The pregnancy journey-

Alekhya and Vivek booked with us early in their pregnancy. The pregnancy was uneventful except for a few apprehensions in the early weeks of her pregnancy. They attended all the childbirth classes and booked the Doula services at 34 weeks of gestation. Alekhya was very motivated to have a natural, unmedicated birth. She was already doing everything on her part — eating right, exercising right, doing the perineal massages, and staying relaxed and positive.

The labour journey-

At 38.5 weeks, Alekhya felt her water had started to go. After checking with her Doula, she was reassured, had her breakfast, took a shower, and started for the hospital. On reaching the hospital, she was examined (with her consent) and was already 8 cms open.

Alekhya was shifted to the birthing room and soon her Doula joined her. All through, she was quiet and calm just focussing on her breath. She was already bearing down and instinctively shifted between the all-4’s and the side-lying positions on the bed. The Midwives were carefully monitoring the baby’s heartbeat. Vivek was a strong support to Alekhya, maintaining eye contact with her while quietly giving her the strength and reassuring her she could do it. Her birth team ensured Alekhya was having sips of water and juices in between her waves and kept wiping her face with a cool cloth. And they waited…

Soon Alekhya felt a lot of pressure and she instinctively began bearing down, slowly, and gently, wave after wave. 15 minutes later, they warmly welcomed their little baby boy into this world. Alekhya and Vivek tenderly hugged their baby and for the next 1 hour, their little boy enjoyed skin-to-skin with his Momma. Once the cord pulsations stopped, Vivek cut the cord and together they all joined in the celebration of life. Congratulations Alekhya and Vivek for achieving the birth you wanted, the birth you so dedicatedly worked towards.

The way a baby is welcomed into this world goes a long way in reinforcing their positive feelings of security. For a mother, birthing her baby can be an empowering and an enlightening journey that impacts her physical and emotional health for a lifetime. When a woman’s birth preferences have been respected and supported, even bonding with her baby is strengthened.