Baby Anu's arrival

It has been quite a normal start that day. We all discussed about how long we have to wait for the arrival of the baby over our morning cuppa. I was told by B pinni to come for a scan on 9th if i dint deliver till then. But she called us up suddenly and asked to come for a scan that day itself saying that she would be relatively free as that day being a Sunday. We took it casually as there were no symptoms of labor and headed to her clinic after lunch.

Me n mom went to the scanning room. B pinni scanned me. There was little moment of the baby inside. I could see her wrist clenched. She scanned for more than an hour that which looked somewhat unusual to me. She then told me to wait there and went out. She was on phone with someone for quite long a time. She came back and scanned me again. She took mom out and spoke to her. Later we all went to pinnis house. Then pinni told me that the oxygen supply to the baby seems to have come down and it would be tough for her to come out on her own. More over she might have a brain damage due to less oxygen inside. So it is wise to opt for a C-section and take her out immediately. I was shocked. I always had this thing on the back of my mind that I will have a normal delivery as my physical condition was absolutely fine. I did not put on unnecessary weight. I was like toying with the idea of what will happen if I delay the surgery and wait for the normal way.

I called up Sid and asked what he feels about it. He told its good to go with what pinni said. By the time I finished speaking, arrangements were made to take me to the hospital. We went to TANVIR as we initially chose to deliver the baby there. It was 5:30pm by then. The doctor came and scanned me again. Suddenly there we could see the moment in the baby and it actually started its journey into the outside world. I was told I would get my pains sooner or later. I was put in a labour room and was under observation. As this was my first time delivery, I was wondering what would be the symptoms of delivery pains. I felt no pain even at 7pm. Doc again came to see me and did an internal examination. She said she can see the babys head and set it in the exact position. I suddenly felt a huge pain surge through my body. I realised I started getting pains. I waited for the contraction frequency to increase. I did so till 10pm or so. But then the ECG machine connected to me to check the babys heart beat started showing abnormal readings. The doctor came inside and told me to be prepared for the surgery. She said my condition was bad even when I came to the hospital, but she just wanted to take a chance at having a normal delivery. But it seemed to be a not so good option as the oxygen levels started depreciating further inside my womb.

All of a sudden I was so frightened at the very thought of a surgery, for, I have never been under the knife before. Even before I could speak to anyone, I was taken into the Operation Theatre (OT). Unfortunately, no one was there except for my brother in law. Everyone went home to have a quick dinner. MOm went home to get blankets, clothes and few things required for my stay in the hospital. I just felt like crying as I did not have anyone I knew around me. Even worst I did not have Sid. But mom told me before leaving that he is on the way. He sensed that there might be a surgery and took a flight. I always told him through out my pregnancy that, I want him to be by my side when i go into labor and I wanted him to cut the chord. But then I did not have him also at that time. I was not sure when he would arrive.

I was given surgical clothes and was asked to change. I changed my clothes and felt so shy to go to the operation table as those clothes were very transparent. It was as good as not wearing anything at all. I actually have overcome that shy feeling in front of the nurses and doctors, thanks to my gynaec visits throughout my pregnancy. But then there was a male anesthetist and a male pediatrician. A nurse came and goaded me to walk to the table. I myself climbed the table. The anesthetist came to me and asked me to sit. He spoke to me about some trivia like what my name was, what I did etc etc. I said all that but at the end of it I said I was very scared at that moment. He assured me that there was nothing to worry and I would feel no pain at all. As he was talking he gave me an injection on my spine without my notice. He tapped me all over below my torso just to check if the anesthesia was working or not. I could feel his touch. I think he then gave a second dose, i am not very sure of that. Then the nurses told me to lie down and covered my tummy with another piece of cloth. Now I could not see anything happening on my tummy. Suddenly my gynaec came out of nowhere and took something (which i am sure is a surgical knife) from the tray the nurse was holding. I realized they were removing clothes from my tummy to make way for the incision to be made. I did not have any sense of touch. I was just waiting for the surgery to begin. Just a minute or two after the doc has come, she finished making an incision and even took out the baby. I could not see the baby properly. I could hear her cry. It was so loud yet seemed to be the sweetest of voices I have ever heard in my life. Even at that point of time when my tummy was cut wide open, i could manage a smile on my face.

And then all of a sudden I was shaking like hell. I felt a chill throughout my body. My hands were shaking rigorously and the anesthetist started talking to me. He held my hand and said everything would be all right. The nurses there gave me a drip.

All this while, the three doctors were constantly talking about everyday issues. I realized it was just an attempt to keep me awake. They did not let me close my eyes even for a moment.

Meanwhile the nurses got busy cleaning the water that broke out of my womb and even the blood leaking. The doctor then stitched me up. And suddenly I could hear the pediatrician shouting to me from some corner in the same room saying that its a baby girl and she is doing absolutely fine. Though I was happy I was slowly losing my consciousness. I remember the nurses putting me on a stretcher and they took me out. When I came out I saw Sid holding the baby and telling me that she is a gorgeous little one. I was happy to see him there . And thats all.

Next when I woke up I was in a post maternity ward. Slowly everyone started visiting me. First it was amma and then B pinni came with my baby. She made her lips touch my cheeks in a gesture of making her kiss me. It was JUST OUT OF THE WORLD. That was the first time that I have seen the baby properly. I just dint feel like letting her go. But the nurses there asked them to leave me and give me rest.

I tried to sleep but could not as the anesthetic effect was weaning and I could feel the pain of the incision on my tummy. It was unbearable. There was a wall clock right in front of me in that room. I literally counted minutes. I waited for an hour or so and asked the nurse to give me pain killers. She said that I have to wait for sometime as its been very little time after the surgery. Finally after sometime....i fell asleep. I was with my baby in my room in the hospital the next I woke up.