Here’s my birth story.

From the early morning of 18th Feb (@39+4weeks) around 1 am, I started having diarrhea-type pains. Felt very uncomfortable, and had no sleep till morning. Had Charley’s horse on right leg. Didn’t step out of the bed the whole morning, slept from 8 to 10 am, and the pain started soon after I woke up. Thought that could be false pains, had my bath and lunch and was about to take a walk when I felt some mild leakage from the vagina. Thought it was white discharge but the fluid turned out to be clear, I understood that’s amniotic fluid. This was around 1 pm.

Immediately called the hospital, and they wanted me to come for a check-up. I thought they’d anyway send me back. We arrived at the hospital around 2.30 pm, with contractions much milder. There the midwife checked internally with a swab to confirm if it was the fluid leaking, which came out to be positive. Then I was attached to a monitor to check the contractions and the baby’s heart rate.

At this point of time, I was absolutely not dilated. The contractions started getting mildly stronger, I was given an iv cannula by that time. Around 5 pm, I was asked to inform them if I had stronger contractions so that they can check for dilation, otherwise, it’s not very safe to insert fingers all the time as there’s a chance of infection because of the amniotic fluid leak.

I started walking and bouncing on the birthing ball and did some squats. The contractions started getting intense and I managed them with breathing exercises. At around 7 pm, they checked my temperature and it was a little high so they put me again on the contraction monitor and took my blood in case of an infection. The contractions intensified afterward. They came back saying there was no infection.

At 10 pm, they checked for the dilation, and to my surprise, I was 9 cm dilated!! All this while, I only had a smile on my face. The midwives said they were surprised to see someone smiling at this stage of labor. They took my urine, vaginal swab, and blood samples to recheck for infection, and they immediately broke my water bag (what a warm gush!!). I thought it was only 1 cm needed for full dilation, then I push and the baby will be out before midnight.

But God had other plans. From 10.30 pm my contractions sky-rocketed and I had a severe sensation to push. I started pushing at every contraction but by that time my energy started draining off. The baby entered the pelvis but hardly came down. The intensity of contractions was so much that I almost bathed in sweat. The pushing went on till 2.15 am with no luck.

The midwives were so sweet and encouraged well. My birth partners, my husband and my friend Lakshmi, never left my hand. Then they decided to induce a very mild dose of oxytocin to speed up my pushing. On the contrary, I stopped having the pushing sensation as soon as I got oxytocin. But the contractions became so intense. The baby’s head could be seen but it was not moving down. At this point, they took blood from the baby’s head to check if his oxygen levels are fine, as his heart rate started dropping. The levels came out fine but since his heart rate was dropping, they decided for a c-section.

Then the gynecologist came, checked internally, and said she was going to try for one last time with a vacuum as she can see the baby’s head, and if it fails they would immediately go for a c-section. The arrangements for the operation were made. Somewhere in my mind, I made up for having c section as I was entirely exhausted.

The gynecologist did the episiotomy and inserted the vacuum pump inside. She asked me to push hard when I have a sensation, which I no longer had. Then she asked me to push despite not having the feeling to push. I finally gave one last push and at 2.48 am, early hours of Feb 19, my second child entered the world. He was 3.8 kg, the same as my first one. But that was a c section and this time it’s a natural birth!! If I hadn’t found you then my wish of having a natural birth would have remained a dream. Thank you Akka!!

Hi Anuka, I wanted to share my birth experience with you. I am Praveena, your pre-pregnancy, early pregnancy, labor management, and breastfeeding class student.

I am very happy to inform you that I had a baby girl vaginally on December 18th at 12.48 AM. The labor was short, and throughout my pregnancy, I was diligently following all the exercises that were taught in class -butterfly exercise, duck walks, squats, and ball exercises During the last trimester, I was doing these exercises for 45 minutes every day and walking for an hour.

On December 16th, I had a mucous plug discharge with brown stains, and by the next morning, the discharge increased, and the pain felt like period cramps. I continued with my walking routine, waiting for the contractions to get more intense before going to the hospital.

However, I received a call from the hospital asking me to come for a checkup as I had a mucous discharge. I was mentally prepared for the labor to start anytime, but the pain became intense after reaching the hospital.

I was admitted, and the contractions were coming in 2-minute intervals and were so intense that I couldn’t walk during them. I did breathing exercises while sitting in a chair during the contractions. My doctor didn’t believe me that I was having pain as I was calmly sitting in the chair and eating food fed by my mom.

I was 4 cm dilated, and my amniotic fluid started leaking. I was given an enema and put on drips. Within 5 minutes, the contractions became unbearable, and I kept doing fast breathing. My husband supported me throughout the labor, walking with me and holding my hands during the pain.

I couldn’t bear the pain, so I talked to my baby, asking her to come out soon, and to my surprise, she actually started descending down. In another 5 minutes, I had the pushing sensation and asked to call the nurse, I even remember saying “I feel like you are not believing me that the pain is severe because I am not shouting”.

In less than 20 minutes, from 4 cm dilation, I was fully dilated, and the baby’s head was visible. The doctor and nurses didn’t expect the labor to progress so quickly, so they rushed me to the labor ward. After 40 minutes of pushing, my baby girl arrived ❤️, weighing 3.1 kg.

I was shifted to the ward after an episiotomy and breastfed my baby. Even though the hospital insisted on giving formula for the first two days, I was able to breastfeed my baby with the knowledge I gained from class and the support of my sister and mom. Throughout the labor, I stayed calm and didn’t shout or cry, and everyone appreciated me for the efforts I took during my pregnancy to have a vaginal delivery.

Breathing techniques and sipper bottles were my saviors, and I trusted myself and my baby. ❤️ I am very grateful to you for your classes and support. You made me stronger, Thank you so much, Anu Akka, and lots of hugs to you.🤗❤️