I don’t understand the word ‘normal’ in labour. Giving birth itself is normal. No mother should be blamed for going through a c-section. In fact, extra respect for the mom’s who agree for a c-section for valid reasons. I would’ve been petrified to sign those papers. From my personal experience I think that the labour process depends 80% on the doctor one chooses. It’s also the most important decision. I had a pretty smooth pregnancy with very minimal sickness and swelling. The only issue I had was at 37+ weeks when I developed PUPPP/PEP rash on my stomach. I had to apply calamine lotion about 10 times a day to control the itching. Luckily I went into labour on the 3rd day of the rash.
A day before I completed 38 weeks, I was extremely (EXTREMELY)restless. I just wanted the baby out and nothing else. G and my mom had caught a viral infection and were running 102 plus temperature even after doses of antibiotics. I also had slight temperature from that evening though not troublesome. All I was hoping for was to go into labour once the two of them get better. I had back pain through the day but continued with the general stretches and climbed 400 stairs. At 3 in the morning on 12th August I felt like I was getting cramps. Till 3:45 this went on with 5 minute intervals. I googled (pregnancy and googling go hand-in-hand) and also from what I had learnt from my antenatal classes, decided to time the cramps which were actual contractions. I downloaded an app that was meant for tracking contractions and started timing the pain. It was regular 30-40 secs pain every 3-5 mins. From when i started tracking, it kept sending me a msg that I need to get ready to leave home. So after thinking for too long I woke up G and my mom at 4:15. Both of them were tired beyond measure and my mum couldn’t stand for 5 straight minutes. We drank Tea with toast that I made 💃, re-checked if everything’s packed, I had a bath and we left to the hospital by 5.30. Through all this, I still had contractions every 4 mins for 30-40 secs. I thought I will deliver in a jiffy, but who was I to decide when little D wanted to make an appearance!? Luckily the doctor was at the hospital when I went in and she was surprised I was there. I had called her the previous evening to ask what medicines to take for fever and here I was coming in for labour pains in less than 24 hours. When checked, I was just 1 cm dilated but was running a 102 fever. So the doctor decided to treat the fever first and induce the labour next.
Now I was very particular about not getting induced and wanting a natural labour but I didn’t tell that to my doctor. I didn’t think I’d go into labour that early and hadn’t discussed the birth plan with my doctor. I’m sure a lot of docs today are very open provided the terms are discussed well in advance, not during labour. I kept telling myself/praying/hoping that I need a natural delivery experience ( Induction should be done for valid medical reasons and not as a protocol for speeding up the delivery process. Having said that I don’t have anything against mums who have opted to get induced, I just didn’t want to. That’s it!)
My temperature went back to normal after the medicine and shot up in 3 hours. This went on for the whole day along with the 4 minutes contractions that were the same intensity from 3 am. At 11 that night when the doctor came by I was 5 cms dilated, I wasn’t very pleased because I was basically going through early labour for almost 20 hours 🙄. But then she said something that I’d never forget. I didn’t have to be induced 💃. My labour had progressed on its own with zero intervention and as per the doctor’s calculation, I was to deliver by 5 in the morning. Then the usual protocols happened and CTG was being recorded which started getting super annoying at one point with the amount of pressure it was putting on my abdomen. By 4.30 I felt the urge to push. Then everything happened in a jiffy. Duty doctor checking- 9 cms dilation- room getting prepped and the doc being called- asked to push- baby out and me doing unwanted prayers hoping for a girl. Then my baby peed like a parabola curve 👶!
Most women don’t have it easy and it’s always not as good as it sounds. But pregnancy and giving birth to your child is the most beautiful phase ever! I think moving around is very important in pregnancy if you have a no/low risk pregnancy. My antenatal classes was a real blessing. Also through my pregnancy my mum was with me keeping me well fed and happy. G was of great help when it came to satisfying my unhealthy food cravings. Staying hydrated helped reduce swelling overall. It’s very important to be well informed about the procedures during labour though one doesn’t have much of a say in front of the doctor. Episiotomies have become the protocol in most hospitals today though people like me shouldn’t have had it. D weighed just 2.7kgs with a super tiny head. Also, I didn’t have tears of joy or feel ecstatic like how people do in burth videos once they see their baby. I did take time to bond with my baby and I didn’t think about it at all. Now I melt into a puddle when he smiles at me. So don’t worry if your heart doesn’t burst with joy when you see the little squishy. It’s going to happen someday. What one really needs to be prepared for is Breastfeeding .No one warns us on breastfeeding because labour is being that exaggerated. I will share mine soon. End of it, Vaginal or caesarean, it’s all normal because you’ve done your best to keep that little heart safe throughout! That’s what matters.
My lovely doctor was Dr. Amutha Giridhar, GKNM Coimbatore
Antenatal classes was Vriksham by Anupama, Tirupur/Coimbatore.
A day before I completed 38 weeks, I was extremely (EXTREMELY)restless. I just wanted the baby out and nothing else. G and my mom had caught a viral infection and were running 102 plus temperature even after doses of antibiotics. I also had slight temperature from that evening though not troublesome. All I was hoping for was to go into labour once the two of them get better. I had back pain through the day but continued with the general stretches and climbed 400 stairs. At 3 in the morning on 12th August I felt like I was getting cramps. Till 3:45 this went on with 5 minute intervals. I googled (pregnancy and googling go hand-in-hand) and also from what I had learnt from my antenatal classes, decided to time the cramps which were actual contractions. I downloaded an app that was meant for tracking contractions and started timing the pain. It was regular 30-40 secs pain every 3-5 mins. From when i started tracking, it kept sending me a msg that I need to get ready to leave home. So after thinking for too long I woke up G and my mom at 4:15. Both of them were tired beyond measure and my mum couldn’t stand for 5 straight minutes. We drank Tea with toast that I made 💃, re-checked if everything’s packed, I had a bath and we left to the hospital by 5.30. Through all this, I still had contractions every 4 mins for 30-40 secs. I thought I will deliver in a jiffy, but who was I to decide when little D wanted to make an appearance!? Luckily the doctor was at the hospital when I went in and she was surprised I was there. I had called her the previous evening to ask what medicines to take for fever and here I was coming in for labour pains in less than 24 hours. When checked, I was just 1 cm dilated but was running a 102 fever. So the doctor decided to treat the fever first and induce the labour next.
Now I was very particular about not getting induced and wanting a natural labour but I didn’t tell that to my doctor. I didn’t think I’d go into labour that early and hadn’t discussed the birth plan with my doctor. I’m sure a lot of docs today are very open provided the terms are discussed well in advance, not during labour. I kept telling myself/praying/hoping that I need a natural delivery experience ( Induction should be done for valid medical reasons and not as a protocol for speeding up the delivery process. Having said that I don’t have anything against mums who have opted to get induced, I just didn’t want to. That’s it!)
My temperature went back to normal after the medicine and shot up in 3 hours. This went on for the whole day along with the 4 minutes contractions that were the same intensity from 3 am. At 11 that night when the doctor came by I was 5 cms dilated, I wasn’t very pleased because I was basically going through early labour for almost 20 hours 🙄. But then she said something that I’d never forget. I didn’t have to be induced 💃. My labour had progressed on its own with zero intervention and as per the doctor’s calculation, I was to deliver by 5 in the morning. Then the usual protocols happened and CTG was being recorded which started getting super annoying at one point with the amount of pressure it was putting on my abdomen. By 4.30 I felt the urge to push. Then everything happened in a jiffy. Duty doctor checking- 9 cms dilation- room getting prepped and the doc being called- asked to push- baby out and me doing unwanted prayers hoping for a girl. Then my baby peed like a parabola curve 👶!
Most women don’t have it easy and it’s always not as good as it sounds. But pregnancy and giving birth to your child is the most beautiful phase ever! I think moving around is very important in pregnancy if you have a no/low risk pregnancy. My antenatal classes was a real blessing. Also through my pregnancy my mum was with me keeping me well fed and happy. G was of great help when it came to satisfying my unhealthy food cravings. Staying hydrated helped reduce swelling overall. It’s very important to be well informed about the procedures during labour though one doesn’t have much of a say in front of the doctor. Episiotomies have become the protocol in most hospitals today though people like me shouldn’t have had it. D weighed just 2.7kgs with a super tiny head. Also, I didn’t have tears of joy or feel ecstatic like how people do in burth videos once they see their baby. I did take time to bond with my baby and I didn’t think about it at all. Now I melt into a puddle when he smiles at me. So don’t worry if your heart doesn’t burst with joy when you see the little squishy. It’s going to happen someday. What one really needs to be prepared for is Breastfeeding .No one warns us on breastfeeding because labour is being that exaggerated. I will share mine soon. End of it, Vaginal or caesarean, it’s all normal because you’ve done your best to keep that little heart safe throughout! That’s what matters.
My lovely doctor was Dr. Amutha Giridhar, GKNM Coimbatore
Antenatal classes was Vriksham by Anupama, Tirupur/Coimbatore.
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