Born on Women’s Day, 47 Days Early

I had the smoothest pregnancy (not even one episode of morning sickness or food aversion) and a smooth delivery with just one glitch which changed everything - our baby girl shocked us by arriving 47 days premature.

6th March 2025: My dad came over to give me company and walk our dog as my husband was away for work. We went out for dinner, chatted our way back home and he went off to bed. I however had a restless night with the constant feeling of constipation and anal pressure. No amount of water, Eno, bananas, walking helped me. I was so sure that it was due to food that I did not even wake my dad up. The next morning my husband arrived and dad left.

7th March 2025: I spotted blood and completely freaked out. My regular OBGYN was out of town and advised me an urgent scan over call. Me and my husband rushed to the scanning centre panicked and returned home with the reports at 5.30pm. The amniotic fluid had reduced but the cervix was still closed. Be careful but nothing to panic. So I was immediately put on bed rest and medication. 7.30pm - as me and my husband are discussing plan of action and making Netflix playlist, my water broke. Our doc had got on a plane by then and out of reach. His hospital was 2.5 hours away, on the other end of the city. We were consulting him as he is a family friend but were going to register in a nearby hospital for delivery. In fact, I had an appointment for the same on 8th morning but we ended going to this new hospital on 7th night, knowing very well that the baby had decided to come premature.

8th March 2025: I had not yet worked out a birthing plan, thought about epidural, not even met the new doc who actually delivered my baby. All of this was literally on my to do list for the week. We were in the 34th week of pregnancy going strong. Yet here I was, lying exhausted in the hospital room with contractions. But somehow I was the calmest person around. ‘Mind controls the body,’ I kept telling myself. I wanted a vaginal birth but was also ready for a C Sec if that was a better option for the baby.

The maternity home we had chosen was modest looking but highly reputed in the area. Since it did not have NICU, the unit from a nearby children’s hospital was informed and kept on standby.

3.40am - I screamed as the baby was pushing down hard and I knew it was time. I was taken into the labour room, legs trembling but was asked not to push till the NICU docs arrived. I wasn’t pushing, the baby was desperate to get out. The NICU docs ran into the room, one push and a 1.780 kg baby was out at 4.10am.

"It’s never too early to have your birthing plan and hospital bag ready"

‘Happy women’s day!’ The doctor exclaimed holding my baby up. Since she had to be taken to NICU immediately, I didn’t get skin to skin till 3 days later. I didn’t even hold the baby. Just admired how tiny she was yet tall, with a sharp nose and long fingers.

Born on women’s day, we named her ‘Mukta’.

Next 10 days was me and my husband spending time with Mukta in NICU. Learning how to hold such a tiny baby, pumping and feeding, burping. Thankfully she was only under observation and doing pretty well.

My blood tests later confirmed that the premature birth was due to an asymptomatic infection I had caught. I have cursed myself every single day in last 17 months for being reckless, for not catching any signs of infection. What if.. I had woken up my dad that night, what if we hadn’t gone out for dinner, what if I had done a test earlier, what if I had been more careful. Was I too happy and careless as my pregnancy was so smooth? I am ready to endure any amount of pain and morning sickness if I could have a full term pregnancy.

I don’t think the world, society, family or anything prepares you for parenting premature babies. They are fighters but it takes a toll on the parents, especially moms having to calculate corrected age, wait for the milestones, be okay with underweight, keep them safe from infections and so on. It definitely took a toll on me.

I’m sharing my birth story now to celebrate a big milestone. Mukta at 17 months has finally started walking hands free and her first independent steps have lifted a heavy burden off my chest. All my worries vanished. The guilt will still take some time I guess but I’m officially out of the newborn phase and ready for toddlerhood.