The Birthplace Tales: Should Pregnancy Be Riddled With Fear?

Sarita had been unwell for a while, maybe for a couple of weeks. She had taken three sick leaves in the past two weeks, making even her manager ask if everything was alright. That’s when it struck her - she felt more bloated than ever, to the point that she was uncomfortable. She was unable to eat properly and every night as she lay down, she would feel a sharp burning sensation in her chest. With fears ranging from a possible heart attack to something being wrong with her lungs, Sarita decided to wait for sometime before booking an appointment at the hospital. 

Even as she contemplated the worst, scared that there would be wire-like things sent down her chest through her throat, she was actually confused when the doctor asked her if she had missed her periods. She might have, she thought, as she had stopped keeping tab on the dates. When she glanced at her husband, he nodded and Sarita decided to take a home pregnancy test. 

Dr. Maljini is an Obstetrician & Gynecologist who is extremely passionate about giving all mothers a fair trial during labor to help them deliver normally. Not only has Dr. Maljini helped many mothers overcome their apprehensions and fear of their birth experience, but she has also been a pillar of strength during their hours in labor.

To know more or to consult Dr. Maljini, please call 040-45208108. You can also write to her at contactus@thebirthplace.com or visit www.thebirthplace.com

As she nervously paced up and down outside the washroom, the tiny, long rectangle had the capability to change her life. Two minutes after taking the test, as her shivering hands grabbed hold of the test cassette, the two red lines on the small-ish screen left her speechless. There was a baby growing inside her. The baby was as tiny as an orange seed, probably, but he or she was there. 

A Happy Pregnancy?

Everybody around her was ecstatic. Tears of happiness pooled in everyone’s eyes as she broke the good news. Her husband - Amit - was over the moon. They had been married for years together now and this was the best thing for him to happen. But, what about Sarita? After all, she was the one carrying the precious baby. How was she feeling?

Sarita was very happy, don’t be mistaken. Years of “When are you going to give the good news” and retorts of “Now it’s your turn” and questions like “Why are you not going to a doctor” would not be thrown at her anymore. The wagging tongues had been silenced. It was a relief that she felt, more than anything else. Seven years of marriage and seven years of childlessness had left her drained. So, this great news gave her a chance to escape those taunts. 

As she went to bed every night, caressing the tummy that was housing her mini-me, she felt strange. She felt ashamed that her maternal instincts were not kicking in. She didn’t feel like a mother - her heart was not brimming with unconditional love for her baby who was growing fast, making her bump profound. While people complimented her on her pregnancy glow, every night, she knew there was something amiss. 

Instead of excitement, Sarita was feeling anxious and scared and with the promotion to every trimester, this anxiety just seemed to increase. When her mother noticed her veiled distraught state, she asked her and Sarita confided saying she was feeling more scared than ever. 

Sarita was extremely scared of pain. While she was fine with pregnancy, the birthing process seemed like an absolute nightmare and Sarita was certain that she would not be able to deliver the baby normally. The very thought of pushing a human being, no matter how tiny he or she would be, through her vagina just made her shut her eyes tightly. As she Google-ed birthing stories, tales of torn vaginas, labor lasting into hours and stitches down there put her off the idea completely. 

The Birthplace Experience

Sarita was convinced that a cesarean delivery was the best option for her. She was alright with a huge incision and scar on her abdomen, but she refused to go the normal way completely. Her family understood her fears but also knew deep down inside that normal delivery would be the best choice. Every time they would broach the subject, Sarita would push them off, sometimes turning hysterical, telling them that she was the one giving birth and the choice was completely hers. 

Unable to help her make-up her mind, Amit started looking at the best Obstetricians in Hyderabad and that’s when the Birthplace featured on his results. When he started asking around people for their Birthplace experience, he was absolutely convinced that it was the place where Sarita would be able to have a healthy and comfortable delivery. 

When they heard about Dr. Maljini and the years of experience she had, along with patient testimonials to boot, Amit knew that he was making the right choice. He convinced Sarita that they should consult with Dr. Maljini, and if Sarita was comfortable, continue with her till the delivery. A little hesitant at first, Sarita knew she could not always put her foot down. She agreed very reluctantly, unhappy that she was being forced out of her comfort zone. 

Coming Next 

So, was Amit right in pushing Sarita to meet Dr. Maljini? How did the first consultation go? Keep reading to find out if the consultation was fruitful, or whether Sarita wanted to go back to her first doctor.

The Birthplace Tales: And They Arrive!

As the big day for Gunjan and Yash just stood on the threshold, here’s how Suhaani and Yuvaan made their grand entry..

Being pregnant is great as all the excitement of holding your child makes time fly past. Meeting your baby for the first time, just looking at them in awe, in utter disbelief that you created them - there are perhaps no apt words coined to describe this feeling. But then, between these two wonderful phases, there is one nerve-wracking time when the transition from pregnancy to parenting happens.

The D-Day, or the day of the delivery!

26th Jan, 2018

If you were to ask either Gunjan or Yash as to what the most important day of their lives would be, this is the day both of them will answer with in chorus. There are several milestone days in every person’s lives - first job, first promotion, meeting their significant others and even marriage - but everything becomes a blurred event the moment they have children. Gunjan and Yash are no different, especially considering all the physical and emotional challenges that they underwent.

Dr. Pratibha Narayan is a Senior Obstetrician and Gynecologist at the Birthplace. In addition to her passion for obstetrics and preventive women's health, she an expert with many years of experience in VBAC. She excels and specializes in managing and treating routine and high-risk pregnancies, and recurrent pregnancy losses. She is also an expert in Cosmetic and aesthetic gynaecology.

To know more or to meet Dr. Pratibha, please call 040-45208108.

On the morning of 26th January, as the rest of the nation was busy wearing its patriotic skin, Gunjan had a different celebration awaiting. At 34 weeks, she knew that it wouldn’t be too long before her two bundles of sheer joy would be in her arms. But, before that, she had to pull off, in what would be the bravest stint of her life - delivery.

The Pre-Delivery Moments

Twin pregnancies are a real challenge. That’s why, if you are expecting twins or multiples, which is a routine outcome of In-Vitro Fertilisation and other assisted reproduction techniques, then you should consider consulting with the best.

Thankfully for Gunjan and Yash, they had found someone downright trustworthy in Dr Pratibha Narayan, an Ob/Gyn with years of rich experience in handling high risk pregnancies and deliveries. It wasn’t just her medical expertise that attracted the couple towards her; it was her thorough professionalism and motherly warmth that made them feel at ease.

Even though Dr Pratibha understood that twin pregnancies normally warrant for a cesarean delivery, she did what she does best. She knew there was no need for her to put Gunjan through the risks associated with an unnecessary c-section delivery, so she spoke to the couple and explained the pros and cons of trying for a vaginal birth. 

The Challenge

Even though Gunjan had a smooth and routine pregnancy all through the nine months, when it finally came to gearing up for the delivery, there was a slight hitch. Her first twin was all set to make a healthy arrival into this world, taking position and ready for a normal delivery. But, the second twin was not too keen, locked up at breech position.

So, what exactly are we talking about here?

The ideal and natural position for a baby just before birth is head down, in which case, the baby’s head, the biggest part, is delivered first, making the rest of the delivery quite routine. However, some babies do not turn around with their heads facing downwards till about the 35th or 36th week. In most cases, the babies are still expected to turn around, but some just don’t. When either the baby’s bottom or feet face downwards after the 36th week, that’s when doctors medically term the baby as being breech.

What Makes It Difficult?

Breech babies make for slightly difficult deliveries. Like Dr Pratibha explains, the baby’s head being a bony structure, which is best delivered first. However, in the case of a breech baby, either the feet or the bottom are delivered first, leaving the head inside. When delivered after the legs and the body, the head is unable to mould itself through the vaginal passage.

Once the rest of the baby is out, an obstetrician just has a minute’s time to deliver the baby, failing which, there is a risk of injury and a condition called Erb’s Paralysis, where the group of nerves in the hand are damaged, leading to paralysis.

With some risks that are significant, it all depends on the doctor’s skills and the comfort of the parents in choosing their options. It isn’t uncommon for breech babies to be delivered vaginally, but many prefer going in for c-sections.  

The Choice

Dr Pratibha has always been an advocate of normal deliveries, of course, after weighing all the pros and cons. With her assessment making her believe that a vaginal delivery was an absolute possibility in Gunjan’s case, she had a detailed session with them, explaining why she felt that a vaginal delivery could be opted for. Dr Pratibha, a firm believer of giving the parents-to-be all the options, and going by consent, prefers the patients to play an active role in decision making, keeping her recommendations very clear.

When the option of vaginal birth was presented to Gunjan and Yash, they could not believe that they could opt for a normal delivery. While they did have their anxiety, the bond that they had formed with Dr Pratibha over the nine months comforted them and made them believe that she could indeed pull it off. In fact, Dr Pratibha’s confidence rubbed off on Yash too, as he was all set to witness his babies being born.

The Birth

The next few hours just borrowed a pair of wings and flew by. Even though Gunjan says that the three-four hours before delivery were painful, she feels it was worth every bit. Knowing Gunjan’s limited threshold for pain, Yash says his first experience in the labour room turned out to be more than just seeing the delivery of his children. His respect towards Gunjan and all women in general increased manifold.

Thanks to Dr Pratibha’s deft hands, even though at a few moments during the delivery when Gunjan’s body was giving up due to the sheer exhaustion of already delivering a baby and pushing for the second one, there was no complication at all. Dr Pratibha kept encouraging Gunjan to push and ultimately, even the baby in breech position was born without too many hitches!

The Trio Feat!

Like mentioned above, parents-to-be generally make decisions based on a lot of parameters, one of them being to do with the obstetrician. They had complete faith in Dr Pratibha and the fact that she had managed to deliver twin babies vaginally in the past just made them believe that nothing would go wrong. In fact, of all the many things that happened, there was also a feat that Dr Pratibha had achieved. Suhaani and Yuvaan - the newborn twins - completed a trio for her. Dr Pratibha had successfully delivered a pair of twin girls, twin boys and now, a boy and a girl!

What Next?  

Even as Gunjan and Yash couldn’t take their eyes off their new arrivals, they knew their lives would change in the most beautiful way. In the next blog, the final one of this series, we will talk about how having the right medical support can change the way pregnancies and deliveries are experienced and why the relationship between the doctors at the Birthplace and the patients is a forever one.

The Birthplace Tales: Double Lines and Double Celebrations

Gunjan and Yash’s first chapter in having twins and how it all began at the Birthplace...

Blaring TVs are suddenly replaced by cute babbles; toys and mini-sized clothes occupy almost every corner of the house. From their first smiles to their oh-so-adorable sneezes, everything they do warrants being frozen in time. Phone galleries brim with their photos and their giggles just ripple through your heart - having children is one of the most beautiful experiences and motherhood, an absolute blessing.

Suhaani and Yuvaan are now 18 months old - their laughter pierces through the silence of the room, reflecting in the eyes of their parents - Gunjan and Yash. Their lives have got a new meaning ever since these two little ones have made their way into their lives. But, having them wasn’t easy - to hold them for the first time in their arms, both Gunjan and Yash had to cross several hurdles. Yet, here they are now, happier than ever before, their life full of cute cuddles and adorable stories.

With very intense maternal instincts, Gunjan Nolkha knew for sure how much she wanted to experience the bliss of motherhood. So, at 33, when she couldn’t conceive naturally, she was determined to utilise the advancements of medicine to its optimal best. But, what’s all the medicine worth without the touch of an excellent doctor? When Gunjan had shared her desire to consult with a good doctor, one of her friends had referred her to Dr Pratibha Narayan, an experienced senior gynecologist and a high risk pregnancy expert at the Birthplace.

With a heart full of hope and eyes full of dreams, Gunjan and Yash first met Dr Pratibha to discuss their issues and understand what their next steps would be. After a thorough examination as is the standard procedure at the Birthplace, Dr Pratibha’s recommendation for Gunjan was for her to go through a couple of cycles of IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) to check the response and chart further treatment plans.

What Exactly Is An IUI?

Dr. Pratibha Narayan is a Senior Obstetrician and Gynecologist at the Birthplace. In addition to her passion for obstetrics and preventive women's health, she an expert with many years of experience in VBAC. She excels and specializes in managing and treating routine and high-risk pregnancies, and recurrent pregnancy losses. She is also an expert in Cosmetic and aesthetic gynaecology.

To know more or to meet Dr. Pratibha, please call 040-45208108.

There can be several reasons why a woman can’t conceive. It could either be because of the partner’s low sperm count or lower sperm mobility, or because of fertility issues in the woman. This could include several factors like the eggs not getting fertilised, or conditions of the uterus like having a hostile environment, endometriosis or even a scar tissue from a previous treatment or procedure. Sometimes, the causes of infertility remain undermined.

 In Gunjan’s case, Dr Pratibha wanted to initiate the process of IUI, in which sperm is placed in the uterus through a catheter. To begin the procedure, many women are asked to take ovulation inducing medicines and are then monitored to track the maturing of the eggs. As soon as the lady experiences a surge in the LH hormone, indicating that ovulation is around the corner, the procedure of IUI is then performed.

 With the goal of helping her eggs get fertilised, Dr Pratibha administered a couple of rounds of IUI to Gunjan, because this is one of the least invasive treatments for infertility and causes minimal discomfort.

What Happened Next

Even though the success rates of IUI are as much as 20% per cycle, in this case, the eggs have to get fertilised on their own. When that didn’t happen in Gunjan’s case, Dr Pratibha swiftly moved on to the next course of plan.

 The next part of the treatment procedure was to go for IVF or In-Vitro Fertilization. This is one of the most popular forms of assisted reproductive techniques that involves gathering matured eggs from the woman and sperm from the man and helping the sperm fertilise the eggs in a controlled environment inside a lab.

 Once that happens, depending on the patient, a number of these fertilised eggs are transferred to the lady’s uterus, monitoring her developments closely. If one or more of these eggs attach themselves to the lining of the uterus, the procedure is successful and the lady conceives.

Two Lines Of Joy!

Gunjan is a firm believer of will-power. She says that the processes of artificial reproduction are tiring, painful and very uncomfortable, but having the determination to become a mother, alongwith the unwavering support from Yash held her through the arduous journey. That said, she says she cannot thank Dr Pratibha enough. When Dr Pratibha realised that IUI wasn’t going to be of great help, she immediately pulled the plug at the right time and advised the couple to go for IVF, unlike many other doctors who keep dragging the process, causing inexplicable amounts of discomfort to the patient, which leaves them very disheartened.

 However, thanks to the timely suggestion by Dr Pratibha, the miracle of modern day medicine brought about two glorious lines on the home pregnancy test, something that Gunjan and Yash had been praying so hard for! But then, they were in for a bit of a surprise.

 Of the several fertilised eggs that had been implanted into Gunjan’s womb, four of them had attached themselves to her uterus! While the joys of being pregnant had been immense, yet, knowing that she had four babies inside of her was, well, slightly unexpected and quite challenging to digest. With inputs from Dr Pratibha and in the interests of the couple, Gunjan went through the process of reduction, all set to welcome a pair of twins in the next nine months.

 Ask how the feeling of having twins was and the one word in which Gunjan would describe it would be - interesting!

Onto Parenthood

Gunjan and Yash had been to several other doctors before consulting with Dr Pratibha, but it was with her that they had finally found the comfort and right medical advice. With the expertise and warmth of Dr Pratibha to guide them through the nine months of pregnancy that Gunjan says she absolutely enjoyed, the next blog will talk about all the things that Gunjan and Yash experienced during this beautiful phase and Dr Pratibha take on the case.

 Keep reading!