A Birth Story

Knock knock!! called out a faint voice from within. It said,  “Mama, I am getting stuffy in here. Get me out and I promise to change your life forever”

It was a sunny Monday morning at the birth centre when my little baby got restless and cried out those exact words in my crazy head 😉 And blindly trusting our telepathy, I got myself prepared to bring it out into my beautiful world. After hours and hours of yogic breathing exercises, I finally  reached the 10cm  dilation point which is like the entry permit to the actual labor ward.

Yes! The moment arrived and as I was being shifted, we all rode an emotional roller-coaster to the labor ward. So nervous, so anxious, so tensed, yet so confident and excited. My husband Vikram, was such a bundle of nerves that he couldn’t even set the camera. Still, everyone filled in their places perfectly – Vikram by my side, an awesome doctor helping me bring a new life on earth, an anxious crowd waiting outside the room.  The intense pain, the tears, the encouraging voices-“Push, u r doing great! Breathe!  Now! Now! Harder! One final push!”. Pop came my little angel into this world. I finally did it:) Tears rolled down my eyes. My baby was out safe!

The new life was  placed immediately on my belly and our lifeline for so many months, ie the umbilical cord was cut. The nurse rushed our baby for a cleaning, while the doctor worked on my stitches. Vikram looked on, wanting to be in both places at the same time.  Doc said “Go to your baby” ,and he ran behind the nurse to be with his lovechild. As he stared on, the nurse gave the baby its first shot of injection. So overwhelmed we were, that we had forgotten one important thing till then. Suddenly a realization, “Girl or a boy?”, exclaimed my husband. The doctor laughed and shouted “IT’S A GIRL”

He rushed back to me with her, kissed me n said “Hennu magu chinnu!” (we have a baby girl). What a moment! Those innocent blinking eyes ! MAGICAL!! I instantly fell in love with her.

Did I just give life? It was so hard to believe that it was for real. I held her in my arm, all tears and smiles. With pride I felt “she is mine, so beautiful, adorable, soothing, and perfect”. She reminded me that something divine, may be god, must exist for such miracles and mysteries to occur. Thank u god for bringing this lovely little life into my world.

My little princess Tiana

Just outside the labor  room was my family waiting  to see the seed  of a new generation. As I am the eldest amongst my cousins, you can imagine all the hoopla around the first baby’s birth.  Literally every member of our big lovely family would be promoted. My grandparents became great grandparents, parents became grandparents and so on. Even the little pug who was the youngest in the family till now had a niece 🙂 And guess who shared the birthday!! It was my elder bro who turned 25 the same day which called for a double celebration. So it was 3 special cakes – One for bro’s 25th, one for the 1st time parents  and a 0 candle cake for the real BIRTHday girl Tiana

The Birthday Duo

I saw the joy filled room n sighed, what a brilliant decision it was to come back to India for my delivery. After all how many of us would have the privilege of having great grandparents by the side of our birth. I am so glad that we got back to our nest to weave such beautiful memories. May you cherish it forever Tia 🙂

One Happy Family

The celebration

So tiny… so sweet…

The great grandparents cutting the cake on our behalf