My bundle of joy arrived in a blue blanket

I reached the hospital on 7th morning. For the first time in my life I reached on time for something. I dressed up in operation suit and they did a final check of blood pressure etc. Then I sat with my mother and waited while hubby and my dad went to do the paper works.

Time hardly passed until it was 9 am and we were taken near the operation theatre by a porter. It was time for me to go inside. I was told that hubby would join me later inside the theatre. I kissed my parents good-bye but didn't say anything to hubby because I was to meet him inside.
I was in the preperation room adjoining the operation theatre for quite sometime doing what, I do not remember.

In the operation theatre finally, I was given the epidural and they were monitoring other things for a long time. I was feeling very sleepy may be because of the epidural or the blinding bright lights or the cold conditioned air. I was feeling awful. I wanted hubby near me. I kept asking the nurses about my husband. They said he was waiting outside and will be with me in a short while. I missed him terribly and felt so bad that I had not kissed him good-bye too. I was afraid that he was going to miss the delivery and I would deliver my baby without kissing my hubby.

His arrival after so long a time was a blessing for me. I told him whatever I had done since leaving him, that my blood pressure reached a peak of 160/100 and that I vomitted. A screen was then raised with me and hubby on one side and my belly on the other. And then the doctors and nurses were doing so many things, which I was not feeling. There was lots of pushing and rolling motions in my tummy. And there was one final puuuu.......................sh..... and there was the baby. The doctor raised the baby over the screen to show us, he was there, crying.

I do not remember what happened after that. All I could remember was the little one raised above my head, crying. They sent hubby out of the room and I could still hear the baby's crying. I laid there awestruck. Then they brought the baby to me, wrapped in a blue blanket and put him on me. He was looking at me and crying... hearing which I couldn't help crying myself.

Baby's weight: 3 kg

38 weeks

I went for the 38 weeks appointment, probably the last prenatal appointment before delivery. The doctor did a final check if the baby has turned and confirmed that he hasn't. Later we got things finalized like signing the forms of consent and for hubby to stay with me and witness the delivery.
My appointment for the c section is 9.30 am on the 7th of may. I would need to reach the hospital 2 hours earlier for the admission procedures.
Things are settled now. I have a bag to bring to the hospital and it was packed a month earlier. It contains clothes for me and the baby (freshly cleaned) even though the hospital staff told me that all I would need to bring is going home dress for me and baby. Still I have my personal clothes packed - just in case.

37 weeks

My breech baby is still very active on contrary to everything others have said. People say that the movements reduce slightly as days go on but my baby is more active everyday because he is not locked in his birth position and unable to move. This is kind of fun too. Most often I think that I am gonna miss all his maneuvers after his birth. After all I am the only one who can feel all this and after his birth, I would have to share this with everyone else. He would no longer be mine alone. Everyone would want to hold him then. I'll really look forward to steal him away whenever time will permit.

36 weeks

I went for my next appoinment yesterday. One week of thinking and rethinking and getting used to the idea had made me quite cheerful. And I had made up my mind about the c-section.

"Do you think the baby has turned yet?" started the doctor. No. I don't think so.

But I'm fine though. Then we had an U/S done. The baby was about 2.7 kgs. By the time he arrives, he would be 3.5 kgs that is in 3 weeks time. We are all excited in anticipation of the big boy!

Sno......ring...

A couple of weeks back, hubby woke me up in the night to tell that I was snoring. I said "NO". I couldn't believe it. Me? Snoring? It was much of a shame. And then it started happening everynight. We had a deal. We would let each other know while snoring. We hope it would help us stop the habit.

Few days later, even I started feeling it. Whenever hubby woke me up, I would notice my own snoring just before waking up. Sometimes I even make that noise during the day while I laugh or walk fast. It is because of shortness of breath.

I checked with the doctor and learnt that it is quite normal. Only hope that it will go off after delivery.

Baby's position!

I am 34 weeks now and I went for a growth scan yesterday. I had loads of questions for my doctor and was expecting her to give me a sigh of relief saying that the baby has 'engaged' already even though I do not feel any difference at all. For the past couple of days, I was feeling the baby had slightly moved down, even though he would climb back up every now and then. Which I know is definitely a sign that the baby has not engaged yet. Still I preferred to believe he had!!!
The very first look into the scan revealed that the baby is still breech. I got a bit worried even though it is only 34 weeks now and he still has enough time to turn. Only the previous day, I had learned about this girl whose baby was breech and is expecting to have a c-section soon. Rest of the scan went fine.
The moment the doctor saw the scan report, she said that the baby has got a big head (head is bigger than the rest of the body). It need not be a cause of concern still, we might need a c-section. Well, in her words, I'll most probably have a c-section. And the breech position? It was only then she saw the rest of the report and said in that case, I'll definitely have a c-section.
We can't deliver our breech baby normally because of his big head. If we try, his head might get stuck while the rest of the body has come out already. That is too risky to even try!
While fighting back my tears, I asked her about chances of ECV or external cephalic version. She said she doesn't personally suggest doing it because of the risks involved and if I insist on doing one.... no I don't. It's upto you, doctor!!!
I couldn't hold my tears beyond this. Having a c-section was the last thing I would have ever thought about in life. As long as I can remember, whenever I had to do something painful, I have always thought "Some day I am gonna have a baby through normal delivery. If I can handle that, I can handle this too". This has been in my thoughts all the time. Starting from little needle pricks to donating my blood for charity! Now the very reason for all my confidence is gone!
The doctor was trying to convince me. She said that even with a c-section, I can be awake the whole time and see the baby coming out. And I can have my husband with me. Well, I did not listen to what else she told me.
"Talk to your baby and let's see if he would engage by himself!" was the last thing she said. Hmm. Let's see. If the baby hadn't moved down at all, I would have hoped for the best. Now, I feel he is lower than he used to be but head up. Which I think is because he just couldn't engage, possibly because of his head. There's nothing I can do alright. When I asked the doctor about spending time on all fours to encourage the baby to engage, she said she didn't believe it will help, but I can try if I want to. Well, I shall try!

Things that keep me alive today:

1. The baby's kicking has increased in the past few days. I'm happy that he is more active regardless of the fact that he is kicking my bladder with his legs often and this is making me too uncomfortable and wanting to pee often!
2. Hubby, who has been wonderful all the way.

33 weeks

For all the pain, sleep deprivation and swelling, I still enjoy being pregnant. I'm happy with every passing day. My food intake is in full power. Still I feel myself fit enough. So far, I have gained about 13 kgs including the baby's weight and the swollen fluid in my legs.
The best part of pregnancy is the massage that I get from hubby, anytime, anywhere. He doesn't mind giving me a massage whenever I ask which is amazing.
The worst part is he wouldn't allow me to take caffeine in any form. And he controls the amount of butter I take. If I had coffee one day, then he won't let me have either coke or coffee for another 2 weeks. Even if I tell him that 300 ml per day of caffeine contained drink is safe for a normal and pregnant being. Good news is this restriction excludes the caffeine in chocolate, which I eat anyway without his knowledge. Even if he knew, I'd tell him that chocolate contains iron and magnesium that's vital for the baby. For the baby, you know!
P.S.Along with the shopping lists for the baby, I am also preparing another list of things to do after delivery. On top of the list is "dance till I drop, jump all I can". Because that is one this I miss most in being pregnant!