Birth Notes - second time

My due date was Xmas Day - 25th Dec 2011.From the very beginning of my second pregnancy i was not sure whether i wanted to have a natural birth due to my traumatic first pregnancy.However i knew that having a C-Sec does not mean that things are going to be straightforward as it is a major abdominal surgery and there can be various complications in having get that done. I was assigned a Consultant ( S Chakarvarti) and i saw her after every few weeks. When i met her for the first time she referred me to a Counsellor as she felt that i am carrying a lot of excess baggage from my first experience and i need to get that out from my system.
I saw my Counsellor ( June Mitchell) throughout my pregnancy and that did made things a bit calmer for me. I was getting prepared mentally for a natural birth as my Consultant also believed that having a C-Sec will be more unsafe as i will have high chances of blood loss.

However as time approched i realised that i do want to go for C-sec as i felt that i will be in more control of things as compared to last time.

So on 8th Dec 2011 i met my consultant and requested for a C-sec and she referred me to a Senior Consultant - Dr Richard Howard. I was not sure whether i will be granted one as NHS does not support elective C-sec. But Dr Howard was quite understanding and he mentioned that it is quite natural for me to feel scared because of my last experience and he is happy to perform the surgery himself. So the date was decided and i was told i will have my surgery done on 19th Dec 2011.

On 19th morning i reached the Postnatal ward in the Green Zone of Queens Hospital.I was seen around 8 and was asked to change to Hospital clothes and get ready for surgery at 9 am.But after some time we were told that there are few emergencies and there is no bed left at the Recovery Room therefore either my surgery will be delayed or postponed to another day.

We were sent to a Postnatal room and we stayed there till 12:30 pm.All this time i was quite sure that my surgery will be postponed and we might have to come next day.

Then one of the doctors came at 12:15 pm and told me that they are ready to perform the operation and i should be heading towards the Ops Theatre. My process started at 12:30. There were approximately 10 people in the room and each one of them were doing their assigned jobs. I was given spinal block and also Anti Infection Antibiotic.The atmosphere was quite overwhelming for me in the beginning and within seconds of injecting the spinal block i could not feel any sensation from the waist down below.

After few minutes Ashish was allowed into the theatre and that helped me to calm my nerves but i was feeling very dizzy and disoriented. I mentioned this to the doctor and he did something on the machine and suddenly i was not feeling dizzy anymore. Me and Ashish decided about the name right there on the operating table. At 12:59 pm our daughter was brought into this world. She was handed over to Ashish while my rest of the process was finished. At exactly 1:30 pm i was out of the Ops Theater and shifted to Recovery room.

Week Ramblings

• This year my birthday was special as now i have Little A in my life.Also Little A completed his first month in this world.A wanted to go out and treat me to a lavish Indian Dinner but i decided that it would be best for all of us to order food from outside and have it at home.As our baby completed his 1st month - we took him to temple.We performed a little puja for the baby.The most amazing thing was Baby A also folded hands while he was shown around the temple.I also got my haircut done that day.After a very long time i was quite happy with my haircut- exactly what i wanted.
  In the evening A got a Pineapple cake (photo above) and ordered from London Darbar. We had Dal Makhani/Tadka Daal/Baigan Bharta/Paneer Makhani/Malai Kofta and rotis.
• Baby A has become extremely fussy while he takes his milk. He hates to burp and wants to sleep as soon as he finishes his bottle.I never knew that feeding will be so difficult.Now i don't look forward to feed him as he cries a lot which breaks my heart at times.
• Celebrated Karwa Chauth with my mom for the first time - she made Malai Koftas/Chole/Aloo Bhindi / Boondi salad and Tandoori Rotis.Weather was extremely bad and we hardly could do any puja outside.It was raining all day which made things difficult as well.
• I am meeting one of my office colleagues this weekend.I think it will be a good change and will get to know office gossip as well.She has an 8 yr old daughter for which i am taking a 15 Book Box Set of Roald Dahl Stories.
• I thrive on routine and that i what i want to do with my baby as well.So far he sleeps all through night which is a boon as i have heard that babies tend to be awake all through night.He gets his massage and bath after me and my mom finish our work.I hate when things don't turn out the way i want and with a month old baby you can expect this to happen frequently.
• I have gained approx 9 kg after my pregnancy.Loosing weight is the most difficult thing.One has to be really focused and have immense self control. I have started doing simple Yoga and some light Aerobics but i have a long way to go.I am taking care of my diet as well and have decided on no more Dinners outside.

Birth Notes

My due date was 26Th August.It came and went and i felt nothing.I had my Midwife appointment and she suggested a Membrane Sweep - which i declined.I wanted things to start naturally and was getting impatient that why things are not happening quickly.I knew that first pregnancies are often delayed.She also told me that baby is big for my height.After the appointment A and i went for a coffee locally and i spoke to one of his colleague about her birth story.

Saturday -early morning i started getting slight labour pains. I took Paracetamol which gave me some relief and i slept for few hours.By evening the pain was getting unbearable and A suggested that we should go to Hospital.I knew that it was of no use but as my parents and A felt that i should be seen by a Midwife.. i had to give in.
In Hospital - I was seen in the Triage Unit where Baby's heart beat was monitored.Midwife told me that i am in very early stages of labour and not dilated at all.We all came back home as this was the answer i was expecting.I could not sleep at night and started getting contractions which were 10 minutes apart.

Sunday- My contractions were fairly irregular as they were sometimes 10-14 mts apart. Again that late night around midnight we went to hospital and midwife told me i am only 2cm dilated.I came back home around 2 am. I took a hot water bath and it did give me some mild relief but after a while it became unbearable.

Monday :-We decided to go to hospital again around 5 am.
I was finally admitted to the Labour Ward around 7 am.Pain was getting beyond my control but midwife told me that i was again only 2-3 cm dilated. According to them i was still in the early stages of labour but i felt as if it was enough for me.

After seeing that i am unable to bear the pain - i was given Pethidine injection which gave me immense relief and i was knocked out for few hours. I remember i was in and out of sleep. Again after few hours i was examined and told that i am still 2-3 cm dilated.This time it was decided that my waters will be broken. The waters were broken and i was told to go for a walk around the hospital.By this time my contractions were irregular but as the effect of injection was going down i started getting the pains.Now i started using the Gas and Air which was effective for an hour or so but after that i was getting hysterical with pain.I also had a hot water bath in the hospital and it helped me pass 2 hrs.

Around 4:30 pm i was given Epidural - which finally got my misery to an end.I was told that my contractions are fairly regular and now i am 6 -7 cm dilated.
I was also told that it is quite a possibility that baby is not getting enough oxygen.My Blood Pressure was going low and therefore they decided to do a Foetal Blood Scan of the baby. They did this thrice in a span of 2 hrs. The result came out fine.Now i was full 10 cm dilated.By 9 in the evening i was so exhausted and disoriented that i had lost the urge to push the baby.During the entire process i also threw up quite a few times. There were 4 doctors who were now involved in my delivery.They tried to use Ventouse twice but were not able to take the baby out.

Finally after a lot of struggle and with the use of Forceps my baby was born at 10:45pm in the night.I suffered a major blood loss and my haemoglobin came down to 7 which led to blood transfusion.Even after the Blood Transfusion my haemoglobin level was 7 and the doctor was suggesting that again two units of blood needs to be given. I decided against that and requested them to discharge me. So on the fourth day i came back home with my baby.

39 Weeks

• My parents arrived this week. This is the first time they have stepped outside India and i think we both were anxious for their trip.Everything went off smoothly.They are loving London and appreciating little things which we used to take it for granted.
• I am now tired of carrying the huge bump and want to get it over with as early as possible.
• Temperatures in London have gone really high touching 29C and that is not helping me either.
• Despite the rising temperatures and my rising bump i have been fairly active this week.Went to Cambridge for a day trip/ had lunch in Tiffin Bites/Took my parents to Westminster to see Houses of Parliament and Big Ben and also running around to finish errands.
• I was reading somewhere that women do experience the sudden spurt of energy before the onset of labour- i think i am experiencing that.
• Started reading the "The contended Little Baby Book " by Gina Ford.

My Hospital Bag Checklist

• Maternity File+Birth Notes
• Shampoo
• 1 x Towel for bathing
• 2 x Hand Towels
• Moisturising Lotion
• 6 x Sanitary Towels
• Pack of Absorbent Breast pads
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Body wash
• Hairbrush
• Hair Scrunchies
• Face Moisturiser
• Deodorant
• Slippers
• 2 x Socks
• Glasses
• Camera
• 6 x Cheap Extra Large Knickers
• 2 x Nighties for Breastfeeding
• 2 x Nursing Bras
• Notepad and Pen
• Disposable Bags
• Nipple Cream
• Clean home going clothes
• Antibacterial Wipes
• Watch to time contractions
• Bottled Water
• Granola Bars/Digestive Biscuits

Hospital Essentials-For the Baby

• 2-3 Sleep suits - Pack of three Unisex Layette Sleep suits
• Cotton Wool-Small Bag
• 10 Nappies
• Pair of Scratch Mitts
• Eight Coloured Muslin Squares
• Nappy Sacks
• Bodysuits - Pack of seven white short sleeved 100% cotton
• A Beanie Hat
• Blankets -Cellular Pram Blankets
• Baby Towels
• 2 x socks

36 Weeks

• I am now officially on Maternity Leave from work.Well officially it starts from 17Th August and before that i am availing my 3 weeks of holidays.
• Have completed my Antenatal Classes at King George. I made some friends in the class and have been in touch with them since then. Quite a few of them are due around the same date as mine.
• I am down with severe cold this week and didn't sleep for two nights in a row.A had taken off from work and has been nursing me and doing all the cooking and house work.
• Reading the controversial book "How Opal Mehta got kissed,got wild and got a life"by Kaavya Viswanathan.
• Packed my Hospital bag and Baby Bag.. still some bits and pieces to be finished.
• Movies watched this week -Ice Age 3D and Love Aaj Kal.
• My parents are coming on 14Th August - so looking forward for it.
  

30 Weeks

• Attended my first Parenting Workshop at the King George Hospital-The midwife discussed about stages of Labour/ Birth Plan/Pain relief available and various other things. I think it was helpful as it really if someone talks about these things in person. I knew quite a lot of stuff but i still learnt few things and was reassured on many topics.


• Baby is kicking extremely hard these days.. and nights. Sometimes i wake up in the middle of night and just cant go back to sleep after that.


• Currently reading "Ask a Midwife" by Catharine Parker-Litter and also while commuting " Interpreter of Maladies " by Jhumpa Lahiri.This is my second time reading this book. The last time the book was borrowed from my College Library.That time i didn't even knew the author name and just picked up the book as those days i was interested in reading short stories.


• These days i need rest after short periods as i can't over strain myself. If i do that i get such a bad body ache which goes out completely out of control.


• I had my 3D scan done last week at a private clinic in Docklands. It was amazing to see the baby's features so clearly on the screen. We got a DVD made of the whole session and bought one color photograph and two B&W images.Baby was not in a mood to be disturbed it seems and was sleeping i suppose..the person who was doing the scan said the baby is very "cheeky".


• Also visited Spitalfields Market and Brick Lane Market- it was interesting to see so many cuisines from all over the world gathered in one place.There was Ethiopian/ Macay/ Mauritian/Brazilian/Thai/Italian/ French/Spanish/Chinese/Japanese.. to name a few.I had vegetarian momos/Chow mien/ mango juice/ homemade lemonade.
  Also walked to Brick Lane market- and tasted the very famous Bagels from Beigel Bakery.The shop was so crowded and small.. We bought Cream Cheese bagels. They were fine .. definitely fresh but were not warm.

27 weeks

......Had an extremely relaxing Bank Holiday weekend. Saturday - I stayed at home and finished household chores of cleaning and washing.Sunday- A and i ventured out to Regents Park and just walked around.Made Aloo Parathas that evening which turned out fabulous.Sunday- A had to work whole day in office. Had Pakoras and Spring Rolls at my Brother-In Law's place.

......This week London had the best sunshine ever and temperatures went up to 27C.It did get very hot at home but i think walking outside was lovely.
......I feel extremely tired once i come back from office - need rest for an hour and then can start my cooking routine for the evening.
......I crave for some dessert after dinner - had Haldiram Rasgullas last evening and wishing to make Shrikhand this weekend.
......Almost decided on my starting date for Maternity Leave. Plan to take whole of August off and take some last minute much needed rest.
......This week i made my Hospital Bag Checklist and Hospital essentials for the baby. Now the only job to do is to start buying the things and take them off list.
......Tomorrow i am taking off and will complete my chores for the week as busy this coming Saturday in attending a Bday Party of a 4 year old.

25 Weeks

• I have started experiencing the kicks of the baby and they are very prominent at night when i am trying to sleep.
• Fainted on the tube one morning - A was there so it was ok.
• I have changed my working hours to 8-4 but so far i am there in my office half past seven till half past four.
• Got to know that my Heamoglobin level is low - so intake of Iron is increased.Taking Iron supplements.
• Passed my Drivers Licence Theory exam -only one step behind from the full Drivers Licence.
• Eating home cooked food everyday for dinner and mostly for lunch as well.
• My typical lunch bag contains 3 kinds of fruit/ flavoured yogurt/and my lunch of roti and vegetable dish.Sometimes i do buy Twirl Chocolate to get over that afternoon slump.

22 weeks

Now officially 22 weeks our baby seems to be a very active person inside the tummy. The person who was scanning was quite amused the way baby was bouncing and it took her a while to count the chamber in the heart and take measurements.I am wondering if the baby is so active inside the tummy .. what will he do once he is outside.

20 Weeks

• Started doing my Wii Yoga to get some flexibility back.
• Also taking stairs when possible in office and while on Tube
• I dont feel like eating outside food but only home cooked simple meals like daal, no fuss sabzis.
• Absolutely hate eating paneer and chocolates.
• Love eating those cheap Supermarket Brand Choc Ices/ M & S gala sweet apples.
• Visited Devon & Cornwall - Lynton/ Lynmouth/ St Ives during Easter Break with freinds.
• Saw " The Knowing" and absolutely hated it.
• Looking forward to our Holiday in Canada - Montreal/ Quebec/ Ottawa.

17 weeks

• Feeling good this week as no throwing up.
• Indulged myself in pamper session- a deep cleansing facial,luxury manicure/padicure and a hair cut at my local beauty saloon.
• Saturday was bright and sunny- went for a stroll in St Paul's/had a lazy lunch and strolled towards Tate Modern.
• Marvelled at the amazing art pieces from various artists.
• Friends came over and had a Wii session for 2 hrs or so.
• Sunday was not that great and was tired all day -maybe because of the over exertion on saturday.
• Had a quite dinner of daal and aloo sabzi with rice.
• Plan to start my Yoga on Wii next week.
  

My new reading material

This is my new reading material after getting pregnant. I never realised that there is so much to read and it seems that i am missing out on so many things.. I get overwhelmed after seeing so many magazines and books which i have to finish reading before the baby arrives.Hopefully i will be all finished reading by then..

Announcing the arrival of ...

..Our little bundle of joy who is officially 15 weeks old.