Trigger warning: pregnancy loss, IVF, rainbow baby

I remember telling my husband that we should start trying for a babe because I’ve wanted kids since ages ago. Sometimes the journey to get there is not talked about often enough especially if it’s a challenging one. We had an ectopic pregnancy resulting in surgery and then a consequent surgery a year later leaving IVF as our only option. Through all these experiences I was lucky enough to have a supportive husband and an incredible gynaecologist. As a health professional getting incredible care from my gynaecologist made me realise the little things that are important to offer my own osteo patients. Sometimes it’s when health professionals are on the receiving end of healthcare that we really know what matters most, like how a practitioner makes you feel. We are all humans going through life’s experiences, a commonality no matter age, gender, colour, status. My gynaecologist came in everyday after my surgery even at the weekends after his morning run. Dripping with sweat, steamy glasses, shorts and a T just checking up on his patients, so human, so kind.

We chose to go on a spontaneous Japan trip before the IVF process. We did have the best time even though there were fewer pennies in the bank account, but no regrets! At the end of a smooth 10 days of injections, countless blood tests we got great quality eggs which were then fertilised and grew for 5 days. Just to think that our little babies were growing in a petri dish was wild. Embryo transfer day came and 10 days after I did a blood test which showed a pregnancy was progressing well. We were pregnant with a rainbow baby!!!

I couldn’t believe that I was pregnant especially after my first loss. I did have anxiety as I was feeling so good through the first trimester, was that even normal? Each scan reassured me that little babe’s heart was beating strongly and was doing just fine. The 12 weeks scan was so special to see a moving, summersaulting tiny human, a moment I will cherish forever. It took 3 weekly scans to fully assess babies’ anatomy and gender at around the 28-week stage. She either floated all the way into my pelvis so we couldn’t see a thing or would turn her back towards the ultrasound. Just on the 3rd scan we found out we were having a little girl which we were over the moon about.

I continued to feel great through the whole pregnancy. There are so many factors that contribute to how you feel during pregnancy like hormones, nutrient stores, genetics and physical movement. I loved keeping active before I was pregnant and maintaining my strength helped me mentally and physically. Baby bump didn’t come in the way of my work too much which I was really grateful for. Walking at the end of the day after a meal helped digest my food so I didn’t get too much reflux or heartburn until the 3rd trimester when baby got much bigger. It was such an interesting feeling to have something moving inside of me and space invading.

I did many spinning babies’ techniques which kept my pelvis mobile and kept me relatively pain-free. It felt very empowering to be able to maintain my weights and mobility at the gym controversial to the norm of being wrapped in cotton wool. I believe that pregnancy is a time to take care of how much we are physically active as we are after all growing an entire human but maintaining strength is such an important factor for the birth and after. Movements such as squatting and lunging help maintain strength through the butt muscles to help support the lower back and pelvis. These movements also help with making more space within the pelvis to help with the birth process. Strength through your legs, butt muscles and lower back will help lift a capsule and pick up a baby off the floor on the other side of birth. Doing spinning babies or keeping active or any one thing does not guarantee a smooth birth as many factors affect the birth process. What may work for me may not work for everyone but I continue to share spinning babies techniques, stretches and strengthening exercises with my patients. Pregnancy doesn’t have to be painful and most of the general symptoms can be managed with osteopathy and correct exercise prescription.

I joke and say that my pregnancy has been so good I could have been pregnant for 18 months which is the normal gestation period of an elephants young. Birthing a ready to walk toddler might not be what I have in mind though, so I take that back! So many of my patients and colleagues have been part of my conception and pregnancy journey. I have had unwavering, overwhelming love and support that expressing my gratitude seems so limited in the words ‘thank you’. I will cherish this pregnancy as such a joyous time in my life. Who knows what the birth and future have instore but I am excited to meet this little human that I have carried so close for 9 months. I am venturing into a transitional period of my life where my identity may shift and a whole new world of motherhood awaits.

-Bhakti

You can follow my postpartum journey through our social media accounts