As soon as I came to know that I was pregnant, I wanted to have a normal delivery. We searched for hospitals which does normal deliveries, from one of my cousins got to know about #TheSanctum.

I did lot of research seen so many videos of Dr. Vijaya Krishnan garu, We booked our first appointment at Sanctum – I wanted to have my consultation with Dr. Vijaya only, but she wasn’t available that day, so we visited Crystal, she spent good amount of time and asked all the details. We felt good and we wanted to continue with our care at The Sanctum.

Appointments were going well – but during 16th week, I got severe pain on right side of my back, stomach and hip. I immediately called and went to the Center. Dr. Vijaya Lakshmi visited and gave injection for pain relief. By afternoon I felt better and had discussion with Vijaya Lakshmi doctor, she said its not normal pain and maybe it is kidney stone. I was worried even my husband isn’t with me, he was outstation for his work. After abdominal scan test we got to know that I had right ovarian cyst and its quite big in size! After hearing this, first thing I had in my mind is whether I can have normal delivery or not? I immediately messaged Dr. Vijaya Krishnan saying I have right ovarian cyst, she asked me to take appointment when she is available. I took appointment and I met Dr. Vijaya garu. She is so inspiring, just a simple talk makes you calm and settled. I got to know that cyst is not at all problematic for normal delivery I just need to bear the pain whenever I get pain throughout pregnancy. Pain is the least thing I worried about at that moment because my concentration is only on normal delivery.

Then at 26 weeks, my cyst pain came back with double impact and I was admitted at Sanctum for a day and on Dr Vijaya’s advice, I moved to JJ Hospital – there I got to know that the pain is due to minor intestinal infection. I was there for 3 more days until the infection is reduced, so as the pain.

From then on, we are extremely cautious regarding my diet and food intake. I have cut down all the junk and outside food, even though I had less outside food prior to this, I decided to completely stop it as I’m not ready for that kind of pain again.

Yet again, cyst pains bothered me at times, and I had to manage them with pain killers and apt sleeping positions.

Sometimes I gained too much weight, and Dr. Vijaya garu used to warn me and I worked on getting my weight stable and maintain it within limit.

At 35 weeks, I was admitted at Sanctum – this time due to high fever, I suffered all night, even with all the meds and baby heartbeat was also going up. Dr. Vijaya garu called and suggested a doctor at Apollo Hospital, as she doesn’t want to take any risks.

I got admitted at Apollo, I was completely on IV fluids, and from one of blood tests we got to know that I have Chikungunya. We were shocked and immediately called Dr. Vijaya garu and asked whether baby will have any impact of this fever and she said it doesn’t affect baby, as long as the fever is well managed, and I take rest and recover, as it is third trimester. We thought everything will be normal once fever comes down.

But God already planned something for us, suddenly the cyst pain came back. I started crying like anything, this time the pain is not subsiding even with pain killers. The Gynecologist in Apollo wanted to check the cyst and, she wanted growth and doppler scan to be done to check how the baby is doing.
I took the suggested scan and by evening Gynecologist came with reports and said you need immediate C-Section to bring the baby out, I was completely blank for a moment and asked her why, she said oxygen flow to baby is less. We need to give injection for baby’s lungs to mature!
I was not at all ready for this, at this point I am like I don’t want any doctor to treat me – I wanted to be under the care of Sanctum and Vijaya garu. I immediately called Vijaya garu and told her the same, she asked me for reports. She checked them and told that reports are neither normal nor that worst either. And, immediate surgery is not at all required. And she consulted with Dr Jayanthi regarding my case, and asked me to get discharged from there immediately if fever is reduced, and go to JJ Hospital to be under Dr. Jayanthi’s care.

We got discharged within an hour, came home had food and got admitted in JJ hospital the same night as per Dr. Vijaya garu advice. From then our travel with Dr. Vijaya and Dr. Jayanthi is unforgettable!! We got every question answered at each stage till my delivery.

We stayed 4 days at JJ hospital with alternate day scans. Doppler scan results are good, but baby’s growth is reduced, amniotic fluid is reduced to 5 AFI. We panicked that oxygen flow may not be enough for baby and could be risk to both of us. My husband even went to Dr. Jayanthi garu and asked her to perform C-section for me as he didn’t want to take any chance. But she talked him through, convinced him that it hasn’t got that bad and we can still wait for few days. With proper diet and care we can maintain the AFI level without going down any further and there is still chance for normal delivery. Only then we got discharged from JJ, but Dr. Jayanthi suggested growth scan once in a week and CTG every alternate day.

I met Dr. Vijaya garu next day, we discussed all the possibilities, we decided to closely monitor baby and wait at least 37 weeks complete. We thought every day after 37 weeks is bonus for us. We came out from room booked next appointment and about to leave from Sanctum, Dr. Vijaya garu came by holding my chin and looking into my eyes said “I won’t be available October 1st week, even if I am not there for your delivery I will see your baby once I come. But my gut feeling is you will go into labor in a good position”. 💜

From then I have rapidly increased my fluid intake, I took anything and everything that was good for Amniotic fluid growth, right from L-Arginine sachets to Sweet lime juice to coconut water to all water rich veggies and fruits. I was so determined to get my AFI levels up even though doctor told increasing the level at this stage is highly unlikely and all we can do it is maintaining it at same level or may + or – 1.

Next growth and doppler scan at Abhishek scan center, flow to baby is good but BPP score is 5 out of 8 and fluid in the same level (5.1). For next appointment Crystal was available, she said we will wait one week and will go for induction. I thought in my mind induced labor is better option than C-Section. Both me and my husband were happy that there is a less chance for C-section now.

Next scan: Same BPP score and same fluid levels (5.5), Dr. Vijaya garu is back to Hyderabad for next appointment. We showed scan report to her she said will wait for one more week. I asked her why we can’t wait till 40 weeks by closely monitoring, she said we can’t wait for a longer time – BPP score is 5 and it means baby may not be comfortable inside and wants to come out. Every appointment is so informative like this.

Next Scan: No one expected this, amniotic fluid is adequate (8.5 AFI) and baby BPP score is 8 out of 8. I was the happiest person in the world at that moment, we shared reports Dr. Vijaya garu. She replied saying “Is that the same baby and same doctor?” :p

She said no further scans and no CTGs needed, come for regular appointments!! We will wait for your labor to start by itself. Now everything is normal, I had increased my walking to 2 hours, duck walks, basic yoga but didn’t join aerobics because I recently suffered with chikungunya and too much of physical stress is not recommended for a while.

Early labor:
14th October: Very less Stomach and back pain, at 5AM mucus plug discharged. Informed the same to Dr. Vijaya garu at 10AM, she said good pre labor, come to aerobics. I went to aerobics immediately, I started doing and taking contractions in between. It was so fun, I felt I should’ve joined before. I was so excited and kept on asking Udaya what’s the next exercise. Udaya told me it will be easier for you if you are like this in the labor as well.

15th October: Irregular contractions with less pain, continued the same complete day.

16th October: By early morning contractions became close and intense, we reached to center. Kiran listened to my contractions and said still in early labor. We went home, I had warm bath and my contractions continued till 9.30 and then stopped.
Contractions were back by noon with more intensity but no regular interval at all. During this time my husband used to rub on my back and did slow massages, it was very helpful to manage the contraction. I was little worried as labor isn’t progressing, pain was getting intense but still irregular. Almost at 8.30 pm contraction are 5min to 8min, we informed the same to Crystal and reached the Center. She listened to my contraction and said you are still in early labor. We planned to go home and come again once the contractions are close.

Active Labor:
Meanwhile Crystal called up Dr. Vijaya garu and informed the details. Dr. Vijaya garu suggested few exercises, I completed all those under Crystal’s guidance and started duck walks (worked well in my case to start labor and to progress labor) with the help of Saroja sister. Crystal then listened to my contractions came to us and said probably you are in active labor she suggested stair climb and few more exercises. I did exercises during contractions and took rest in between. I asked Saroja akka not to leave me until I deliver baby. :p

The D-day:
17th October: Crystal visited me around 6 am in the morning, contractions are still 4 to 5 min apart. She suggested to get into water tub for relief. I felt relaxed in water tub, till 10.30AM I was in water tub only. Pushing urge started at 10.30AM Vijaya sister was with me. I was trying in different positions, went to toilet seat. Baby is coming down to certain point and going up again.

After some time Dr. Vijaya into action, she came into the room with lots of positivity and energy, maybe I picked some from her at this point! She started to encourage me with all her cheering, making me remember all my struggle and reminding me that it is going to end soon, and it made me believe that I can do it now!! During pushes she was continuously asking me to “Give me the maximum you can do” and her referring to me as a “tigress” whenever I gather my energy to go for next push – it was really motivating.🤩 After each push she used to tell ‘Great work’ and these made me to put more effort for next push. Between pushes, my husband was feeding me chocolates, ORS water and whatever that gives instant energy, and I was eating all of them without thinking about what I was doing.

After a couple of hours of pushing, cheering and eating, our baby was out at 3 PM – ending 15 hour long active labor!! Final push was quick, whole baby came out in a second and Dr. Vijaya immediately took the baby out and kept on me. We had skin contact and I finally got to hold my baby. 😍🥰

From start of pregnancy, everyone used to say you will have baby boy, but we strongly desired for baby girl. But every time when we discuss about baby we used to say as “he” because we don’t want to get disappointed if it is a baby boy. After the baby was out and I was holding her and looking at her awestruck, Dr. Vijaya checked the baby’s gender and told that it’s a baby girl. Both me and my husband shouted out loud in happiness. We are blessed with a cute baby girl, all healthy and pink. 👶🏼🥰👶🏼🥰

🤱I fed her within an hour, and they let my husband cut the umbilical cord. Doctor told me that I can eat anything I want for 2 days as the first milk will be available for 2 days and what I eat has no impact on baby gassiness etc, but lots of impact on getting good quality milk in. I immediately ordered my favorite fries from McDonald’s and pani puri which I have been craving for a long time. 😬🤩😁

The doctor at Apollo had suggested me to go in for a C-section on 17th September, and I delivered baby on 17th October and it’s a normal delivery!! Exactly one-month difference, in this one month my baby has become full term and no cuts on my stomach. This itself validates that we took a correct decision in choosing our care provider. Lamaze classes helped us in gaining the knowledge, we got all the available options and we needed to decide the best option for us.

Instead of saying I delivered a baby, I would like to say that WE delivered a baby. I got such a huge support from my husband throughout pregnancy in all the situations – be it a cyst pain, fever, low hemoglobin levels, labor. Daily he used to walk with me about an hour, gave massages every night, attended all the classes for labor support with me. 💜

I want to talk about postpartum care as well, until you feel confident in feeding you will not get discharged from Sanctum. We learnt many things in postpartum period. Now my feeding is going well, baby is reaching all milestones on time. Feeding my baby is the happiest job for me, I feel so warm and satisfied when my baby looks into my eyes while feeding her. All these are happening just because of Sanctum team. 😍🤱🥰❤️

Even now we visit Sanctum for our baby’s regular checkup with Dr. Pradeep. He’s very professional, handles the baby very well and suggests what to do for baby’s growth and extremely patient in answering all our questions, even the stupidest ones.

I would like to thank Dr. Jayanthi Reddy, Crystal, Kiran, Dr. Vijaya Lakshmi, Saroja Sister, Vijaya Kumari Sister, Sukeertha Sister, Ramya, Sangeetha and both the aayamma’s. I became friends with all the Sisters as I was admitted many times at Sanctum. :p

A special thanks to Dr. Vijaya Krishnan, she can inspire anyone on the Earth. She is very particular and doesn’t take any chances. I wish her and Sanctum very good luck and I perfectly refer Sanctum to anyone who is reading this for an opinion or suggestion.

All the pregnant ladies out there, you may feel tensed about the baby and wellness when something unexpected thing comes your way. I advise you not to worry, stay confident and don’t miss your routine. Remember that your body is ready for it and you have a good care provider who you can go to. Everything will be fine in the end. ❤️