Deejay Gregory Sean Czepanski (birth story)

I was almost at the stage of wondering if my parents would have to leave before the birth of this wiggling bump. I was actually feeling a little down about it all and trying hard to rally myself to have interest in anything else. Then on the 4/11/11 I went for my 40 week check up to find that this baby was ready to arrive any second and the doctor wanted to admit me then and there. (for the ladies information, I was 7cm dilated with no painful contractions) I declined and said I would come in when the first real contractions started.

My ideal birth or a sensible birth in a hospital (given we are in a rural area with a basic hospital facility) was a decision that I had had to make a few weeks back. I went with the hospital birth for peace of mind for family and friends and also because there are not emergency back ups quite the same where we are and you need to preplan for just in case scenarios. It was not an easy choice to give up my peaceful, candle lit, Jazz music, home natural birth that I was used to but I knew it was the sensible thing to do for us all.

So at about 11:45pm on the 3/11/11 I had my first contraction that made me realise that this baby was going to make an entrance. DC and I had been chatting to a good friend and then watched a video together and I had felt things were building. It was wet outside and DC decided to go out and try to get the jeep started up. It had been fixed the day before but sometimes has trouble starting. I had anticipated a ride on the scooter to the hospital (that could have been fun). By the time he came inside again I knew it was time to head off to the hospital. DC, my Mum and I headed off as the girls waved us goodbye from the veranda. I had permission for DC and my Mum to be with me, usually no one is allowed in with you for the birth.

We arrived at the hospital and I was guided to the delivery room by a lady that had cleaned my room when I was in hospital with my kidney issues. This is when they told my Mum and DC they could not come in. I tried to explain we had permission and to please ring my OB to come  but they insisted that DC and MY Mum leave..... I was a bit naughty..... I got up and left the room too. I then got called to a telephone where my OB requested David to come pick her up as she had no vehicle. This was so amusing to us, a new experience in the birthing scenario :) So David went off and my Mum came to join me in the labour room. As she approached they quickly shut the doors and locked her out and so I promptly opened the door again and told them I would wait outside with my mother until my OB arrived. When the OB arrived she was shocked to see me waiting and not in the labour room but I explained what had happened and although I don't know what she said to the staff  (it was all in Kannada) I knew they had had a bit of a telling off. Once that was sorted though we were all on smiling terms as they found out permission had been given and I guess they had not been told prior to me arriving so they were just doing what they knew the rules were.

The labour room was not exactly a peaceful place with people in and out (male and female), a drip put in my arm, people talking and playing Hindi music on cel phones. My OB had her camera out taking photos of me in labour and then went on to show DC and my Mum her home videos of her twin boys. The labour bed was interesting and seemed to provide no padding what so ever. I found it hard to get into my normal relaxed zone and focus on what I was doing. Everyone was very nice though and did their jobs well but it was a far cry from my ideal and I just had to make the most out of the situation before me and I am pleased that after 2.5 hrs of arriving at the hospital our wee surprise package displayed his boy bits to the world and gave us a great gusty cry. He was quickly whisked away and every orifice of him was poked and prodded while the suctioning machine malfunctioned and filled the room with smoke. I was elated that it was all over and everything went well with no complications and our little Deejay was the most perfect and handsome baby in the world. He weighed in at 3.7kg (8.2 Lbs) and 52cm long. Sure, It was not exactly the style of birth that I longed for but the outcome could not have been better. DC and Mum were great and the best part was when DC noticed I had nothing to rest my head on and so found a pillow and held my head for me, it was the best thing that happened the entire labour and amazing how such a small practical thing really made a world of difference.

We were then given a room to move to where my Mum and I spent the night with Deejay. In the morning Deejay was being welcomed into the world by what felt like the entire population of India (ok, slight exaggeration) word must have got out that the first western baby had been born here in Kollegal. We ended up locking our door to get some rest.

DC brought the kids and my Dad in later that morning and it was just so wonderful to see out 7 kids together. We have been so amazingly blessed.

Thanks to God for providing us with one more child that we thought we would not have. Thanks to my parents for flying all the way over to be here for Deejay's arrival. Thanks to DC for being a loving supportive husband and to the rest of our kids for being so excited about having another boy in the house. Thanks to all our friends who have been with us on this journey and have encouraged and prayed for us. We love you all.