The birth of a mom

Published: www.yash.ca
On: July 28th, 2008
At: Toronto, Canada


One week before my rebirth, I get restless. Now I am desperately waiting for my baby to arrive in this world. Moving from one room (with husband) to another room (with mom) like a ghost I toss and turn on my bed. The pain is getting unbearable. The continuous phone calls of friends and family who are eagerly waiting for 'the news' pains me more. I am getting heavier, could give an elephant a complex as well.
On 26th july, I clean all the washrooms, and house. Sparkling clean, just as they show in the ads. After dinner, mom and Santosh decide to retire for the night. I continue with my ghostly antics.
Suddenly I am hungry. I tip toe to the kitchen. Look here, and there, and gobble peanuts. Strangely, I feel heavy. I wobble up now, no longer afraid of waking anyone. I try to sleep, honestly I do try. But the pain becomes unbearable. It's impossible to sleep on my right side, but now sleeping on left side appears impossible too. I get up, and walk towards mom's room. Phew! Doesn't an elephant get tired ever??!!! Well, I do!
I can't sleep with mom too. It's 3 am. Trotting back to my room, my scuffles wake up Santosh. Trying to soothe me to sleep, he surely does his best. But this isn't my day. I cry, cry, cry for no reason at all.
Mom hears my Boo-hoo and comes to the room. She decides its time to go to the hospital. Unanimously, we agree, and get going with changing clothes, packing bags, etc.I visit the bathroom to relieve myself. When I get up, I see blood. My screams bring Santosh and mom rushing to check on me.
My water bag has burst declares mom. NOW, it's really really time to rush to the hospital. We are now residing in Mississauga, but my hospital (Scarborough Grace) is in another city, Scarborough. It's a good one-hour drive from home. (It's a long story why we live in one corner, and I am delivering in another corner of the city).
Santosh zooms to the hospital. Thanks to our previous visits, we know where exactly to park and where to go. Sitting on a wheelchair is no fun. I feel funny being driven by someone else! Talk about giving control of my life to someone else!!!
We are quickly ushered in by a nurse. On the hospital bed, I go through a battery of 'tests' that qualify me to be in labour. Santosh completes the registration hurriedly.
Here's my true test. I hate needles. I am petrified! I know that "But you are a Doctor's daughter" statement. My nerves are really thin, and difficult to find. So I need a baby needle or a butterfly needle as they call it. However, the nurses don't think so!! They want to first try their expertise on me, and then when they are not successful they call an Anaesthetist to do so! Result: Both my hands are blue with numerous pokes.
It's noon finally when they give me glucose, and then the best thing that man ever made: epidural. They inject right into your spinal cord while you remain still for few minutes. Then, its bliss. You are unaware of the pain and contractions. They do monitor your contractions though with their advanced monitors.
I sleep for 2-3 hours, unaware of time passing by. Come 8 pm, and a nurse walks in. She is all ready to butcher me. Wearing her gloves, she checks for how much I have dilated. She declares, it's up to you now! Do you want to whine and be here till tomorrow morning or push hard and deliver in the next 15 mins!!!
Now, I am not used to someone telling me that. Yet, I meekly listen to her instructions and PUSH!! I felt as if I am heavily constipated. And, I push, push and push. Yes, we can see him. And, I push, push and push. I see his head, Oh he has got so much of hair, Santosh says with delight. (I am only interested in pushing). The nurse quickly pulls my baby out, and hands him over to Santosh. The proud papa cuts the umbilical chord. Wiping him off, and amidst oohs and aahs, a mother is born.