15 Marbles

Ananya Birth Story-1
Ananya Birth Story-2
Contd:
We went to the OT at around 3 PM,because would you believe it,there was another emergency case. The walk to OT from the labor ward seems surreal to me..Aadi held my hand all the way and it took all my will-power to not cry when I said good bye to her..I kissed her and told her,’Mumma and Papa would be back with her baby sister soon’..She said,she would be waiting right outside..and said ALL the BEST!
We went inside,they asked Sanj to change into his scrubs while they took me in for preps..We started with the epidural..everyone was so good and encouraging.They had to try a few times to find the right spot and after every poke,everyone would cheer me and tell me,I was doing well.One of the nurses was standing in front of me and asked me hold his hand tight when they poked..and everytime I said sorry for crushing his hand,he would smile and say,I am not complaining and kept me distracted by talking to me about bollywood actors.
I knew something wasn’t working,when they called a senior guy..and he said,he was going to try again.So,first he gave me a spinal block,and then tried the epidural..Gosh!That was the most horrible sensation ever..I felt a wave of current go down my leg and I never EVER want to feel that again..I remember screaming and saying..I am never having another baby again Finally,the epidural was in place and then we were set.When they did the cold test,my legs were numb.. but my tummy wasn’t.Then,they did the forceps test and I could FEEL EVERYTHING.And then everything happenned very quickly. Sam the anesthesiologist,said,sorry,it didnt work and that they were going to put me to sleep.I told him,I wanted to say something to him and he asked me what.I said,he was the really sweet and way nicer than my anesthesiologist the first time..He said thanks and I felt like I was gagging on something and feeling funny.I wanted to remove the mask that Sam was holding on my face,but I couldn’t because someone/something was holding my hands. The last thing,I remember is Sam telling me to keep my eyes open till I could.
The next thing I remember is very hazy,someone was trying to push my bed and talking to me or someone else..I don’t know.I woke up in my room and Aadi ran in,wearing her beautiful pink coat and said,”Mumma Ananya is here..She is out of your tummy..she is so cute,Mumma..I love her..”I remember crying because I couldn’t see the baby anywhere..and I asked Sanj,are you sure its a girl…and they all laughed and said,yes it is..then I remember trying to hug Aadya awkwardly..holding the baby..but that is a very hazy memory..I guess I must have dozed off.
Later,I came to know that Ananya arrived in this world,at 4:09 PM on Saturday,July 23rd 2011.She had inhaled a bit of the general anesthetic and so her lungs had to be cleared with artificial respiration.Sanj was sitting outside hearing all this..He heard the OT staff,gush about her..about how beautiful she was and her lovely hair..how pink she was after her lungs cleared up.
I spent the rest of the night under observation.I remember the mid-wife Judy who took care of me..I don’t remember her face,but I know she was stocky and had really short hair and I can still hear her voice,telling me,’Alright,Trishna,can you turn for me ..don’t worry,we’ll get through this night’..I remember her giving me a nice sponge bath and changed my hospital gown,I remember her putting the baby to my breast,every few hours..
The next day,Irene,my mid-wife came to see me..she told me of the events that took place…that I had a difficult delivery and lost a lot of blood in the OT,that they had trouble waking me up and I spend more than 8 hours in recovery and the whole night under observation..all those images of Judy and her words made sense then.
I was really disappointed at not being awake for Ananya’s birth..I felt very guilty about not being there for her,in her first moments of life..and then Irene hugged me and told me,that,even if I was sleeping,I was the first one that Ananya touched,after she was cleaned..Irene said,she put her face to face with me..Gosh.. just writing about it,is making me all choked up..I can never thank Irene enough for that one moment..
The next day,I was still in a morphine-induced haze and Ananya was too.Both of us,were poked every few hours,to check our sugars..my BP shot up after the surgery and I was on constant BP monitoring..my oxygen level had dropped down considerably and I had to be on Oxygen for the next 48 hours.One time,I took off the oxygen mask to kiss Ananya and the monitor started beeping and I had to put it back on..Ananya was born on Saturday and on Sunday night,the mid-wife helped me to the bathroom..and I almost screamed,looking at my blue-grey face…that’s when I got really scared..But touchwood,God gave me tremendous strength and looking at my baby’s face and thinking of Aadya at home,made me get up,walk around a little..I am not saying this just for the heck of saying..they really were my motivation to feel better..
We came home on the 4th day..I had stayed away almost 6 days and the look on Aadya’s face was priceless.. She couldn’t stop kissing her sister and hugging me..and every few minutes,she would come,hug me tight and tell me..”Mumma,I really missed you..when you were not there!”
Me,I am just happy to be healthy and home with my beautiful family…:)
If you are still reading,thank you for your patience..I know its too long..but come on,more than 20 hours of labour, failed epidurals,and such an eventful delivery,needs to be documented,yes?!!

So,the girls are in bed and I have some time..so,let me tell you the rest of the story or at least part of it:)
You might want to read Ananya Birth Story-1 first
Contd:
So,Gene said we’ll know how things are progressing only after he does the internal exam.He asked me,if I was OK with him doing my internal or did I want to wait for a female mid-wife to be available.At that point,I was like..No way..I can’t wait..just finish the damn examination and tell me,I am having the baby like NOW!LOL! So,he went out and came back with a female colleague,to be present during the examination.
She asked me how was I doing?I said “I am good”.. and just then a pain hit me..and I took a deep breath in..and Gene said,No you are not fine,you are in pain! And I think I was having an out of body experience.. like I was watching all this from outside. Anyway,he did the internal examination and said,that the cervix hadn’t opened yet,so basically,that meant we had to wait.But,because I was leaking fluid,having regular contractions,and had GD,it meant things could happen very quickly..and I would not be allowed to go home. They would have to keep monitoring my sugars and the baby.
By this time,I was shifted to Bed#1 and someone else came on bed No#2.It was someone who had had 6 C-sections(!!!) I swear I am not making this up..and she was still 34 weeks pregnant but because she had had so many C-secs,and was getting contractions for more than 2 hours or so,she became priority.
By 9:30PM or may be 10:00PM,Sanj arrived with Aadi and my aunt..and he was all excited,thinking that we are going to have the baby now..But Gene came and gave me painkillers and said,we will wait for 2 more hours and then do another internal exam,and then depending on that,decide..what needs to be done.
In the meantime,they started prepping the 6 C-sec lady for surgery..she was going to have her baby then!!! Sanj was so mad.. his logic being,I was further along in the pregnancy and in lots of pain and all I got was painkillers.. He even asked me to stop being so polite and show the pain!!LOL!! Anyway,he left my aunt in the room,for us to catch up and he went outside in the waiting room,with Aadya.They kept coming back every now and then,depending on Aadya’s mood.
At 12:30 am,the contractions weren’t getting any closer but the pain was getting worse.Then the doctor came and said,they wanted to wait another hour before deciding what to do. Sanj was getting frustrated with all the waiting.His main worry was they were going to send me home,after all this while. Aadya was getting sleepy and being naughty..yes,she is a silly one..my naughty monkey gets naughtier as she gets more and more tired. And me? well,I was getting hungry.That and as Sanj got angrier,I got more anxious..plus,I was feeling guilty that my poor aunt,was sitting there next to me,after having come on a long plane ride..though she insisted she was fine.
Gene had gone home,by then,after introducing me to the next mid-wife,who was really nice..and now,I am feeling really really bad,that I have forgotten her name. I think it was Michelle or Sarah..Anyway,I asked her,if she thought I would deliver in the night..and she said,no,unless,my water broke they would make me wait till morning,when there was more staff available and they were going to move me into a private room for the night. Phew,finally,some decision.So,I asked Sanj to take Aadi and Auntie home and then,I asked the (Michelle/Sarah),if she could please give me something to eat and a tall glass of water..because,you guessed it,until then,I wasn’t allowed to eat or drink anything.She brought me two sandwiches and orange juice and moved me to the other room.Sanj took Aadi home and my aunt stayed with me..another hour till my cousin came to pick her up.
The pain was getting worse..(Michelle/Sarah) handed me over to someone called Julie(I think) I remember she said,she had 2 girls.She put name bracelets on me,made two for the baby as well and said,we would be ready in case,we need to go in the OT,as an emergency.
At around 3:30AM,she gave me Petadene,for pain and to stop labour from progressing because,the doctor had by then decided that I will have my C-sec in the morning.
Petadene,made me feel very hot and I woke up sweating.I could still feel mild pain..which was annoying and I threw up.To cut a long story short,I spent the rest of the night,on a chair.
At 8:00AM,the doctor came in and the first thing he asked me was,who was I saving the bed for and informed me that they were scheduling me for 11:30AM and so,I could inform my husband,so he could arrive in time.I called up Sanj and tried to sleep..
I shouldn’t have bothered because thats when the circus began.The pains got stronger,the anesthesiologist arrived to talk to me,I held up my hand and promptly threw up again.He said sorry and said he’ll come back later.Ten minutes later,the mid-wife came and told me that there was another emergency and so my surgery would be pushed to 1:30PM provided no other emergency came in.
Another anesthesiologist came in and some more drama happened..As it is I have bad veins,add to it,I was dehydrated,lets just say,it took quite a few pokes to find the right vein and get the pump in..And then,they started the drip. By now,I couldn’t lie down any longer..so I started walking.
Sanj arrived with Aadi and my aunt & cousin and the midwife was sweet enough to make a special bracelet for Aadi.We passed time chit-chatting and make calls,cuddling Aadya..until Irene,the mid-wife walked in.I had her for my last CTG and really loved her..and was hoping,I get her for my delivery..So,it was like my prayers were answered..and Irene was there for me. That immediately made me feel better and I was filled with a new energy.She asked me if she could try to express some BM for the baby,incase,I needed to stay longer in OT.I said yes and she did..
Continued..
Ananya Birth Story-3