Nov 24th 2005 - After

The nurses wiped you clean and used some sort of stuff to take out the liquidy stuff from your nose and mouth, so that you can breathe easily. They put two clamps on the umbilical cord and asked me to cut in between. It was scary. I was worried that I might cut or poke you somewhere! But I did it anyway. It felt like cutting some rubbery thing. Then they laid you on Amma’s chest. It was so cool. I scrambled to get the camera and started filming. Your legs were little blue. But otherwise you were doing fine. Amma was quite enervated but very happy. Everybody was saying that you were very cute. Everybody congratulated Amma for doing a fantastic job. She pushed relentlessly, the nurses said, unusual for mothers that have taken epidural!

A nurse put some tags on you and then on Amma and Appa. Then they took you outside to weigh you. You were 7.1 pounds and 19 inches long. Cedric called 10 minutes after you were born. He was quite elated. He conveyed the message to chithi and Mama.

It is wonderful. It is really nice to have you around!!!

Nov 24th 2005 - Thanksgiving Baby!!!

Around 5 am, the nurses said that your head was visible. Amma started pushing hard, but you would not come out any further. The nurses had asked the duty doctor, Mrs Mcbride to come. Then the nurses asked me to take a look at your head. Some 4 cm of your head was visible. It had a bulge to it. And so, it made an impression, that all your head was only 4 cm diameter. It didnt seem proportionally right. But, what do we know!
Amma was still pushing, and the nurses said that they had to use the vacuum thing to take the baby out. But amma thought that the vacuum pump will hurt you and started pushing vigorously. The situation was quite serious, and since I was engrossed in it too, I had completely forgotten about taking pictures or video. Once I realized this, I could not take out the camera right away, asking myself, whether it was the right time, or if it would be ok, etc.
At one point, your head started coming out, and the nurses had to ask amma, to take it easy, till the doctor arrived. Doctor arrived. They put a cloth over ammas chest to place you. Then they pulled the medical cart closer to Amma, and encircled amma around her foot. The doctor asked whether I wanted to cut the cord. Amma replied yes, in a hurry, thinking I might run away!!! Amma pushed more. And kept trying. Suddenly. The doctor took a scalpel. Or scissors. And cut Amma before I could protest. I thought she could have waited a little longer. Then the doctor grabbed your head and pulled you out. You slid comfortably and glided out. You were sticky and cute! Your head size was not small, but just right and I realised the doctor could have been just right too in deciding not to wait! It was 5.23 am.

Nov 24th 2005 - Pushing

Around 4 pm the nurses said it was time to push. Amma was all set and started pushing. Myself and Athai were stading on amma's both sides, and the nurses were helping amma to push. None of the technics we were taught at the Lamaze class was useful. the nurses asked amma to take rest in between, and then started pushing again. It went on for some time. Amma didnt feel much pain during this time. She just had the sensation of contraction or something. I took her word for it. As for as I am concerned, everything, so far, has been perfect timing. Thanksgiving baby, et al!
After some time, the nurses said they could feel the baby's head. Amma pushed more. Then one nurse said that baby could be facing up!!! (they had a medical term for it, which I forget... it would have been more fun to include such terms here!!!) Baby facing up will make it very difficult for amma (and you) and so I started worrying about complications. Then another set of nurses came and they checked amma again, threw away the disposable gloves, and checked again and threw away more gloves. They were wondering whether it was your nose or ear. Amma was worried that they would poke into your eyes. At this point, you should have been worrying too...all your life amma and appa would tease / scold for having come out facing up!!!
However, another nurse came and said that your are facing down. I started doubting the qualification of these nurses... (because of Thanksgiving holiday most of the nurses were on vacation!)

Nov 23rd 2005 - Epidural

Noe of us had eaten that night. I went downstairs and had some burger. Athai didnt want anything. I guess she wanted to fast or something. However, I brought some salad for her and she ate it so fast!!!
Amma started asking for epidural eversince the doctor told us she was 4 cm. They checked amma's blood to check if they had to wait some more time to give epidural. The anesthetist came and prepared amma. It was a really long needle (3 inches/ 8 cm) He didnt allow us to witness him administering the epidural.
Amma got very comfy after the injection and for the first time she smiled today. We were still watching the contractions on the monitor. Every half an hour, nurses came and checked amma. I slept on and off on the rocking chair. Amma got bored and called Chithie to talk to her. Cedric kept calling every 30 minutes to know about the progress. Mamma also called.

Nov 23rd 2005 - point of no return

At 8 pm, we decided to go to the hospital, just for a spin. Athai has been helping amma. We packed our stuff and left. At the hospital, they asked us lot of questions and made us fill lot of forms and made amma really angry. She was so angry, I was worried that you would come out anytime!!! Amma filled the forms amid contractions and tears!
After some time, a nurse checked amma and said 2 cm dilation. Amma felt really bad..."after all these contractions, it has only dilated 1 cm more..." After 15 minutes, another doctor, who had apparently very small tiny fingers came, and said it was 4 cm. Amma gave a huge sigh...thinking that she didnt have to go through the ordeal of going back home amidst contractions.
The doctors got busy. They put amma on drips. They added some antibiotics. And attached some sensors over amma's belly to check your heartbeat and amma's contractions. It was real fun to listen to your fast hearbeat...and interesting to watch amma's contractions graphed like Mahendra Dhoni's run rate... (however we still maintained a very serious facade, so that, amma does not get angry with us!!!)

Nov 23rd 2005 - the beginning

Today is wednesday. Tomorrow is thanksgiving. Appa has a conference scheduled from Sunday. You gotta be born today!!!
Went to the doctors today morning. Dr Kumari checked amma and said that she is only 1cm dilated. She also said that you may be born in a couple of days or after a week or 10 days!!! Amma has been working quite hard; climbing steps; eating spicy food; except jumping on the trampoline...
Then I told the doctor that I might have to go to the conference and asked her whether it was ok...Doctor said it was but she became v angry.
Back at home, amma had lot of pain and kept calling me at office. Since, today is the last day before the thanksgiving holidays, I was very busy. Came home at 4:45 pm. Amma was really in pain. She was walking around the house every 4 minutes like a kutty potta poonai. I timed her contractions with a watch...it was every 5 minutes for 45 secs...The doctors had asked us not to come too early lest they send us back!!! Doctors want contractions of 60 second durations!
Amma was in tears and wanted to go to the hospital.