
you reach closer to your goal. And after getting your medal you are depleted and you need proper nutrition to get your body back. For a far bigger challenge is awaiting you -- motherhood.