Before sharing my story of delivering our second baby, I would say that it’s a boon for Hyderabadi women to have #TheSanctum here.

“Nature has designed women’s body to give natural birth” This is the first sentence Vijaya mam and Crystal told me on the first day of my consultation and I remembered this throughout my pregnancy.

We had trouble conceiving, also suffered two spontaneous miscarriages, fed up with mounting hospital files and the drugs I was taking, I quit my job and we changed our lifestyle, slowly but surely. My health parameters clearly picked up and I delivered a baby boy in 2017. But with an unnecessary C- section supposedly owing to “cord around neck” and “low amniotic fluid” conditions. When we look back now, with the knowledge imparted by Sanctum, we simply feel being cheated. Not a day goes by without this feeling, my husband asks me to take succor from the following saying attributed to Confucius “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” 🎁

Another pain point in my first pregnancy, was prescription of HcG, it’s a very painful oil injection which had to be done weekly, it was given for no reason other than it being a precious pregnancy, Crystal asked “were you given information about pros and cons” when we brought this up with her later. Even though my contractions started on positive note, they fell on deaf years of our doctors’ pressure. I was totally disappointed with c-section and it took three months for me to come out of this depression. 😢

This is how corporate hospitals operate and the only anti-dote to this is “Knowledge” and “Bold Action”. 💪

I conceived again in 2019, by this time we found our rhythm in the natural lifestyle and I fully trusted the wisdom of my body to the extent, I didn’t even confirm my pregnancy with tests, till three months and I was keen in trying natural birth this time(a.k.a VBAC, vaginal birth after C-Section). The Sanctum was suggested by a friend from our natural lifestyle groups. First consultation itself I was totally satisfied and loaded with lot of confidence that I am in a right place and this confidence & contentment stayed with me till the end of my pregnancy. 😊

Can you believe? ✌ There were two scans and two hemoglobin(hb) level checks, and 2 post lunch sugar checks, throughout this pregnancy? 😍

Lamaze classes armed us with the specific knowledge of process & history of childbirth and prepared us mentally for the VBAC. This where we learnt all the below commonly held beliefs are lies🤞 peddled by modern day hospitals.
● 1st time C-Section = 2nd time C-Section
● Cord around neck = C- Section
● Low Amniotic Fluid = C- Section
● Fetus passing motion (Meconium) = Immediate C-Section
● Baby in breach/posterior position = C-Section
Lamaze Instructor Rama, herself a VBAC mom at Sanctum, shared her experience in the first class, and increased my confidence in trying towards natural birth.

#PrenatalYoga classes were very helpful in preparing my body for the birth, number of exercises were suggested which helped to this end. 🧘‍♀‍
Yoga Instructor Sanjana was very good, I remembered her soothing voice throughout my contractions in managing my pain. She also shared many tips and supported me a lot whenever I asked her questions in turning posterior baby to anterior. 💜

#PrenatalAerobics class instructor Udaya, made it clear that pain will be there, and no one can bypass it, if the intent is for a natural birth. She said single word: Just be calm and manage the pain. 💜

My EDD was Jan 30. My labor has started on night of 3rd Feb (40th week, 4th day) after a long walk the previous day in KBR park. I managed myself till 4th Feb evening. Then I revealed it to my husband. By that time mucus plug has released several times. Then I called Kiran in the evening and said that my contractions are 5 mints apart lasting for 40 seconds. She suggested to wait for them to last for 60 seconds then come to Centre. My contractions caused heavy back pain which can’t be put in words.

Finally, 5th Feb morning I went to Sanctum around 6am. My husband and I went without disclosing to any our relatives, we left our 2.5 years old son with my mother, who arrived on the same day. Kiran observed my contractions and as they were 5 mins apart lasting for 50 secs. She said she need not check the dilation, but when she checked and found dilation was 4cm upon my insistence and she said that she can feel the baby’s head, and suggested me to go home. But return journey back home in car appeared unsurmountable with the back pain and we stayed put at the center. I was walking and doing squats for some time and was in sleeping managing back pain with hot pack for the next 5 hours and hot showers in between. Then I overheard soothing voice of Vijaya mam and Crystal, they came in and found I was dilated around 6 to 7cm.

Sister Vijaya made me do head bending, lying on my knees for 5 contractions, lunges for 5 mins in the lobby, managing the backup with squats by holding the window(put in place for the same purpose). Soon I felt an urge to push and my waters broke, I started pushing. Crystal managed my pushing phase along with sisters Vijaya, Saroja. I cannot forget their encouraging/coaching/soothing voices in getting me to push. This part of labor lasted for an hour and 15 mins. The moment baby came out my backpain ceased (wisdom of human body). 👶

Finally, about my husband who was calm and just supporting me all the way in labor, made our big day a successful one. He was my ultimate strength and support all over my pregnancy in managing my diet and elder son. Total 9 months I was alone without any elders’ support, and managing the household things without maid. Sweeping and mopping the floor, washing clothes till before day of delivery, walking for more than 70 mins, yoga everyday made my body more flexible in facing the big day.

My sincere thanks to Vijaya mam(her mesmerizing words and voice), crystal (down to earth attitude), Kiran, Sisters Vijaya ,Saroja, Sukeertha(Vbac mom in Sanctum), aayammas two Manjulas and Alivelu, receptionists Mounica (she recognizes my voice over phone), Radhika and security (whom my son also remembers) made my big day successful. Basically, it’s like a hospital (we don’t call it a hospital it’s a birth center or simply The Center) set in olden days where everyone recognizes you with your name.

We decided to do our best in promoting The Sanctum model of care. No one should feel that I missed Sanctum during my delivery like I felt. Only Birth Center doesn’t require to carry our list of files and scans reports.

I am pleased & proud (and feel like I have awakened the tigress🐯 in me, exactly as Vijaya mam said) to have a Sanctum baby (Vbac) without any interventions and as it is intended to be by nature.

I’ve become a sensation among our friends and relatives for avoiding the C-section and thanks Sanctum for that.