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First Hand Diary Entry on How to Get Through Labour and Delivery

  • September 4, 2016
  • 3 min read
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First Hand Diary Entry on How to Get Through Labour and Delivery

Motherhood is the best moment in the life of most women and I experienced it in March 2016. Having a child changed my whole life. However, the journey from pregnancy to delivery wasn’t as easy as I thought. I had a comparatively easy labour and delivery though. And I should thank my gynecologist for that. Being a resident of Bangalore, I can vouch for the fact that some of the best gynaecologists in the country practice right here.

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My contractions started around 10 AM on March 9, 2016 and I had Anoop at 4 PM that same day.

India had a birth rate of 19.89 births/1,000 population in 2014 but nearly 45,000 mothers die every year during childbirth. According to the World Health Statistics (WHS) 2016, the Maternal Mortality Rate of India is 174/100,000 live births.

These numbers were scary for me. And I am sure I drove my gynecologist totally bananas through the entire pregnancy because I would read things on the internet and then quiz her about them! Fortunately, she was one of the best gynecologists in Bangalore, at least according to me, because she was most patient with all my ramblings!

How I Prepared for D-Day

My doctor advised that the preparation for labour and delivery should start weeks before my due date. Here’s what I did to ensure that I was well prepared:

  • Classes: I started taking labour and delivery classes about 30 weeks before my due date. Most of the hospitals in the city offer this but it is better to consult one of the best gynaecologists in Bangalore to get the best results. There are separate classes for women wanting epidurals, breastfeeding classes and even sibling adjustment classes. I got a lot of information about the whole process through these classes, which actually helped relieve a lot of stress.
  • Pack Your Bag: I packed my bag for the hospital at around 30 weeks and would recommend the same to every pregnant woman. Doing it early is always a good idea, especially if the baby comes a little earlier than expected. I packed not only my own essentials but things that a newborn baby would need, such as diapers, hygienic wipes, clothes, etc.
  • Water Breaks: One would need to immediately rush to the hospital as soon as the water breaks. Most babies are born within 24 hours of the water breaking to keep them safe from infection. I was told by my doctor to stay alert when the water breaks and check if the liquid is clear or has any green or brown specs. If the latter were to happen, I needed to immediately contact the nurse. Fortunately for me, everything was fine.
  • Contractions: When you are in labor, it may take some time before a medical professional checks you, so I was asked to use the 411 approach till then. It stands for contractions that are 4 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour. I waited till my contractions hit the 411 mark before I alerted the medical staff.

Having a baby was the best moment of my life and was completely worth the pain and anxiety. Delivery and labour may sound scary but if you are well-prepared, it can be a wonderful experience. Of course, it did help that one of the best gynecologist in Bangalore was by my side.

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