Interface designer Manasi, 28, and Sunil Gadkari, 32, have been married for the last three years. The couple, who have known each other for nine years, are expecting their first baby. They share the highs and lows of their pregnancy... Story coordination Poornima Nair Iyer
Visuals Akshay Kulkarni

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST REACTION WHEN YOU FOUND OUT?

She: As soon as I showed him the positive result, we just looked into each other’s eyes and hugged each other tightly. Both of us were so emotional. We started imagining that our baby had already started its life inside me. There can’t be a more beautiful feeling than this. Just to keep that beautiful moment always in our memory, we clicked a picture of the strip which gave us the positive pregnancy result.
He: The reaction was a look at each other, tears in our eyes (khushi ke aasoon) and a hug that said it all. We knew how important this baby was after losing our first baby due to a miscarriage at 19 weeks of her pregnancy. We discussed about what care and precautions we needed to take throughout the next nine months.

WHAT FOOD DOES SHE CRAVE DURING THESE MONTHS?
She: I enjoy idli, rasam, ukadichey modak, fish fry and all special things made by my mum (Maharashtrian wspecialties). The good thing (or bad thing, I am not sure) is that I haven’t had very intense cravings for any specific food.
He: The good thing (for me) and bad thing (for her) is that she never has any intense craving for any particular food. I heard from my friend that his wife craved ice-cream at midnight and he had to get it for her.

HOW IS THIS PREGNANCY DIFFERENT FROM YOUR FIRST ONE?
She: This one is very precious after losing our first baby at 19 weeks of pregnancy. I had a miscarriage due to an incompetent cervix and, hence, this time we are more cautious and alert even on minute discomforts. The first few months, I used be to anxious as the fear always used be there in my mind, but then gradually I started being more confident and positive. Also, this time I am maintaining a pregnancy planner/organiser, in which I update my daily experiences, ultrasound updates and details about the discussions with my doctor. It’s great fun to write in this diary. Every night before going to bed, without fail, I write in this special diary so these experiences can be cherished later on.
He: I don’t think this pregnancy is different from her first one. Although, the first one didn’t last for long… she was aborted at 19 weeks. But in those 19 weeks we did the same things we are doing now. We can say that instead of being different, we are more cautious and careful this time. Manasi was asked to stop travel and, hence, she is not going to work. Her boss is so caring that he allowed her to work from home. Manasi was stopped from doing any activity, which could stress her physically and mentally.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST EXPERIENCE SO FAR?
She: The first time I felt my baby kicking me... it was magical. As the days pass, the kicks are more frequent, which brings a big smile on my face. Now, I can feel all the different types of kicks. Karate kicks, punches, flutters, twists, rolls. Oh, it’s great! The LIFE in me itself is such a miracle which every woman would like to experience and I think this is the biggest advantage of being a woman.
He: Feeling the baby’s kicks and movement was the best experience. I feel it’s an unsolved mystery or a miracle that a LIFE is being developed inside her. She started experiencing the baby’s movements around the fifth month or so and she used to ask me to keep my hand on her tummy. But the movements were very minimal which only she could experience. I used to wait to feel it but couldn’t. As the days passed by, the baby’s movement and kicks started getting more intense. The first day I felt the baby move, I was thrilled. Our baby is growing inside and we felt it. As and when Manasi used to feel the kicks, she used to call me and I used to keep my hand to feel it. Wow… nothing can be more exciting and delightful than this…

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR WORST EXPERIENCE?
She: In the nineteenth  week I observed a small spot of blood during urination and a dreadful thought came to my mind. I couldn’t stop crying. The reason being that previously I had a miscarriage in the same week. I informed Sunil immediately over the phone. My mother was with me and she was also worried but was continuously giving me positive hope. As soon as Sunil reached home, we rushed to the hospital, I got myself checked thoroughly and it was a sigh of relief when doctor said that there was nothing to worry and that the blood spot may have have happened due to anxiety of being in the nineteenth week. The second worst experience was when my father-in-law passed away due to brain haemorrhage after six days of being in coma. I still remember the day when Sunil had to rush to see his dad. He was feeling so helpless as he had to leave us behind but it was important to reach his dad as soon as possible. Sunil was not with me for those few days and I was really feeling low and sad because my father-in-law had been very excited and had wanted to see our baby. As I was not allowed to travel so far I couldn’t even see him in his last days. I overcame my grief by reading some nice books and listening to soothing music as sad feelings are not good for the baby. This was a tough time for all of us.
He: To be very honest, I was also worried. I rushed to our place and the doctor wanted us to visit the hospital as soon as possible so Mansi could be examined. After a thorough check-up, it was concluded that the mouth of the cervix was closed and the uterus was also relaxed. It was due to the anxiety of being in nineteenth week that must have caused the spotting. We went home, ate, discussed about the baby and went to sleep. Hush… what a day!

WHAT HAVE YOU BECOME EXTRA CAREFUL ABOUT?
She: I am taking care of myself like a small baby. Any small niggle I feel, I consult my gynaecologist and take her opinion. I am avoiding activities like frequent travel (within the city as well), any physical activity which can stress me out. Also, I am concentrating on the food intake. I avoid oily, spicy, junk food and especially outside food.
He: I would say everything… we consult the doctor even for small changes in her body or minute pains in the abdomen and tummy. Some people would say that we are being too over-cautious but that’s not the case. I read somewhere that ‘a child gives birth to a mother’... so it’s not only about the baby, it is also the mother we have to think about. We stopped going out even for drives. Also, we used to consult our gynaecologist for all small queries and doubts we had in our mind.

WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO?
She: I am looking forward to an uncomplicated labour. I am mentally prepared for a normal delivery without any pain relief. I’m also eager to meet my baby. That moment will be the happiest moment of my life.
He: I am looking forward to the day when Manasi will be in the labour room... all prepared for it and ready to experience all the pain for our baby to come out (the baby is already in this world in her womb). After a lot of struggle and pain, she will deliver a cute little baby... Wow! The baby’s first touch, cry, movements… am looking forward to it all.