Birthed my first child vaginally at the age 36 with thyroid and GD
#vrikshambirthstory
I would love to share with you my journey to bring my lil bundle of joy into this world.
This was my first pregnancy at age of 35 being on the heavier side having thyroid, Gestational diabetes since week 28, was covid positive at week 33. At 38+3 days of gestation, on 12th June at 12 pm, in the shower, my water broke and I was called into the hospital to confirm if it was actually the amniotic fluid and which turned out to be the case, followed by fetal surveillance I was sent home as I had NO contractions.
I was booked for induction on 15th June. They asked me to come again the next morning, 13th June, for another fetal surveillance. My husband and I went home, went out for dinner with family, and slept. This sleep was the deepest sleep I had in the past few weeks 😂
The next morning, I noticed slight fresh bleeding. As I was to go to the hospital anyways, I finished my normal routine, breakfast, etc, and left for the hospital for fetal monitoring, no contractions even at this point. Took my sipper water bottle, and some snacks in my handbag and got the fetal monitoring done which took around 1.5 hrs, after which I was slightly uncomfortable but didn’t feel like I was having contractions. So decided to go home and come back the next day for another fetal monitoring.
Was about to step out of the hospital and I could sense contractions. I timed them and noticed that they were coming at 1.5 mins intervals and lasted about 42secs. And decided to go back and get checked.
I was taken into a birthing suite (12:15 pm) and I asked for gas as pain relief. I asked for an epidural too because the pain was unbearable. I also requested the midwife to check if I was dilated. upon checking, to my surprise I was 8 cms dilated 😊
Thanks to the education provided by Anu Akka, I knew how close I was to seeing my Bub. I knew I will not be given an epidural being 8 cm dilated. Using the gas as the only pain relief and using all the breathing techniques taught by akka, I delivered my baby girl vaginally at 4:30 pm.
I was fully dilated by 2 pm, and started to get the urge to push. After 2.5 hrs of pushing, the doctors came in and noticed that baby was getting tired. They suggested using forceps for which episiotomy was done. I also had a third-degree tear.
Thank you, Anu Akka, for educating us. It has helped us to ask the right questions to the care providers and your mantra ‘ Trust your body’ is an absolute need of the hour when in the birthing suite.