My firstborn, Kevin’s birth was uneventful. In fact, he did not even appear on the due date. The said day, I got up from bed, as usual, nursed the much-needed cup of coffee, ran my morning routine without any noticeable pregnancy hindrances wondering all the while what is happening inside my gigantic tummy.

The baby is still comfy, hasn’t made a peep, even not so much as a tiny movement. I flexed my muscles most carefully and decided to do some cooking to lighten up my grumpy mood.  I am in my element when playing Domestic Goddess. It relaxes me when the spices are put together and the vegetables are neatly cut ready to go to the stove to turn itself into a comfortable dish. That morning, I ended up cooking our Biriyani (very Indian), some curry chicken and a vegetable dish (can’t remember what now). Still no sign of any stirring inside or contractions (At this point, I was almost hoping for one). I went upstairs and took a nice warm bath and changed my clothes as if that is going to wake up the baby and gave us some action.

No, he wasn’t least bit bothered.

I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant. My Doctors considered mine as a high-risk pregnancy. They advised me that I should not go past my due date due to the risk of baby’s size and hence a traumatic delivery and other complications. They needed me to call them on the due date if I do not land myself in the ER on my own accord. So, late morning, I made the call. The nurse in charge at the Triage asked me to join a short waiting list until one of their beds will be free. So, I waited, again. This time for a bed.

An Uneventful Birth Story

 

Finally, the call came and we picked up our packed bags and drove to the hospital. At Labor and Delivery, I changed my clothes and put on a lifeless and colorless robe which looked like it could fall off any time from my oversized body. But sure, that would have been least of my concerns at that moment.

Obstetrician on call checked in, felt my pulse, checked the baby and in the most generic way, comforted me saying that ‘it all looks fine’. Sure it is, that is why I am wondering what the hell is happening and why my water is still holding together. No action. Great, even my husband is looking little bored now. Wait, Is he yawning? He better not. I muttered in my head like a crazy woman. Geez, I am also bored. I realized. This is not what I expected in my first ever labor? I thought it was going to be action packed just like we see in TV and movies.  I would be screaming like someone possessed. But a tiny voice in my head quivered- ‘don’t push it, you hate pain’. Oh okay, whatever. I calmed down.

A woman came to stand by my bedside. She (maybe a Nurse?) was smiling. ‘Vinma, we are going to break your water and then we will see how it goes, alright?’ I mutely nodded my head. Everything thereafter started getting a little fuzzy for me to recollect. I sensed pain finally.  The nurse and the Doctor interns got to work on me and set me up on IV and I heard somebody declaring in the background. ‘Yes, this lady is ready to go’. Ready to go where? I thought a little confused.

I was lifted off the bed by unseen hands and I barely noticed my husband standing close to me with my hospital bags in hand. A voice in my ears. ‘Vinma, I am your Nurse today and we are going to take you to the birthing suite, okay?’ I nodded again.

Geez, why are these people so bossy? Some uncomprehending part of my brain wailed inside. With great effort, I opened my dry mouth and asked, ‘Where is my husband?’. ‘I am right here’, he called out. Why is he yelling? I mused.

The pregnancy hormones raged inside me and started invading my mind and body.I started feeling disoriented and groggy.  The contractions started coming alive slowly and I started fighting off the pain.
It is funny even to think about the final moments before the two of us turned to three and the impatience we both felt in our own ways in counting the minutes before we get to hold Kevin in our arms for the first time and to see his beautiful face. Later, I realized that I was highly medicated due to the Induction procedure performed on me and I was having an out of body experience at L&D. Strange. Once at the birthing suite, Kevin must have probably decided that it is no longer fair to make his Mom and Dad wait any longer.

He produced himself to the world almost instantly after that.

At least, that is what I felt. But later they would tell me that altogether the birthing took seven hours!

   
 I am not sure if I was in shock when I finally got to see him. I remember feeling choked up with emotions. Kevin was oblivious to all the attention that he was getting and decided to sleep (AGAIN) right away as soon as he got his ‘skin to skin’ with Mommy.

My husband at first was gawking at him (I am pretty sure) and then he looked flustered and later his face changed to an expression full of love (which I never got to see previously in the three years of our marriage, unsurprisingly!). But I forgave him. I was even ready to forgive Osama Bin Laden at that moment! I smiled broadly at no one in particular (My husband said later that I had this goofy smile on my face due to the effect of all the sedatives I was getting).

I admitted to myself later at night that I did a really good job during the labor except for the part that I was acting a bit weird (I blame the drugs). I marveled at the way the day started very quietly and yet here I am in the hospital bed with a piece of my own flesh and blood sleeping in the bassinet. Yes, Kevin’s birth was very uneventful and almost to the point of boring (remember the yawning?) but his presence has turned our life into anything but uneventful- interesting, eventful, surprising and unexpected, fun, roller-coaster ride and simply spectacular and beautiful…

 

What’s your birth story with your first ever born?