Fairfield, IOWA

       My husband and I chose an auspicious day in end of April 2000 in Fairfield, the spiritual town in Iowa, spend the whole day in meditation and prayers. The sexual act was more than pleasure so divine and blissful. I could really feel the conception event-taking place in my body the next day. I tried to maintain good health and spirit throughout pregnancy. Two months before pregnancy I did castor oil cleansing to keep my body healthy. Throughout my pregnancy I had morning sickness and my husband told me that healthy mother of a healthy child would have morning sickness. He told me that body is intelligent and it responds in this way as a cleansing mechanism. I have never heard or read or anyone giving me an explanation for morning sickness other than Pradheep.

Morning sickness

Pradheep being a biochemist explained that liver is the detoxifier of the body and it dispenses water soluble toxins through blood which kidneys get rid off in urine. Those toxins which are not water soluble , liver secretes into bile and excretes though the feces. Since the growing kid has to be protected from toxins, mother’s body intelligently uses this approach to protect the kid by throwing out the toxins through bile. This theory later was backed up by scientific studies showing that there was a increased chance of premature babies born to mom’s with less or no morning sickness.

No Pills

I went to regular check ups in the hospital to satisfy my parents and in-laws. The doctors during every visit recommended to use vitamin pills and supplements. Throughout pregnancy I did not take any single pill. All that I did was eating a well balanced food. All the food maximum was organic too. For breakfast everyday I used mostly Indian millet (ragi, rich in calcium and iron and fiber) and mixed with nuts. I drank two freshly prepared juices, one I drink before going to office and one around 10.30 Am at office.

Fruit juices: I drank all variety of fruit juices like oranges, peaches, apples, kiwi, Pomegranate, figs, lot of dates, jujubes, mangoes, plums, pineapple, papaya (avoided raw , only ripped ones), grapes, grape fruits, guavas, water melon, persimmons, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries. I drank everyday whole milk, soymilk, almond milk, corn milk etc. Everyone said I looked pretty with rosy cheeks. I gained weight slowly and gradually but healthily. Sometimes the doctor told I gained less weight. My husband told me that weight gaining gradually is only good and he said confidently that if one takes good food then the body knows how much weight to put on. He said women who tend to put more weight will find difficult to lose weight after delivery.

Grains and vegetables: Afternoons for lunches I ate every day different type of vegetables, beans and legumes. Being a strict vegetarian I used legumes for gaining weight. Eating this and Ragi helped me not to get any pregnancy related diabetes problems or hypertension problems. They were very normal.

Water therapy: I did water therapy as usual, 1.5 liters and throughout the day I drank at least another 4 liters. Everyone said it was not good to take so much water. I listened only to what my husband said. He said it is good to drink water and so all toxins would be flushed away from the body. He was right I did not have any pregnancy related problems like high blood pressure, weakness, acidity, swelling of legs or gestational diabetes.

        Women usually have gas problems. I never had in spite of eating a lot of legumes and beans. The reason is we used ginger and garlic in preparing and more over we sprout them or soak in water for at least a day or two. I never had indigestion not even once.

YOGA

I did the Pancha Bhoota yoga throughout pregnancy (avoiding a few exercises). Doing acupressure and self massage for the kid was the joyful part. Night before going to bed I did relaxation. Thus I never suffered from any leg or joint problems as other women did. Never had cramping or swellings in legs. I walked everyday 2 to 3 miles. This also kept me fit. More-over I never sit on table and eat food. I sat down on the floor cross legged. This helps the expansion of pelvis. It is a very good exercise. When I went to Lamas class, the teacher was astonished to see me sitting cross legged and so were other pregnant women. They said it is dream to sit like that. I also did “Aswini mudra” exercise.

Talking to the kid: I talked to the kid always and gave kid information what I was doing, like I am working or I am walking etc. Night I would tell him to sleep when I go to bed. Morning I would wake him up. Afternoon I would read spiritual books and that time he would show movements of excitement. I told him that he should be social with everyone, always with a smiling face. When I do my yoga and massage I would suggest the kid to grow healthily and come out through normal delivery.

Celibacy: After conception we maintained celibacy thinking about the good health of the kid. We felt that that would harm the psychology of the kid later in life. Though doctors say its safe, we never had sex during pregnancy and also after delivery till our kid stopped having breast milk. we felt through breast milk, hormones that are aroused during sexual act will reach the baby.

Good atmosphere: Every day morning and evening we did   meditation. We also did prayers regularly and read and watched spiritual books and videos only. I my husband talked to the kid sang songs and maintained peaceful atmosphere.

Ritual

I worked till the end of seventh month as a computer programmer and during the work I tried to avoid too much of stress. In the seventh month my husband and a few friends gathered in Chicago Aurora temple and performed the traditional Hindu rituals for pregnant women. I thank Saroja Aunty and Mrs. Padma Venkatesh for taking the role of mother and sister performing such a warm ceremony. I was given sweets, and dresses in the temple and I was worn glass bangles. It is considered that the mind (psyche) develops in the seventh month and so the pregnant women should always be cheerful and optimistic and enjoy nice and pleasant moments. The pleasant glass bangles sound give the kid the sense of sound. In India, the pregnant mom would be invited by neighbors and relatives and friends and would cook food to her choice. My friends here in Fairfield were very kind to provide lunches and dinner to me.

My parents, Mr.K.Krishnan and Mrs. Swayam Prabha.

In India, usually in the seventh month the girl goes to her parents home and returns only after the third or fourth month of delivery. Since I had visa problems to go back to India, my parents came to take care of me at the beginning of the ninth month. After my parents the atmosphere was more relaxing and fun. We were going to regular hospital checkups. We wanted a home delivery with help of a birth attendant. We dropped the idea because our parents would be worried and they would think that we are crazy and taking a big risk.

Till then end we tried to avoid scans and in the end we were forced to do two scans. On 19th Friday 2001 I went for regular check up and the doctor did a painful examination. I screamed out of pain and I started to bleed in the night. I had painful contractions but when I called the doctor they said to come next day. On Saturday we went and after long waiting the doctor checked and said there was no dilation. I came back home and the whole night I suffered from false contractions which was induced by improper examination of the doctor (probably he might have triggered a nerve for contraction when he examined).

Day of birth

On Sunday morning when we deiced again to go to the hospital to our surprise my parents told Pradheep about seeking a birth attendant to check my dilation. He was happy and that was what he wanted to hear. He immediately called the birth attendant Robin Lim. She immediately came and did a wonderful job of a birth attendant. She was well equipped and had modern tools and had the caring of a mom. She made me relax well by doing relaxing exercises. She made to lie in the water tub which helped me to overcome the painful contractions. My water broke finally and Robin lim said I was the only one whom she had seen crystal clear placental water. Usually women’s water would be creamy yellow to brown in color. The lighter the color of the fluid, healthier the placental fluid. Robin said that was because of the water therapy I was doing. I should also thank our friend Radha Aunty who was there to help the delivery.

Miracle