22 October 2013 - Little Hero from Mom's Womb to Dad's Arms!

               I had been getting contractions since last 2-3 weeks and every time I wondered if today is going to be our lucky day to see you. There were a few days the pain was so regular that I even thought "today IS THE day!" But that didn't happen until our scheduled induction today. Our doctor Kristie Moss had thought of inducing labor to me this morning at 6 am. Yesterday we had an appointment with the doctor along with an ultrasound. Doctor checked and said that I was still 3cm dilated and on 22nd at 6 am she is going to induce pain to me. Because as per the ultrasound your weight is 5 pound and 10 ounces. That is below 10 percentile and doctor had to keep a close check on me to see if you are getting proper blood supply and to see if the growth has stopped because of any reason. After the check-up, doctor even said that I might even go into labor on my own even before tomorrow morning. 

               So that did happen. After coming home from the visit on 21 October 2013, I started getting very regular pain and the intensity was much more than the previous contractions. We slept at 10.30 pm, keeping everything ready for the next morning's hospital trip. I had a doubt about getting any sleep out of excitement. Today is going to be the last day we are going to have only one kid. Tomorrow it will be two!

             It was at 12.10 am, I started getting contractions every 5 minutes apart. I didn't want to immediately wake your dad up and trouble him. So waited for another 30 minutes to see if it is true. After 12.40 am, I had to wake him up and he asked me to wait for some more time. I even had a doubt of my water breaking. Meanwhile, your sister who was sleeping in the living room with granny started crying for "amma" and granny had to bring her in and put her next to me. I tried putting her back to sleep as your dad started getting ready. The intensity of every contraction was increasing and your sister was not going back to sleep. She must have got to know that her parents are going to leave her at home and go to hospital as soon as she falls asleep. She was now crying louder and was not willing to take her hand off my "karimaNi". I took off the chain and gave it in her hand. She tried to stick the  "karimaNi" back to my neck and cried even more. We waited for some more time, but when the fear of delivering you right there increased, we had to let her cry and get ready to hospital. Your dad put her in her cradle, tied the belt and started rocking her as I was getting ready. We waited till she fell asleep and immediately left home with the hospital bag. Your granny and sister stayed at home.

               It was 1.10 am and we had to enter the hospital through the emergency block as it was mid night. I was made to sit in a wheel chair and we were taken to the labor and delivery block through some other way. We were then admitted to the hospital and given a labor room. My nurse was Bethany. She checked if I was going to deliver right away, I was not. She attached cords on my belly to monitor your heartbeat and my contractions. After the check-up she called our doctor and told us that she will induce pain at 5 am. By then I was getting contractions once in every 2 and half minutes. Bethany pricked my hand and inserted the electrolyte tube. Your dad took out the tablet as there was hospital wi-fi available and I kept looking at your heartbeat and my contraction monitor.

               It was at 5 am when the pain was induced to me through the drips. And at 6 am, doctor came and broke the water bag. There after the pain was even more intense and it was becoming unbearable. Doctor had told me to ask for the epidural when I reach that point and I asked for it. The specialist came in at 7 am and gave me epidural. Your dad was sent to another room during the epidural. It took 15 minutes to do that. Later the lower part of my body started to feel numb and the pain faded away. I was happy and now I could smile and pose for the photos. I was asked to inform the nurse if I felt the urge to push you. At 7 am, the nurse changed from night shift to day shift and once again my new nurse's name was Bethany! Later nurse noticed that your heart rate was dipping and she was worried if you are getting enough oxygen as you had started moving down. She fixed an oxygen mask to my face and I had to breathe through that there after. 

After an hour when the nurse checked, I had dilated 6 cm. And at 9.10 am, I felt the urge to push you. Your dad had gone home to have his breakfast and to inform granny what was happening. The nurse came in to check and she said you were right there and I just had to push. But I was not allowed to do so, as the doctor was yet to reach and so was your dad. She dialed and gave me the phone to ask your dad to come immediately from home and she soon called the doctor. Your dad was about to leave home when I called him and reached within 10 minutes. But doctor still had to come from the clinic. My urge to push you was growing and then to stop it for a bit I was asked to press a button, which was somewhere connected to my body and that slowed down the urge to some extent. I had to wait for the doctor, but you were not willing to wait. 

               The bed was arranged for me to deliver, lower part of the bed was removed and a different part was attached favorable to deliver. Hospital pediatrician came in with 2 more nurses and someone to help me in cleaning. All were ready and it was at 9.25 or so when the doctor came rushing in. That's when I was asked to push. Doctor checked and said that you are going to be out in just a few minutes. Your dad was eager to see you as well. I was asked if I wanted the doctor to put you on my chest as soon as you come out. But I preferred to hug you only after they check you and clean you up. It was not that I wasn't eager to give you a big hug, but I was just scared. I wanted to first make sure that you are fine. With the next contraction, I was told to push you. With every contraction there after, I was supposed to take a deep breath and push for 10 seconds and once again a deep breath and 10 seconds' push and repeat it for the third time and then wait for the next contraction to do that again. That was what I had done with your sister too. With her, I had taken several such contractions and pushes to help her come out. But this time, you were right there and my job was done much easier! You yourself had done most of my work and it took me only one contraction with 3 hard pushes and I heard the loud cry of a tiny darling baby! 

               All said "aww.....!" looking at you and all seemed happy and smiling. I looked at your dad and he had a broad smile on his face, he said "congratulations" to me without letting his voice out. He was rushing towards us to see you. He brought his camera which was kept ready from some time and you were taken to your check-up bed. It was just a few steps away from me and I could still see you from my bed. Your dad was busy clicking photos and all the nurses were around you as the doctor was pulling out my placenta. I could not give much attention to myself nor what doctor was doing, she was busy stitching me and the nurse was cleaning me. All were doing something with me, but I could not take my eyes off from that tiny bed and the crying baby in it. I felt relaxed when they said that the baby is absolutely fine, they cleaned you up and then brought you to me. You weighed 5 pounds and 7 ounces and were 17 inches long. Your dad was also there, he held you and I could see him being extremely gentle. It looked like he was holding a priceless gem! 

               Later once everything was settled and cleaned, all went out except my nurse Bethany. She was very sweet and here is her picture.

We were now waiting for them to provide us a private room and that took a little while. The nurse started the breast feeding lessons practically once you were brought in from the nursery after all your check-ups. You were doing good and we were happy. You got the hang of feeding too. After making sure that you are fine, your dad left to home to bring your sister and granny. When he was gone home, you were with me for an hour and then you were taken to the nursery for a detailed check-up for two hours. Meanwhile, they shifted me to a private room and I was asked to order food. I ate my veggie burger and drank some fruit juice, slept for a while and after I woke up, your sister and granny came from home with your dad. We were eager to to see your sister's reaction as well. They both saw you for the first time.

               Your sister kept staring at you and she neither cried nor seemed happy. She was just wondering who the new person was. She finally said "baaaaabyyy"! She was amazed to see you though she has seen other babies earlier, her reaction now was little different as she saw you with me now. And we kept telling her that you are our baby. She had cried earlier seeing your granny carry Anika baby and even when she saw me carrying Anika baby. But now when we carried you, she did not cry, but she kept staring at you all the time. Every now and then she peeped at your bassinet. It looked like she has somehow come to know that you are going to be with us here after and you are ours too! 

               You sister was bored at the hospital after a while, they had come here after her morning's nap. She didn't find toys at the hospital other than the few toys I had brought to the hospital in my packed hospital bag for her to play with. She was not allowed to roam around much on the floor too. That's why she was soon bored. The place was also new to her. Your dad and granny took her out for walks and unexpectedly, she crossed another new milestone of hers on the same beautiful day you came to earth. She took her first independent steps at the hospital and this was the same place she saw the world for the first time too. She walked a lot and had a smile of achievement on her face and kept walking a lot. She might have got to know that this is the time to be a little independent as her mom is going to be a little busy with the new one in the family. I am trying to give her equal attention as well as I don't want her to feel left out and get angry on you. As of now she has taken your entry quite well as she did not cry looking at you nor when we carried you. That was a good way of your sister welcoming you, much more than what we expected. I am letting her sit on my lap and roll on me. Here after, I can't really bother much about my pain or rest because all the time I get has to be divided between you both. 

               Your sister tried to touch your hand after some time and then she tried to pull your hand to ask you to come and play with her. But we couldn't let her pull you as even a gentle pull might hurt the just born! She spoke a few words in her language to you, we are not sure if you understood. We didn't, because we have forgotten the language she spoke. Your granny, dad and sister then went home to have their lunch. They took some time to eat, your sister and dad had little naps too and then came back to the hospital with granny. I ordered my food at the hospital.
               Once again your sister kept walking around in the hospital and staring at you. Your dad, granny and I enjoyed carrying and looking at the new, yet familiar, precious tiny member of the house. Later at night we had a video chat with both your grandparents, they were all too happy to see you. Already people were asking who you resemble whether dad or mom. We couldn't answer that question so soon, but were all happy that you look healthy. Your dad once again left the hospital with granny and Aadya, went home for dinner, dropped them there and came back to stay with us at the hospital. Since he came after 10 pm, he had to enter the hospital through the emergency entrance and walk a mile to reach our room.
               You were such a gentleman today, you didn't cry nor troubled your mom throughout the night! But woke every now and then to feed. (I have something to whisper in your ears - you are blackish red in color and quite too hairy right now; to be frank, you look like a baby mouse. But we all know that it is lanugo, grown to protect your skin like fuzz on a peach, while you were in the womb and it will fall off within a few weeks.) This is how the very first day of my Little peach went on and I am sure of treasuring every bit of this beautiful day's memory all through my life! You are an awesome gift your dad and I got today from Heaven!