Giving birth in Seychelles – Part 2

Last Updated on August 19, 2023 by Roslin Dwivedi

In part 1 of Giving birth in Seychelles, I told you about the convincing factors we had for our pregnancy. The story of giving birth in Seychelles extends in its Part 2. You are going to read more about how we found out the news. About my pregnancy and cravings, about the regular check-ups and Midwives and my D Day. 

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Finding of the pregnancy news

It was one of the regular days, and I was getting ready for work. Something strikes my mind, and the next thing I do is a pregnancy test at home. Peed on that stick, I was nervous and excited both and was saying my bible verses while waiting for the result. But I burst out laughing with happiness, seeing the positive result. 

Aaruni was in India visiting his parents. Now that I was alone at home and needed someone to give a tight hug and share my happiness. I was desperate to hear some magical words. I had no patience of making some prank or some plans to tell this good news to him. just like we see in those mama revealing pregnancy news to daddy videos. So I called him on WhatsApp video. The moment he picked up the call, I showed him the stick. His reaction was as same as mine. For a moment he didn’t know what to say and then he touched his head and said oh wow I am going to be a father. We both burst out laughing with tears of joy. After cherishing our one of the best moments of life, I gave him the responsibility of informing all the family members. 

To be sure about the news, I visited a doctor and got myself checked. My Euromedical doctor in Eden Island, Doctor B is one of the good Indian origin doctors in Mahe. She did my ultrasound and said no need to do the pregnancy test. I can see that you are pregnant, and she showed me the due date machine predicted. My friend R and I celebrated the day by getting ourselves Manicure and pedicure like princesses. And she gifted me a beautiful pendant saying, its a gift for the Good news Aaruni would have done the same.

My pregnancy and Cravings

Thankfully I got none of those morning sicknesses and vomitings. As Doctor B’s suggestion, I ate something every few minutes to prevent vomiting. I used to take 4-5 boxes of fruits & snacks at work. Travelling with such heavy bags was chaotic. Keeping myself together for an hour and a half in the bus running on a winding road was as tricky. With my boss’s help, I left my job stayed home taking care of myself. 

On my initial days of the first trimester, I felt weak and tired all the time and slept through half a day. Rest of the days spent reading about pregnancy, delivery and newborn babies.

The baby centre app and Ovia pregnancy app, helped me understand my pregnancy. Right from the size of my foetus to what’re the next changes to expect in my body. Also kept me informed about all my ultrasounds and the check-ups I had with my midwife before my visit.

The baby shops over here still improving. It is sometimes difficult to get the favourable brands and variety in the products. I started planning and preparing a list for the baby stuff quite early on my 2nd trimester. The courtesy of helpful ideas goes to Baby centre, Ovia Pregnancy and Pinterest. And we bought and brought all of that from India. Amazon is quick over there. But here, online delivery is not smooth. Rather expensive. 

Cravings

For until I reached my 3rd trimester, I never got any pregnancy cravings. In fact, I couldn’t eat any non-vegetarian food. The incredible Indian masala tea, which is my favourite, made me puke. And any bit of spicy food made me suffer inside my stomach. 

The craving started so smoothly that I couldn’t tell it’s my cravings. Mostly Aaruni and I lived in Mumbai for a very long time, and Aaruni loves the street food in Mumbai. So guess what! The baby loved the Mumbai street food too. One day I was watching an Indian series, and the actors eating Bread pakodas in that made me hungry. I ran to the kitchen, made God knows how many pakodas. Called my friends home, and we ate countless of it. Well! Of course, I ate the most.

Those were the time Aaruni made sure he is home early. The size of my belly gave me backaches, standing for more than 10 mins was so difficult.

Like a good mommy, he cooked all the street foods I craved for, right from Vada pav(which I usually don’t eat), Misal pav, and Dosa with extra butter. 

My friend E used to make Panipuri at her home just for me. And her husband S and I used to eat as if there’s a competition between both of us. Looking at us, she said, “I have no idea who is the pregnant between you two.” 

The baby also made me crave for Arabic, Moroccan, Italian and Greek cuisine. Made me follow a greek chef and many other Youtube channels for the mentioned cuisine above. I always Invited my friends home to try that food and, they also loved it. My friend E still tells me your cravings was a benefit for us that we got so many delicious dishes to eat. Why don’t you make those now also? Hahaha, sure!

Being giving birth in Seychelles, my cravings were wholly taken care by Aaruni, my friend E and me. Who knows if we could cook so much at home if we were in the city of India. Apart from cooking and enjoying each others company, I took good advantage of the app Ovia pregnancy, which, had one category of food what to eat and what not to eat. 

If I stayed with my mom during my pregnancy, she surely alarms me of eating anything wrong. That app made me enjoy my seafood and sushi without any fear. 

Related : Why making changing station for your baby

The regular check-ups and Midwives 

I had no idea what midwives are for and their powers. I learned later that it’s the midwives who do all the checkups and sometimes the whole delivery process too.

Moreover, I am the kind of women who looks frank outside but shy inside. If I go to the spa, I prefer a female massagist. If I go to the gynaecologist, I prefer a female doctor. I was shocked twice when I went for my first check-up at the Anse royal hospital, first to see a male midwife. All my old school notion of the nurse means female nurse only shattered when I saw a male midwife, named EE. We got acquainted with each other, and he made a new file which referred until my delivery.

The second shock came to me when he said, let’s start the check-up. Remove your bottoms and lie on the examining table, will check the vagina. Hey! For a second, I kept looking at him with a blank flushed face as if I saw a snake. I wasn’t ready for such a check. I wanted to say I want a female midwife, but as sometimes we have to live with the situation I lived with this one.

He took some samples from my vagina, gave me a colour coded stick to pee on it to check my sugar level. We heard my baby’s heartbeat and then some more check-ups for weight, low BP, oxygen level inside my womb. Then it was a trail of check-ups every month. Later every week then every day on the due date week. 

On my 22nd week, he asked me if I feel the kicks yet and I had no idea. He told me to keep an eye on the number of kicks the baby does. And if in any case, I don’t feel it, then must inform him and get myself checked. Closer to my due date, baby Aanick used to kick and move a lot inside. Sometimes his kicks were tough and could be seen from out of my clothes.

During my one of the check-ups, Midwife EE tried to locate his position, and he kept changing his sides. When finally midwife EE got his actual position, he put the doppler on my belly. But he kicked so hard that EE could see his feet and the machine had stopped working for a few seconds. I burst out laughing thinking, of hospitals with primary machines. Midwife EE quickly fixed the machine murmuring he is so strong and doesn’t want us to find him blah blah. And I laughed, even more.

On 32nd week, one night at around 2 o’clock, Aaruni heard me sobbing heavily. I didn’t feel the baby kicking or moving the whole day. I had no idea how am I going to tell him? What is he going to think or feel about this? How we will manage all this situation and what we will say at home? Many questions aroused in my mind within seconds.

Aaruni asked me what happened, why am I crying? I said, I think I have lost our baby. He asked how do I know that? I said I hadn’t felt his movements the whole day and even at night, which was usually not the case. Well, let’s call the midwife to find out Aaruni said. After making a few calls, Aaruni arranged a car, and we headed to Victoria hospital. Where nurse put me on to the heartbeat machine and Aanick started moving. According to the nurse, the baby didn’t like the machine belt around my belly. Ahhh! At least he moved sleepy little head, gave us a slight heart attack there. 

Midwife EE told me to get an ultrasound done on my 36th week, according to his calculations, my belly was too big. Which means my baby is big. The doctor in Victoria hospital did the ultrasound and found that the baby’s head is of standard size, so there is nothing to be worried about the delivery. 

Days passed, I waited for labour pain to arouse naturally, but it never happened. Midwife EE prepared me for the inducing process they follow on 40th week.

The D Day 

From the moment I conceived, I always dreamt about this day. All sorts of possibilities and dramas. Will I be able to do this? Such questions kept coming to my mind. 

I was close to my due date, fat, heavy and with a huge belly. It made everyday chores so inconvenient. Walking, sleeping and even sitting was not happening like a normal human being. By now, I was so tired of carrying the massive belly with back pain. Desperate to get rid of the weight, I was all prepared to face the mighty labour pain. By hook or crook, I didn’t even care. I just wanted to have my baby in my hands.

Brisk walking and yoga positions for Natural labour pain didn’t seem to be working. Finally, my D day arrived. On 5th July of 2018, we packed our hospital suitcase for 5 days and reached victoria hospital early morning. None of the private wards was available. In the general ward, my husband or any male family member was not allowed. Poor Aaruni had to wait outside somewhere. Two women were already inside the ward. One was waiting for her turn for the C section, and the other one went soon after I arrived. As soon as I took my bed, the heartbeat and contraction monitor attached to my belly. After some time a young Chinese origin doctor came and induced me saying if this will not work, we will induce you again in the afternoon. 

Aaruni was waiting outside the ward, wondering how the things will go and probably preparing his mind too. He knew me very well, but he was going to see me in labour pain situation for the first time. So he had no idea how I am going to handle it. 

Aaruni came inside the ward at around noon. I was surprised to see him and said they would kick you out of here. Without reacting, he sat next to me started chatting about his morning and what he did sitting alone outside. The nurse had let him in since the two pregnant women had left after their check-ups. While chatting, he ate samosas. I saw him and asked for one and then another one and then I finished all. He had eaten nothing since we left home when I learned that I felt so bad about my pregnant, hungry self.

Soon I started getting contractions After my second induction. Seeing me in pain, a nurse offered a hot water bath in a huge bathtub, which was so relaxing. But the relaxation was short. 

My contractions were getting intense. When my water broke, a nurse advised me to take an injection. The injection made me save some energy by making me sleep whenever I didn’t get contractions. And they moved me to the labour room seeing my contractions progress. I remember waking up screaming with strong contractions. Felt like my baby can come out anytime. Aaruni was up the whole time looking after me, helping me move whenever I needed. Taking me to the washroom and not leaving me alone. I even asked him to take me for C Section. The pain was unbearable close to dying.

Midwife C, a caring and a smart woman, she gave me lessons on how to handle myself? And some strength lessons to Aaruni.

I saw a bald doctor with that half-conscious and drugged eyes of mine, standing right in front of me. Pulling his operation gloves, 🧤 he said let’s do it pointing towards my vagina. The next thing I knew, my legs positioned for the delivery. He showed Aaruni the baby’s head and said, you see! Baby is ready. Aaruni could only see blood but said yes anyway. Listening to the doctor, I came to my senses, thinking this is it? Is it time to see the baby?

The push, push game started with the intense Contractions. The baby was thoroughly enjoying himself inside. He was not even moving to make his way out. Doctor and midwife had to push him from the top of my belly. He moved a little but not much helpful. Midwife C told me to push him out 1 cm, and then they will take care of it.

Aaruni, a nervous husband, just holding my hand and giving me strength. The doctor told me the next contraction you get you have to push very hard. And he stood there in front of my vagina with a knife. Seeing him like that made me run away from the labour room. Well, when I got the contraction and pushed my life out, he cut me slant below. In between the push and push harder situation my baby came out, and my all pain vanished as if nothing ever happened. 

It turned out that the baby was indeed big. Midwife EE was right. The baby was big and natural delivery with 4 Kg baby, entirely in sound health was magical. I don’t know if that was a Gods will or my determination or the doctors. 

At 4 o’clock, my love Aanick was born, making 2018 the best year of our life. The doctor waited for the adequate time and then cut his umbilical cord, Aanick started crying, and I saw a paediatrician taking him out for the examination. Aaruni ran behind her to see the baby. Inside the labour room, the doctor circled his hand over my belly, and my placenta came out flying with lots of blood. Instantly I was anaemic. But they gave me blood later. I can still feel how the doctor stitched my cut, and it was dense zig-zag sewing with 7-8 stitches. Made me feel every bit of it. The stitches gave me chills whenever I went to pee or potty I thought it could come out any time. Yuk!! 

Aanick came out as a calm baby and the pro in latching. A happy baby in the hospital. The whole night I used to hear other baby’s crying, but he was one big-time happy, sleepy Kumbh Karan.

My parents were supposed to arrive on 6th July, and while disembarking the airport, they had no idea they are grandparents now.

Later we got a private room, and things were normal. My mom was there to help. Aaruni after no sleep for almost 35 hours he left for home with my dad and caught up some sleep. 

I hope you liked my story of giving birth in Seychelles. I would love to hear your pregnancy stories. All you mothers and fathers do share it in my comment section below.