19th May, 4th Month

I had a OBGY appointment. i was 17 week pregnant and weighed 150 lb. I had gained 6 lb. Alpha feto protein test was done on the day. This test is done to check whether there was any symptoms of down syndrome. the test reports should the result as 1 in 5000 was the ratio. nothing to panic.

24th April 2008.

Another day of Tension. The previous eveningi.e on 23rd i found my panty stained with blood. I t was very little. I called the nurse line immediaely. She aksed me if i was bleeding profusely, or if the waer sac had broken. She asked me to wait for some time, and if it increased then come to emergency. That evening we were supposed to gathr at Babitha n Rajesh's house. It was for Nithya Shanmuga n Krithika as they were going to India for vacation. We went there in the evening but fully tensed. Bleeding was still very little.

Next morning when i went to the toilet, i found a blood clot which made me shiver. Immediately we took an appointment with Dr. King. That day the app. was in George town office, other than the one we usually go. Its pretty far. The doc. examined me, and she could aslo find some clots.

It was due to the old blood. We thought it could be due to intercourse during this period. The doctor said there was nothing to panic, and that it is safe for sex. She asked us to go for an Ultra sound. The baby looked bigger this time. It was growing normal n there was nothing ot worry about.

Finally a breathe of releif. Till i conceived i always thought, once u get conceived the problems are over then no tensions....but now i realise it is still more complicated .....As they say Far away mountains are greener....

21 April 2008, 3rd month.

I had my monthly OB/Gyn appointment with Dr.I am 3 months pregnant now. King. Everything seemed normal. I had gained 2 pounds. Fetal heart rate was 164.

10th May 2008

May 10th, Saturday.Prasad's Birthday! I had many plans for the day. But....:-(

I wanted to cook something good for him as i was unable to do anything special since long because of my morning sickness, fatigue....I had planned to prepare masal dosa for breakfast. For lunch i wanted to prepare, Poori, rajma, shrikhand, pulav, daal and raita. And then I wanted to bake a cake for the Dad 2 B.

But we woke up late, and my morning sickness and tiredness i was not in much mood. So did not have break fast. I had prepared shrikhand the previous day, Prepared Rajma n pulav. By the time i could do this i was exhausted. Finally we had frozen parathas with shrikhand and rajma, and pulav n riata. I took rest in the noon n then baked a cake for him....

24th March 2008, Evening

Prasad went to office in the noon. There he shared the news with his friends. That day Pratap, Ramesh and Pritish were only present. Rajesh, Satya n Shanmuga had been to the SSN office. Soon after I satarted receiving calls. Sunitha (Mrs.Ramesh ) called me first and wished me, she was very happy. Next Jyothi ( Mrs. Pratap ) called me n wished. Just before few days she had asked me if I had any news. At that time nothing was confirmed and so i was unable to tell her anything.Then Archana called me.... Then I called up Sailaja ( Mrs. Satya ) Babitha (Mrs.Rajesh ) n Nithya ( Mrs. Shanmuga ) and Charu. Everyone were very happy....They said they would come home in the evening...

Prasad n I were waiting for everyone in the evening. Pritish n Archana were the first to come. They came around 7:00 PM. God what a moment it was...There was a roar of Congratulations!! right from the stairs...there was a shower of wishes and smiles...I was so happy, and emotional. Above all wishes from Saketh...cute. Shwetha, Krithika and Snikitha other cuties. Prasad had got Rasmalai. Babitha had got me kesari bath ( Sajige ), Nithya had got Rava ladoo, Sailaja had got Carrot halwa ( 1 of my fav. ) and Sunitha had got Mysore pak and Pulliyogre and Charu go me Badam Halwa....Wow!! I was treated like a VIP. I was blushing.I cannot express how happy i was. I am heartly Thankful to everyone. I felt i was with my family...We took some snaps of the memorable time. I received many advices from everyone...Dont bend, dont pick heavy objects, dont climb the step stool, take lots of rest, dont strain etc etc..It was so nice of everyone.

One of the happiest days of my life!

24th March 2008, Morning, 2nd Month.

24th March 2008, Monday. I had an apppointment with my doctor. I was very tensed. During this period of one month I had read many articles...and was scared if it was a ectopic pregnancy. In Ectopic pregnancy the fetus does not grow in the uterus, but starts growing in fallopian tube, ovary like other places. It is very painful and if the tube ruptures it could be life threatning for the mother. Well I did not have any severe pain.

We were waiting in the Visitor's lounge. I started feeling as if things were trumbling inside my stomach. It was nausea and Immideatly I ran into the rest room. I threw up all i had for break fast in the morning. I was feeling weak, but happy as that was the first time I vomited.

I had a list of questions for Dr. King. She then brought a small device near me. Applied a gel on my abdomen and started hearing some sound. We could hear our baby's heartbeat. It was so good and exciting. Prasad was happy too. The heartbeat was 172. she said that rate was good. She said as the heart beat is good and normal it doesn't look like a ectopic pregnancy. I was 50% releived. But wanted to confirm it through ultrasound.

Dr. King has been working in St. Lukes for about 8 years. She would have seen so many pregnant ladies in her career and heard so many heartbeats daily. But when she was testing me for the heartbeat she was so excited to hear it, there was a broad smile on her face. I loved the spirit of her work, being involved and enjoying her work.

Then the docter asked us to go for a ultra sound. I was very nervous. Everymoment i was praying to God. And then as she placed the device on my abdomen, we could see a gestational sac, and guess what, we could see our little one inside the sac. Now are kiddo looks like a peanut. But the most exciting part was when we saw the heartbeat. It was flickerring, shining....Wow!! It was wonderful. The lady there asked Prasad " Dad ! do u see that " and there was a broad smile on Daddy's face with a loud Yes. I was 8 weeks and 1 day and i would be due on 2nd Nov. Oh my God! I can't express what i was feeling, We were so so so happy. We were given a sonogram photo of the sac n our kiddo.

I was trying to control myself, but there would be a big smile on my face, which would not disappear....I was releived that everything was ok.

We went to the doctor again and she saw the photo and was happy. She said as of now everything looks good, and we can share our joy with the family.

We started heading home. We reached the car, and were confused wheteher to tell everyone or no. I wanted to tell it at that very moment, or on Ugadi ( Our new year ) which was 15 days later. God 15 days were too long. Imagine Prasad wanted to declare it on 10th May, on his birthday. I was like Impossible I can not wati that long. The very next moment i started calling. I wanted t tell this news to my mom as she was not doing good health wise. I was very scared and only wished i get an oppurtunity to share it with her.

I rang and Sarlamma picked up the phone, she was scared it was 10:30 PM in India. I said we were fine. Then Amma came there and i Congratulated her. She was confused and asked for what. I tld her u are going to become Ajji for her 3rd grandchild. She was so happy to hear that...I told my brother the same, he was happy and said, " You should have a baby boy as Lakshmi ( elder Sis ) has 2 girls. I was badly missing my Dad, as he always asked me for a belli gundu.

Then i called my Inlaws. My FIL answered and i congratulated him n told him that is going to be a grand pa for rd grand child. He was too happy. He said if i was to be there he would have hugged me. I missed a father's hug....Then my MIL she was very happy too, we told them all the details and that everything was fine.

Next we called my Sis IL. Prasad's sister Nagashree and her husband Shashi kiran. I wished them as they were going to be atte n mawa. They were also happy for us.

Then i called my sister who is in Denver. I wished her for becoming a dodamma. she was extremly happy and after a sec was confused and made it sure by asking "It means u have conceived, right". I told yes...and then wishes. Finally we called Vittal my BIL, he was very happy for the 2 of us.

Then we returned home. It was Magical. Like a dream....Prasad had his lunch and headed to office. Poor thing I did not allow him to tell the news to anyone. I was really sorry for him. He said he will tell his friends in the office. I asked him "how will u tell everyone? " He said what else will I tell " Me baap banane wala hoon."

4th March 2008

I was still curious and checked for another pregnancy test at home. This time the test line was very dark....and so was i very happy.
The pregnancy kits are based on detecting the BHCG hormone. My doctor said that if everything is normal then in every 2 days the amount of this hormone is doubled in the body.