#vrikshambirthstory

Hi Anu Akka, this is Preethy & Subramani from Canada. We are your early pregnancy, labor management, and breastfeeding webinar students. Feeling happy to share our baby’s birth story here☺️ My estimated date of delivery was on Nov 14 and I did not have any signs of labor till then. The doctor suggested to wait till 41 weeks as my cervix was still closed and baby movements were normal.

On Nov 17, at 40 weeks 2 days. We went for a checkup and found out I was dilated less than 1 cm & doctor tried to sweep the membrane. The same day night, fluid started leaking (just a little) with blood stains, which the doctor told me was ok as I had my membrane sweep.

On Nov 18, 40 weeks 3 days. I lost part of my mucus plug and also I had a bloody show, after which we called our hospital to inform the same and they told us to come immediately for a checkup. Once we reached, the scan was done & doctor found my fluid level was low, post which I was admitted to the hospital around 3 pm.

I was still less than 1 cm dilated and was in bed for continuous monitoring. Around 4 pm I had a greenish fluid leak which we immediately noticed and informed the duty doctor, post which she did the cervix examination and told baby might have passed meconium and dilation was still the same and 50 % effaced. As far as the baby’s heartbeat was good, they told us we can wait for vaginal delivery.

Since I haven’t got any contractions, medication was given at 7 pm to induce the labor. I started having mild to severe contractions like 1 contraction every 2 to 3 minutes. I started doing the breathing exercises which were taught in the class and most importantly to stay calm, distract from the pain, sip water whenever required and empty the bladder as well.

I was changing sides, standing up from bed in between contractions, and walking within the available space to help with the dilation. Nov 19, 40 weeks 4 days. Dilation was still 2 cm, and as the pain was unbearable, I opted for an epidural at 3 am. Then I was confined to bed and a urine catheter was also placed. In between nurse had done the cervix check but was less than 3 cm dilated.

The morning when my gynecologist checked for dilation at 10 am I was 7 cm dilated, the doctor tried to help with cervix dilation as the fluid level was low and the baby’s heartbeat might drop. Around 12.45 pm I was fully dilated and the doctor asked me to push whenever I feel the contraction.

I remembered the breathing techniques while pushing and also the position of the legs to open up the pelvis which you had taught during the class and tried it with my utmost energy. My husband who was there with me the whole time was doing the countdown while I pushed each time. I also kept sipping water as and when needed to keep up with my energy.

Within 45 mins of pushing my little prince arrived at 1.30 pm. Cord clamping was done while he was skin to skin on me for a while. In the next few minutes, I had my placenta delivered as well. The baby was then immediately taken to the nursery to check if he had swallowed any meconium, luckily, he did not. Still, he was kept under observation for 2 hours. Once he was shifted, I was able to breastfeed him.

All these were possible only because of the very strong moral support from my husband, who took care of me throughout our pregnancy as a single person. He never made me realize that we were far away from our parents.

It was his care and love that made me feel confident along with our parent’s prayers & blessing to have a very positive birthing experience right from day one till today by managing a newborn just as a couple. Also, I had a very friendly set of nursing staff and my gynecologist, who kept motivating me by telling baby is doing great during the labor and encouraged me by telling me I was doing great during the pushing phase too.

The supportive words from the people near me at those time really helped me a lot to stay strong. We are now happily enjoying parenthood with our little bundle of joy.

Thanks to you Anu Akka for all the knowledge you had given us which really helped us to understand each situation to make informed decisions and act accordingly.

Lots of love,

Preethy Subramani