Love Love Love

Love Love Love

Friday, June 7, 2013

giving birth in India

I haven't blogged in quite some time, months actually and I'm sorry for that but life with two children under two has a way of making the days disappear in an instant and because of this a few things have been placed on the back burner one of which has been this blog. But now with a bit of a routine established it is my intention to get back to my weekly (ok let me be realistic I’ll try for bi-weekly) blog.

There is so much to talk about I don’t even know where to begin, I guess giving birth in India is a huge experience that many of you have patiently been waiting to hear about so I’ll start there: 

I chose to have my second child in India knowing it would be a scheduled c-section because of my son’s early arrival and the “t” incision that was made, with this type of cut the uterus is not able to withstand contractions and a normal delivery is not an option.

C-sections are performed quite regularly in India in fact the majority of births at every hospital I looked into result in operations. After meeting the right match for a doctor (she has been at this for decades) I trusted I was in good hands and informed my family in both countries.

I knew my Indian family would be pleased and my Canadian family responded as I expected; they had their worries but respected my decision. My mother decided she would come after the baby was born to help out but divine intervention brought her here the week before the delivery. In my 38th week the doctor was eager to do the operation, my family sat outside the operating room patiently waiting.

*In traditional India no one is allowed in during the delivery outside of the operating team, and no men are allowed to be part of the delivery team. 

As I lay prepped for surgery my doctor came in and informed there was an emergency c-section she had to perform but would get to me shortly and to just relax. My mind was getting away from me, unlike Canada I wasn’t allowed to bring my mala beads into surgery with me, which was kind of ironic to me, this being the land of mantras. So it was hard to distract myself.

The baby from the emergency section was brought into my room and worked on he/she wasn’t breathing, they suctioned and smacked it’s feet trying to get a reaction, a flood of emotions surfaced as I witnessed this tiny little being trying to find its first breath. My memory flooded with memories of my first delivery and the team that worked on my son, tears filled my eyes but love filled my heart, I took a deep breath and summoned every healing power I have ever worked with, I was calm and focused, I felt this was why I had been bumped, we were serving one another, he/she needed me to be a conductor for healing waves and the experience was needed by me to release the last bit of fear that still hid in my sub-conscious about the delivery.

As light energy poured into the room the baby chocked out a soft cry and tears streamed down my cheeks, you’re gonna be just fine I whispered and the baby let out a perfect wail, it was wrapped and ushered away, the nurses smiling in success.

 My doctor came in and twenty minutes later my surgery was complete, she was fast and efficient despite a little blip where my daughters foot remained wedged in my rib cage (a somewhat unbearable pain I had been dealing with for a few weeks prior.) They had to do compressions which at the time, a bit woozy from the anesthesia, I wondered silently if she was caught or if my heart had stopped beating, I couldn’t understand a lot of what was being said since my Hindi is still weak but I do know they had to do suction and get her breathing while she was still caught inside of me.

I prayed and told God if only one of us could stay to take me and with the next compression she was out of me. Being blindfolded, they use a blindfold instead of a curtain, I actually preferred it, it allowed to me to just be with my baby and my body instead of distracting myself with the action going on around me, I couldn’t see anything but the sound of her beautiful cry assured me she was alive and kicking. “Your first child is a son?” the doctor asked “yes” I replied “now you have a daughter” she said “perfect family” I heard many of the nurses murmur, “is she ok?” I asked “Yes Yes she’s perfectly healthy” she replied as a nurse moved my head to the side and removed my blindfold “your baby girl’ she said holding this wide eyed bundle, puffy faced beauty close to my face


“Hi” I whispered “Mommy’s almost finished I’ll be able to hold you soon” her eyes were smiling as they danced with mine, I stared at her with amazement and a bit of bewilderment. They put the blindfold back over my eyes and I heard the footsteps as they walked out of the room with my precious girl…