The Journey of Birth: Part 1

 

The story recounts the journey of pregnancy, labor, and birth, blending personal experiences, cultural traditions, and holistic practices. We share how discovering pregnancy coincided with significant life changes, leading us to embrace this new chapter fully. Yoga, meditation, and traditional practices became integral to creating a connection with the baby in the womb. The decision to consult at Morning Star Clinic in Auroville reflected a preference for conscious and natural birth. In this story we vividly describe the labor and delivery, highlighting moments of resilience, teamwork, and eventual joy as our daughter was born.

Little one’s Arrival into This Beautifully Crazy World

The sound of “slurrr…”—a gentle sliding noise—will forever be etched in our memories as the moment she made her grand entrance into this world. It's a sound that encapsulates the emotions, the wonder, and the unexpected beauty of the journey of birth. I’ve taken quite some time to reflect on how to write this and make it more than just an account of the experience. Initially, I only focused on the positive aspects, but over time, I realized that birth is a multifaceted journey, and it's crucial to share both the ups and downs. So, let me take you through the entire process.

The Common Question: Normal Delivery or C-Section?

One of the most common questions people ask about childbirth is: “Did you have a normal delivery or a C-section?” Before embarking on this journey, I too thought of birth in this binary way. However, our experience was much richer. Our journey wasn’t just about choosing between a normal delivery or a C-section. It was about choosing a natural birth and an informed process from start to finish. Our story is about empowerment and trusting in the natural strength of the body, not just for me as a mother, but also for my partner, Ganesh who was there every step of the way.

A Planned yet Surprising Start

It all began in February 2024. I had decided to leave my job on the 27^th of February, and the very next day, we discovered I was pregnant. This day, 28^th of February is celebrated as Auroville’s birthday, for us signifying a hope for the better future. And the next day, ‘Golden day’/ ‘Day of Supramental manifestation’, 29^th of February is when I had planned for a launch of my new Architecture venture. This coincidence of knowing of pregnancy right before the launch day felt like a message from the universe—a little shout from our baby, saying, “Hey, the priority is me now!” In that moment, I gave myself fully to the pregnancy, embracing the time, space, energy, and understanding it required.

As it was very early to confirm the pregnancy, we waited for a week before taking an hCG test at a clinic, and kept knowing about the pregnancy a secret from the family, except from my younger sister, a doctor. We did this as I was travelling to another state via train on the 29^th Feb for a conference and we did not want to cause any panic/ worry in the family about the travel. 

Once we confirmed the pregnancy after a week upon my return from the travel, we told our immediate family and visited Dr. Vandana at Nallam Clinic in Pondicherry. We were naïve, excited, and nervous all at once. She suggested an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy, and while we didn’t fully understand its necessity, our excitement led us to say "yes." Later we discovered that this scan was not needed to be done, but honestly we are glad that we did this. This was the first time we saw our little one—a tiny peanut on the screen, confirming that life was already growing inside me. It was an emotional moment- the “goosebumps” moment, one that gave us a glimpse into this new chapter of our lives. I already from this moment had a lot of nausea, vomiting and food aversions which continued intensely till end of 4^th month and mildly till delivery. Food was not my friend throughout the pregnancy, unlike how I had assumed of pregnancy for food cravings and for the fun of eating for two.

Yoga, Meditation, and Connecting with Baby

During my pregnancy, I continued practicing yoga and pranayama, which had been part of my routine for years. Seeking more tailored guidance, I reached out to my yoga mentor, Priyanagesh, to adapt my practice and connect more deeply with the baby growing inside me. This practice, especially a technique called traatakam (focused meditation), proved invaluable during labor.

I started practicing traatakam at the fourth month, where I concentrated on a picture of Lord Murugan as a baby, taken near a temple on the seashore. This powerful image, combining elements of water, earth, fire, and air, helped me channel strength and energy, which I later used to stay grounded during labor. This alongwith other yoga asanas and regular walking helped me embrace the one growing inside the womb, and stay active till the day of the birth. I went several times for WATSU, a water therapy which in our case, was specially designed to establish this connection deeper.

At this point I was also introduced by my vAstu (traditional Indian architecture) teacher Ar. Sashikala Ananth to the roots of womb care and protection into the traditional texts through Garbharaksha strotram, a chant for womb protection. I learned this chant with practise and help from my Vedic chanting mentor, Sangeeta Sriram.

It was through such practices that I tapped into my natural strength and felt empowered throughout the entire process. The ability to continue my professional work as an Architect and pursue my studies in Vedic Astrology while navigating these profound and connecting processes has further empowered my journey through birth and pregnancy. During this time, I managed to maintain my usual workload, including multiple site visits (till the 7th month) that required long drives. Additionally, I attended intensive astrology retreats, which involved visiting several temples and participating in numerous activities, all of which contributed significantly to my sense of empowerment.

The Question of Where to Give Birth

As our pregnancy progressed, we began to consider where to give birth. My initial instinct was to return to Pilani, my hometown in Rajasthan, where my parents had strong connections with local doctors. But something about that didn’t sit well at the same time for a process of delivery staying in Auroville felt unfamiliar. At three months pregnant, we decided to explore the Midwifery team at Morning Star in Auroville, led by Paula Murphy. We also met senior midwife Mageswari during our first visit to Morning Star, who was an inspiration. She then became our point of contact and the biggest support all over till the delivery and beyond.

This was an eye-opening experience. Paula’s wisdom and the approach of the entire team made us realize that pregnancy and childbirth are far from being purely medical procedures—they are deeply personal and can be guided by our own choices. We learned that, as parents, we have the power to make informed decisions about our journey. Paula’s advice was simple yet profound: “You’ve chosen to live in Auroville, wouldn’t you want to approach childbirth with the same consciousness?” This was a pivotal moment that changed our perspective entirely, and ofcourse the decision was done- to stay n Auroville for the birth!!

We also decided to switch doctors, choosing Dr. Pavithra at Pondicherry Institute of Medical Science (PIMS) as she aligned with our values and approach. With the support of Morning Star, we minimized hospital visits, relying on regular check-ups with them while seeing the doctor every few months in the beginning and monthly towards the end. We were meeting Morning Star team more often, monthly at first, twice a month later and towards the end every week. 

Scans, Tests, and a Baby Moon

Throughout the pregnancy, we kept a balanced approach—remaining informed without over-testing. The only additional scans beyond the initial ultrasound were the 12-week Nuchal Translucency (NT) scan and the 20-week anomaly scan. Unlike the first ultrasound, each of these scans was thorough, lasting about an hour. The care provided by Dr. Manikandan and his team at the Fetal Clinic in Pondicherry made the entire experience comfortable and reassuring. Before getting the scans we did not know about it’s procedure & hence the need to choose competent doctor and clinic. This procedure also included some blood scans, and fetal clinic ensured clear information and awareness about the procedure, it’s possible results and the way forward in different scenarios before we took the test and the scan.

After the first trimester, we decided to celebrate our pregnancy with a baby moon—two weeks in Sri Lanka. Although it was a more relaxed trip, it turned out to be the most peaceful and memorable vacation. We celebrated our growing family and enjoyed the beauty of the place, all while being mindful of our pregnancy. At this point we could even celebrate the growing and visible belly with the pictures and just the feel of it.

Navigating Gestational Diabetes and Hypothyroidism

Shortly after our return, I underwent tests for gestational diabetes (GD), as my doctor at PIMS advised. I had to take the GD test twice in a week due to some lab error in the first one and this test isn’t enjoyable—it requires three fasting blood samples taken an hour apart, with 100g of glucose powder mixed in water consumed in between to measure insulin response. I always wondered how many tiramisu slices I could have had instead of that awful glucose mix. Given my pre-pregnancy weight, I was at high risk. After a few tense moments, we were overjoyed to discover that I passed the test/s with flying colors. However, a later thyroid test revealed that I had hypothyroidism, which required some medication to be taken till I give birth, as it was essential for the growth of the baby in the womb. At the same time the Haemoglobin (Hb) levels were low indicating mild anemia/ low iron levels, which made me more careful on the diet with additions of several Iron rich foods.

At this time, we were dealing with a loss of a friend to death and also both I and Ganesh were professionally challenged with tense situations and transitions which were difficult to undertake in between this journey. This also reflected in increase of blood pressure, though it was still in safe limits. We also feel that the hyperthyroidism was a response of the endocrine system to these stress levels and followed hormonal changes. Hence,we consciously moved ourselves over weeks into a more comfortable inner space.

Preparing for Labor and Birth

As the pregnancy entered the third trimester, we began attending weekly classes with the Morning Star team. The classes covered everything from movement exercises to understanding the stages of labor, managing pain, and making informed choices during birth. These classes were pivotal in shaping our expectations and preparing us mentally and physically for what lay ahead. The movement classes were held by Priscilla, who brought in her own birth experience and belly dancing expertise in the class. The other topics were shared between Rotem (Senior Doula), Mageswari and Paula (Senior Mid-wives), filled with knowledge and their on field experience.

Below is a summary of our learnings from each of the class:

1. “Your Birth is Your Birth”: This session focused on understanding what to expect during labor and birth, advocating for ourselves, and listening to our body and intuition. The importance of informed consent and making informed choices was emphasized throughout. And most importantly “Each birth is different”.

2. “Birth without Fear”: This session highlighted the role of hormones in labor. It explained how fear can produce stress hormones that hinder the birth process, whereas love hormones, particularly oxytocin, are essential. Other hormones like endorphins, relaxin, and melatonin also play critical roles and can be encouraged by creating a comfortable and supportive environment. Personally, this session was transformative, helping me embrace labor with confidence and without fear. 

3. “Stages of Labor”: This was one of the most essential and informative classes, requiring at least one revision to fully absorb the material. It covered how to identify the different stages of labor and what actions to take during each stage. This understanding reaffirmed that pregnancy is a natural process, not a medical condition, and reminded us that we are expecting mothers, not patients. 

4. “Medical Interventions during Labor”: This session provided detailed information about various medical interventions used to augment labor and the conditions under which they might be necessary. It also discussed natural methods for inducing labor and preparation of the cervix. The use of evening primrose oil as vaginal insertion, eating dates daily, and performing perennial massages starting at 36 weeks for softening of cervix are some of the examples. These practices were instrumental during my delivery, as my cervix was already 75% effaced when I arrived at the hospital. 

5. “Breastfeeding”: This session emphasized that breastfeeding is not always as straightforward as it might seem. Knowing this helped us prepare mentally and emotionally for the challenges of learning positions, achieving a good latch, and managing frequent feedings. Despite the initial hurdles, we discovered our rhythm and found beauty in the process. Practical tips and positions were discussed, and we practiced using a weighted baby dummy, which was a memorable and helpful experience. While holding it at first, I thought it was like a 100 gms soft toy but to my surprise and experience to reality it weighed about 3-3.5kgs, an average new born baby weight.

6. “Post-Natal Period”: This class outlined the essential do's and don’ts for the weeks following birth. A key takeaway was that for at least six weeks, a mother’s primary responsibilities are breastfeeding and resting (Sleep when the baby sleeps). This period is meant for recovery after the marathon of labor and birth. The session also reinforced the importance of accepting support from others: “You take care of the baby, and let others take care of you.” 

7. “Birth Plan”: This session brought together all the learnings into a cohesive birth plan. It included preferences for the birth team, the environment, and the interventions we would or would not consent to. Post-birth preferences for the hospital stay were also outlined. We created a detailed, written birthplan, discussed it with our doctor at PIMS multiple times in advance, and included a printed copy in our hospital bag. 

8. “Birth Plan for Caesarean Delivery”: This session emphasized that every birth is unique, and the primary goal is the safe arrival of the baby. If a C-section becomes necessary, we can still create a birth plan tailored to that scenario. Although decisions during a caesarean are often medically driven, the session prepared us to accept this possibility without feeling that our efforts and learnings were wasted. Our doctor reassured us that, in emergencies, safety takes precedence, and flexibility is key. 

In addition to these classes, I was reading the book What to Expect When You’re Expecting, which complemented our education and helped us understand everything we would face. The classes together with this book was the right kind of information that we needed to know- no more, no less and we did not have to do a “google” search to learn anything on the process.

I also delved into the Garbha Geeta and Garbha Upanishad, ancient Indian texts that praises the sanctity of the womb, to stay spiritually grounded. It also reminded me that pregnancy and delivery are not modern day procedure and does not need to depend on medical inventions.

The final days before labor were a mix of anticipation and preparation. I practiced sitting on a Pilates ball, which helped position the baby for birth, and we worked through exercises to encourage a favourable position. I was specially warned against leaning the back, and hence sitting on the couch was a big no!! At the time of birth, we realized we could have been more consistent with these exercises as we were already aware at 32 weeks of the ROT position of the baby and if the spin happened prior to the starting of the labour, it could have been easier.

Cultural Celebrations

Culturally, we celebrated our pregnancy with three baby showers in 5^th, 7^th and 9^th months respectively. This is a tradition in Tamil culture called Valaikappu function, where several married women are invited who put chandanam, haldi etc. bringing in beauty and safety to the one growing within. Food and gifts are shared and during the grand celebration at 9^th month we added a lot of décor, games, dance, Henna and cake to celebrate it further.

While I was initially skeptical, these celebrations became deeply meaningful and filled us with excitement and readiness for the birth ahead. During our final baby shower, we held a game to guess the arrival date. All the predictions were proved wrong as she arrived before the starting date mention in this calendar. She made her entrance, half a month/ a fortnight before the due date. She arrived on Sharad poornima (full moon), while the expected/ due date was Diwali- amavasya (No moon).

We were talking to her continuously while she was in the womb. We had a womb name for her- “Kulla” (meaning little one in tamil). We spoke to her particularly about shifting position, and constantly asking her to come soon as we are eagerly waiting! And see she was clearly listening..