Day -2 after c-section

In the morning, my catherter was removed and I had my breakfast. After that I made my first move and tried to get up from the bed on my own. It was very difficult as my legs were swollen as well because of oedema. With the help of my hubby, I got up from bed. I don't like hospital beds they are just so uncomfortable. Went to take my shower. Such a simple activity felt like a painful task at that time. But I felt good that I am forcing my body out of my comfort zone at that time.

After that I went for a bit of walk in the lounge, again forced myself to step outside comfort zone. After walking I didn't feel like climbing on bed again as lying down, changing positions were the most difficult tasks at that time. I was taking panadol,Endol, voltaren,iron, vitamin C tablets throughout the day. Endol is a narcotic drug in the same family as PVC. It was abating the pain.

Prisha was sleeping peacefully and touchwood, she was better at breastfeeding compared to Aarav.

Day 1 after C-Section

I didn't have much of sleep in night after the operation. Was feeling so tired. Epidural was wearing down, I had started to feel bit of pain. Nurse came and told me about PVC, whenever I feel pain just press the button to get PVC. It's not strong like epidural but it will help with the pain. When I looked at my abdomen I got really scared. It looked so loose and saggy. I could feel the movement of blood and could hear the sound of gases, because of no muscles. Uterus had started to contract and it was painful. I was able to wiggle my toes and was feeling bit of sensation in legs. To prevent blood clots, the nurse has tied some simulator belt on half legs which was helping in the circulation of bloods.

I looked at my angel and I felt that I was paying the price of getting my angel which I didn't regret. If the angel hasn't arrived the whole life I would have missed her presence.

The whole night, kunal was changing the diaper and cleaning the vomit of prisha. He didn't get any sleep as well. I love my hubby for being there always. When he is around, I feel less pain. Anyways, the whole day I was lying on bed only. Doctor came around 8 am and she told me that I have to start walking soon then only real healing will start. It will be very painful in beginning but I will start feeling better after that. Anaesthesist also came to check me after that and told me the same thing. When midwife came and asked me if I would like to walk, I told her let the PVC on till evening and after that remove the catherter and I could take a walk then.

The thought of taking a walk at that time was scary but I wanted to feel better so I waited till evening. Evening nurse came and she removed the PVC and started giving me painkillers orally. It was awfully painful. She didn't want to remove the catherter at that time as it was too late and if I couldn't walk she wasn't in a position to put it back again.

I was missing aarav so much, he came in evening and in beginning he was looking scared and was very quiet. I think, he didn't like watching me lying on the bed with drips inserted in my arms. we gave him buzz and told him that prisha had brought this gift for him. After sometime he started patting her and became alright. I missed him so much in last 24 hours and just wanted to hug him. When he left , I started missing him again so much.

Bub's arrival

On 10th march, I started feeling contractions at an interval of 7-15 minutes which started around 8 pm. By 11 pm they got worse and I called up Calvary Birth suite and they asked me to come for a check up. On reaching there, the midwife started the CTG. Then she took my temperature and blood pressure and found everything to be normal. Then she told me she would need to an internal examination to check the status of Cervix. Thinking that I did it so many times in the previous pregnancy it might be easier this time. The moment she started doing it , I started screaming. Gosh, it was so painful. I held kunals hand and started crying. I told her last time they had given me gas and it was bit comfortable. Anyways, Cervix was closed so nothing could be done and we came back home.

11th march:
I didn't feel much of pain during morning hours but again the contractions started during night. It was more painful than the previous night. I was scared to go to hospital because of the internal checkup. Somehow I spent the night in pain.

12th march:
Contractions became more intense, I called up midwife at calvary and she asked me to come over. We dropped Aarav at childcare and we went straight to the hospital. The midwife took us to the birthsuite and she started doing CTG and called up my obstetrician Dr. Rosy Ahuja. It was 10:30 am. My mucous plug had started discharging. Rosy came at 12:30 , gave me gas and did the internal checkup. Because of the gas I started to feel dizzy. Cervix was 3 cm dilated, she broke water. After some time anaethesist Monica came and she gave me epidural. Epidural at that time felt like the best possible thing on the world. After that they started antibiotics, and the labour inducing hormone in drips. It felt so relaxing after 2 painful nights. I took some sleep. At 5:30 Rosy came again and she found that cervix was 10cm dilated, she told me not to take more epidural and to start pushing in an hour. Aftern an hour when contraction got more intense I started pushing. Somehow I wasn't feeling the same pressue which I had felt during Aarav's time. Anyways, I continued pushing for an hour. Rosy came after an hour and she found that baby is no where close to cervix and had changed its position. She also mentioned that baby had developed some bumps on the head. She said C-section was the best option at that time. I started to cry hearing that. Anyways, they prepared me for the surgery and took me to the theatre and I think around 8, the operation finally started. I was so thirsty but I wasn't allowed to take even a sip as you are not supposed to eat or drink before surgery. Another anaesthesist came and he gave me a stronger dose of epidural. After that I shivered for next 2-3 hours continuously and felt very pukish. He kept on giving me some intravenous injections to help me with nausea. Kunal joined after some time. Though I was conscious but I wasn't fully aware of what was happening around. I was feeling very nervous and scared. I was just praying that God please keep my bub safe. Finally at 8:37 I heard the first cry of my baby and I became happy mom of my darling prisha. I remember seeing a glimpse of her over the screen. After some time, Kunal brought her to me and I couldn't believe that my angel has arrived finally. But by that time I had started to feel very weird. I started to feel oh God what's happening, it just doesnt feel alright. After taking out placenta, the doctor had started to stitch me but she had a tough time doing that because I didn't have muscles. In the process I lost blood as well. Loss of blood started to make me feel more giddy. The anaesthesist was really good, he kept on coming to me and offered verbal support that I am doing good and it will be over in 15 minutes. I think, it finally stopped by 9:50 pm. I was taken to recovery room. Where they monitored my blood pressure. I had started to feel very cold by then. I stayed there for some time and then was taken to my room. I was lying like a vegetable and the ward boy was shifting me from one stretcher to another. At that time nothing mattered, I just wanted to see my baby and hubby.

The ordeal ended and I entered my room where kunal was sitting holding prisha. 

Week 39 of pregnancy

The average baby is about 51 centimetres long from head to toe and weighs approximately 3.4 kilograms at birth, but anywhere between 2.5 and 3.8 kilograms is a healthy range for newborns. 

Your amniotic fluid, once clear, is now pale and milky from your baby's shedding vernix caseosa. The outer layers of skin are also sloughing off as new skin forms underneath. 

 Membranes rupture in less than 15 per cent of pregnancies and when it does happen, the baby's head tends to act like a cork at the opening of the uterus. (If you lie down, however, you may notice fluid leaking.) You should stay calm -- it may be hours before you feel your first contraction -- and call your doctor or midwife right away. Your body will produce more amniotic fluid until the baby is born, so your carers may suggest you wait at home until contractions are under way or may suggest an induction. 

http://www.babycenter.com.au/39-weeks-pregnant#ixzz2MhBvWq6J

Last night I was getting too much of braxton hicks, felt bit of cram as well in lower abdomen. Bub is moving alright, she is exerting too much of pressure in pelvis. I wanted to spend the last days with my hubby but he has become so busy now. I feel really bad seeing him this busy. But at the same time I am feeling very alone without him. Missing my mom dad a lot as well. Just feel like lying down in her lap.

Feelings before the D-day

Everyday I think is today the day :) Had this feeling during Aarav's time as well. Had a false alarm on saturday when suddenly i felt that I am leaking water but I didn't feel any labor like contraction. Called up birth suite at calvary and they said that it could be just a discharge. And it turned out to be that only. Getting cravings to eat my favorite things like paobhaji, sabudana bada, gratin toast. Waiting for my trip to parents house and then I will pour down all my wishes to my mom :) Right now my in-laws are helping me out with housechores which is a real help.

As the day is coming closer , so is my fear of post delivery period increasing. I just hope I don't have the same physical and emotional experience which I had during Aarav's time for 3 months. Regarding physical, I feel that it's going to get worse as the pain in my belly button is increasing day by day. Regarding emotional too I don't know what's going to happen this time. I just hope it's better this time. It's very important to be physically fit and be able to do things on your own, so that you don't become a burden on others. I have realised one thing, when you are in pain physically, bit of emotional comfort alleviates ur physical pain but emotional pain just doubles your physical pain. The biggest problem with me is that if I am not well I just keep quite and then no one understands what I am going through. No one wants to be sick.

Hubby can't be always with me as he has to work as well. His touch heals me the same way as my mom's touch. I love him so much. I just hope that I recover well this time.

Baby is half way down!

I went to see my obstetrician this morning and she told me that baby is half way down, which is a good sign. My bowel movement has increased since morning and feeling too much of pressure in pelvis. If anything happens on the weekend it will be good as my doctor is on call so she will be there for my delivery. Still have to finish my maternity bag packing. Feel happy that we had celebrated Aarav's birthday on time. My birthday is on 6th march and my hubby's is on 15th march, it will be interesting to see which day baby decides to arrive :)

Braxton hicks have increased a lot in last 2 days and at times I just start to feel giddy when that happens. Doc said it's normal , I just need to count baby's movement now. If she doesn't move for 2-3 hours even after stimulation then need to call up hospital. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Week 38 of pregnancy

Baby is now ready to greet the world. At this stage, your baby is still building a layer of fat to help her control her body temperature after she's born. All your baby's organs are well developed, though her lungs will be the last to reach full maturity. 

From this week onwards, the amount of amniotic fluid in your uterus gradually starts to decrease, although your body will continue to make fluid until your baby's born. 

http://www.babycenter.com.au/s1001635/38-weeks-pregnant#ixzz2M5K1IRVu

I went to see my obstetrician on 22nd feb and she said that baby's head is still floating. Uterus is still up because of the weak muscles. Have to wait till end to find out whether I will be having a normal or c-section.
Last few days have been quite busy as I am trying to finish up most of the pending work ( paper, housechore) before I go into hibernation for 3 months. I have registered with CellCareAustralia for cord blood and cord tissue banking. It's still controversial how useful its going to be. But I believe being parent we should do the best for our kids. The way cancer rate is climbing up, I don't see any harm in taking this step. The good think about the banking is that if the need arises the same cord blood can be used for the other sibling. For last few days, pain in belly button had increased which got me very worried. I didn't have a good experience with my first post natal period. The increasing pain in belly button means that with the other pain I have to bear this one as well this time. I wish I could fast forward this recovery period.

2 weeks more for my angel to arrive. I am waiting for the moment when she will open her eyes for the first time and will look at me and her daddy. I am waiting to see Aarav's reaction. I am hoping that he will get used to her soon. He is turning 3 on 28th feburary. I still have to finish packing my maternity bag.