Things No One Tells You About Normal Delivery

I eagerly waited for my big day and hoped for normal delivery. It was the 25th of November, 2016, my cousin’s wedding. My maternal family was off for a celebration. Since it was an outstation affair, I got all the updates (pictures, videos) on my WhatsApp cousin group. However, I did not experience the movements of my baby which were unusual because as soon as I gulped down, I used to get immediate feedback from my baby inside.

Arrived at the Hospital

Around 4 pm, I called up my doctor and narrated the situation. She was instructed to rush to the hospital and get the movement scan done. Meanwhile, I went for a walk with my mother-in-law and also had Sooji desi ghee halwa (Indian Semolina Dessert). So around 6.30 pm, I reached the hospital and entered one of the labor rooms. It was luck by chance that my doctor was in the Delivery room as one of the deliveries was in progress.

I got admit after all the formalities. At night, the nurse tied the belt on my stomach to take count of the baby’s movements and labor. I could not sleep because I was nervous. Nurse and doctors were on regular checkups to monitor the strength of my contractions and also to examine internally the progress of my labor after every three hours.

The D Day

It was five in the morning when the nurse came and started inducing the pain fluid along with the drip. As time passed around half-past seven, I started to feel immense pain in my lower abdomen and spinal column. The labor cramp was punctilious for around two to three minutes and then disappearing.

Slowly and steadily it reached a stage where I started to yell and shed tears. I became short of breath and an oxygen mask was applied. I was so much in torture that sometimes I grabbed the nurse’s hands and most of the time mother-in-law’s hands. She gave me continuous assurance that everything will be fine and rubbed her hands on my back.

Labor Pain

Labor pain was at its peak around half-past nine. I shouted and pushed myself tremendously. Various injections and instruments were injected to check whether my baby is able to handle the pain. I was surrounded by a team of five-six nurses and three doctors. They all worked hard to bring my baby into this world.

Finally, my doctor came and asked me how am I doing, I practically half-dead replied: “bahut dard ho raha hai” (I am in tremendous pain). She smiled and said you have already won half battle, one of the lucky ones to reach the peak point of labor so quickly. It may take twelve to fifteen hours to reach this stage.

Her words consoled me for a while and again I started to push harder. The doctor shouted continuously- ‘Push, Push, Yes! Ayushi you can do it, Yes! Ayushi you can do it’. These words motivated me and reverberated around the delivery room.

When a Mother was Born

Struggling and trying hard after a few minutes the baby came outside, it was 10.49 am. The doctor said, Congratulations, It’s a princess!!!! I raised both my hands and shouted ‘Yay’. That very moment I don’t know where my pain disappeared.

The Paediatrician gave me the baby. I smiled looking at her and could not believe that this was my baby for whom I was waiting for nine months. ’Indeed a mother was born that day. I thanked God for the most precious gift’- My Empress.

Then the junior doctors helped me with my stitches and shifted to the normal ward. I was very thirsty and drank eight to ten glasses of water immediately.

Soon after that, phone calls and messages started pouring in; I was so excited to give this news to everyone and receive their blessings!!! Relatives and family members enquired over the phone about C-section or Normal delivery.

All of them were surprised and congratulated me for having a normal delivery. This made me realize the fact that how important it is to spread the word and make future-to-be moms aware of natural delivery.

In the upcoming section, I would like to share some tips that I feel were major contributing factors to my normal delivery.

Tips for Normal Delivery

#1. A trusted Senior Doctor

Search for a good senior gynecologist, who is genuine and trustworthy. We got to know about our gynecologist through a family friend who had a normal delivery and advised me to visit her anytime in the future. Then, I researched about her through the Internet and the hospital’s website. If one gets a good doctor, the chances of normal delivery may increase. (These days maximum doctors want to make money out of patients, therefore, C-section is done even when there are no major complications).

#2. Be Confident and Trust Yourself

Soon to be mommies get goosebumps and are frightened to think about the labor pain that they opt for C-section. Instead of that educate yourself. Make up your mind for normal delivery. The natural is better.

#3. Normal Healthy Routine

Leading a normal healthy routine includes eating home-cooked food, walking, and doing household work, basic breathing exercises, and squat position exercises along with lots of water intake followed by a good sleep.

Benefits of Natural Delivery

• 1. Rich diet (paneer sabzi, daal, chapati, rice, coconut water) served as soon as you deliver.
• Discharge from the hospital the very next day of delivery.
• Fast Recovery: After twenty-two days, I started my morning and evening walks. Normal delivery helped me to recover fast as I didn’t experience much pain except stitches and back (which is common in the case of breastfeeding).

• Since it was a normal delivery, after twelve days, I started with a one-hour body massage which was relaxing and soothing. Massages were a big relief from hectic and demanding baby schedules.
• Normal Delivery was an empowering process for me by being able to give birth naturally and meeting the demands of labor (tears, screams, pain). I contributed to the entire process which has made me mentally strong. It will also help me in facing other challenges and hardships in life.

How to Take Care of Yourself after Delivery in Initial Months

• The mother should sleep as and when the baby sleeps – This is only possible in cases where family members are at home to take care of other chores or another baby. During the initial days, sleeping with your child is necessary because a mother’s body is weak and rest is important to help regain strength.

• Try to seek support and Outsource – Outsource home-related work and take help from parents/ inlaws.

  

• Intake of Fluids like juices, porridge, semolina (sooji), water, vegetable soup, and pulses. Drink milk at least three times a day; it’s good to start and end the day with milk. In the initial months of post-delivery, one should not worry about excessive weight gain as breastfeeding has to be done by the mother.
• Invest in Breastfeeding Equipment – Regular breastfeeding reduces a lot of weight and helps the bond grow stronger. One may invest in breastfeeding equipment after consulting a lactation expert.

• Avoid stress as it will make the situation worse. Thinking is a continuous and ongoing process. Constructive and positive thinking is very important to sail through the initial phase after delivery. Concentrate on yourself and your baby.
• Drink boiled water: Boiled water for at least six months if not a year. Ajwain (Trachyspermumammi) water to reduce stomach fat. Add ajwain in water and boil it, then strain out ajwain and drink the water.
• Surgical Belts provide back support at the time of breastfeeding sessions and also helps your stomach to get back in shape in most cases (Use Belts after 15 days in case of normal delivery and consult Doctor in case of C-section).
• Body massage helps to get the body in shape and also relaxes from severe back, joints, hands, and legs pain that is quite common after delivery.  Body and foot massage is done two to four months after delivery. Generally, two to four months of body and foot massage is recommended after a normal delivery.

• Walking for 30 minutes daily after one month of delivery is important to regain strength and confidence. It will make you feel positive and energetic. Your mood will freshen up and your mind will be calm if you move out for a walk every day.

In the end…

Be strong & optimistic and stay flexible about your delivery because, at the end of the day, yours and your little one’s lives are the most precious. Above all, make your journey most memorable and remarkable by taking good care of yourself and your tiny tot. Hope you find this article helpful. Do share with us about your normal delivery experiences and things we have missed, in the comments below.

Happy Parenting!

(Note: The above information is solely based on the Author’s own experience. Every pregnancy is different and unique. Always consult your doctor for any advice.)