Two Pains - The Story of my Delivery

Let me come straight to the point.

Are you scared of needles?

I am!

I was unwell for the better part of last week; I was feeling giddy, had a body pain & there was always that nagging puckish feeling. Before you jump to conclusions, I had my periods just a week back so no I am not expecting. I showed to a resident doctor at my office and when she said may be I was suffering from indigestion or acidity, I ridiculed her and refused to take any medicine. I was majorly down on Wednesday but when I woke up on the day of Holi I was feeling better and thus ate samosa’s for breakfast. It was by afternoon that the stomach ache surfaced. By evening I had vomited twice and the pain was unbearable. Thus we decided to visit a doctor who declared that I was suffering from Minor food poisoning.

After she had written what she had to write in the prescription she said to me, “I have written the medicines for you but the kind of pain that you I have I don’t think that the medicines will help much so I will give you an injection, ok?” and I was like if it is absolutely necessary. Needless to say according to her IT was necessary.

So as I lied down I told her to go easy and she just smiled.

To be really honest I ridicule myself for my fear because at the end of the day it is just a prick but I don’t know why but I am scared. No need to laugh at me because when I tell you my delivery story you will laugh louder. No, not because I was scared of the operation, in fact I was super cool about it but for someone who took the operation in her stride, to be scared of a needle is ridiculous.

When I was in the 8th month of my pregnancy my gynaec had told me that the baby was in a breach position and that would mean we will have to go for a Cesarean. Till the point this was told to us we were very clear that I will be having a normal delivery (though in the heart of my heart I always knew it will be a Cesarean for me) so we were shocked. We consulted another doctor with a hope that she will tell us something different but the verdict remained same.

My gynaec advised us to choose the day & time of the operation. After much deliberation we decided on a date & time and accordingly my Mom & brother planned their trips.

9th August afternoon was the chosen date & time. I was given a list of instructions which included that I was not supposed to eat anything after 8 am. My mother in law was tense and my mother cool. As far as I was concerned I was more worried about what I will eat before checking-in in the hospital because

a) I was not supposed to eat for 1-2 days after the operations

b) I was told that my diet post the delivery would be Boring.

Thus I decided to have aloo ka paratha and sooji ki kheer early morning before going to the hospital. 8th evening was spent playing carom, chatting with my nieces & doing time pass. I went to sleep at around 11ish and then an hour later I started feeling a pain in my tummy. I thought my stomach was upset so I picked my novel and went to the loo. Since I was also told that I won’t be allowed to read anything post the delivery I was keen to finish my novel (sadly it still lies unread). I came out after spending 10 mins inside and some 10 mins later I again felt the pain and managed to spend more time inside the loo and it was then that my mom who was sleeping with me grew suspicious.

When I came out she asked me what the issue is. I told her I think my stomach is upset and I am having cramps because of it. Being the experienced one she immediately guessed that I was having labour pains.

Everyone, (read my Husband, MIL, FIL, brother & SIL) was woken up. A call was made at the nursing home and we decided to check in immediately. I took a bath, got ready, paid respect to the Gods adorning our Pooja and was ready to leave. We reached the hospital in no time and got admitted immediately.

There was just one nurse there at that time and she checked my vitals and informed the doctor. I guess it was 4 AM then and according to her there was no hurry. Since there wasn’t much to do hubby & bro left back for home and our wait began. Some instruments were tied onto me to keep a tab on my baby. My Mom & MIL were there with me at that time. Slowly the frequency of my pain increased and so did the worry of both the mothers. They were worried majorly for two reasons, one, the nurse didn’t look efficient enough and it seemed she was in no hurry. And two, since mine was a breach case any delay could result in a major complication.

Slowly time ticked away and gradually the pain increased. I started counting the gaps between each cycle & did the breathing as I was told to. It was then that my hubby & bro walked in. Insensitive as they are (by they I mean “Men” in general) one sat near my head and other near my feet and asked me to shift. As I was breathing hard my hubby asked kya hua?? (he is asking this question when i have already gone through a labor pain for past 4 hours!!!!) And immediately my bro asks me “yoga kar rahi ho?” (Who will say he has two kids).

Before looks could kill or rather I could murder them, they were saved by Mom. By this time it was already 9 and the head nurse had arrived who very efficiently took over everything. It was after she had come that we breathed a sigh of relief and by 9:30 doctor had also walked in. Here I must tell you that my Gynaec has one of the most assuring personality and she instills immense confidence in her patients. Though it is a completely different matter that I adore her sarees and I have talked about it here.

After all the preoperative procedures were done I was asked to walk in to the operation theatre and on the way the nurse asked for my specs. Pat came my reply, “but I need them before I reach the theatre” and I walked in the theatre with a grin and no fear whatsoever. When I went in the doctors greeted me & I was introduced to each of them. And then began the drama. No don’t worry nothing worrying happened, it was just that I started talking nineteen to dozens. I was awake till the time Arnav was pulled out and even muttered “I always knew it will be a boy but my hubby wanted a girl.” I remember telling the paediatrician about something that was mentioned in Arnav’s scan reports. After the delivery I lost my consciousness and woke up only after I was stitched. My Mom tells me that later the doctor was telling her that your daughter is a non-stop blabber box. As per her I wasn’t quite even for a moment in the operation theatre and she had to practically sedate me to shut me up.

Even after coming out of the theatre I was talking non-stop and was finally scolded to be silent for better recovery. My recovery was good thanks to my will power and I had started walking on the 3rd day and discharged a day before the planned day. My Mom tells me that my MIL was more worried about the pain & operation that I had undergone.

Till date I feel that the hue & cry about the whole process is overrated. For me it was a cake walk but yes when I read other experiences I thank God for being kind to me & also my doctor who made the whole experience easy.

The beauty of my delivery was that despite that fact that I had a planned delivery; Arnav had a mind of his own and decided to come in early but thankfully stuck to the decided date. And the best part was he made me experience the pains of a normal delivery & the operation as well. As they say, I am getting back what I gave to my parents.

So now tell me what do you feel? Do you feel like laughing that somebody who was so brave or rather indifferent about the operation can be scared of a mere injection?

At least I am laughing at myself :D

P.S. Yes the title is inspired and you know from where :P