I still remember every second of it vividly. I was alone in the press office and I was about to finish a story. I was on my 9th month of pregnancy and was expecting to give birth in a week’s time.
But the little gorgeous human being inside me was eager to come out and face the world already, a week before she was scheduled to do so.
And so at around 4 in the afternoon, my water bag broke.
I was still working on a story, beating a 5 pm deadline but just like a dam, the bag had broken and the water came out.
I knew then that I was at a very critical point. My baby’s “protection” had already been broken. It was time to go to the hospital to prepare for my baby’s exit into the world.
Fast forward to 2011. In less than a month, this charming little woman will be four years old.
And year in and year out every time her birthday approaches, I can’t help but wax sentimental over the magic of conception, life, giving birth and now that I’m blogging about water, no less than the element of WATER.
It is indeed amazing how powerful water is. Even before we come out into this world, water already protects us from the elements. Water gives us life. Water fills the amniotic sac, our very first home.
As an article on Wikipedia stated, the amniotic sac grows and begins to fill, mainly with water, approximately two weeks after fertilization. Ten weeks later, the liquid will contain proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and electrolytes, all of which aid in the growth of the fetus.
“During weeks 8–11, the fetus begins to swallow and urinate, which is why the amniotic fluid contains fetal urine in the later stages of gestation,” it said.
As the fetus grows, the volume of amniotic fluid increases as the fetus grows.
“The amount of amniotic fluid is greatest approximately 34 weeks after conception or 34 weeks gestational age. At 34 weeks ga, the amount of amniotic fluid is approximately 800 ml. The amount of fluid declines to roughly 600 ml at 40 weeks gestational age, which is usually when the baby is born. As well, amniotic fluid protects the developing baby by cushioning against blows to the mother's abdomen, allows for easier fetal movement, promotes muscular/skeletal development, and helps protect the fetus from heat loss," it also said.
If not for the water inside the amniotic sac, I wouldn't have a gorgeous little girl in my life.
Water is indeed magic.
(Photo from camberwellultrasound.com.au)
Great post! I felt a bit left out of the wonderful experience that you described as I am a deficient male. But forgiven myself as I remembered how many times my mouth ‘watered’ looking at food served on my table, how my throat dried (of water) when I got scared not to speak of few drops of slaine water shed from my eyes in privacy before I came back on my arrogant ‘man’ self in the public.
We are not only born in water we live through it.
This comment of Pabitra beautifully goes with your lovely post, Iris:)
@Pabitra!
No intention to make you feel deficient. Men of course have a place in this world and it’s to remind us women how better we are. Kidding!!!! Seriously, thank you. Indeed, we are not only born in water but we live through it. Thanks again!
You are welcome Iris :)One of my crazy ideas is that women are not really the same species as men (biologists will kill me for saying that, I know). They are different right from the way their minds work, their views towards things, their emotion management and communicative abilities. From a neutral position, in all these they score higher than men. In a participatory world instead of a competing one, a woman will fare better than a man. In a world where living with nature rather than winning over it, feminine thoughts will be highly necessary. I am not kidding the least bit.
There is one drawback of the female creed though. Their neural network collapse if one flashes the sign ‘Sale - 50% discount’.
I liked the personal touch in your post and look forward to see more moving posts like that.
Beautiful Iris! Thank you so much for sharing
@Pabitra,
Looks like you’ve mastered the female psyche :-) Thanks for your comment. And yes, totally agree with the 50 percent discount :-)
Thanks for the post, it is nice and it reminds me of my own memories with my wife. And I like Pabitras replies, especially the second one:-)
@Larisa and Andrea,
Thanks too for your comments. Yes, my own experience in childbirth remains a truly intense and powerful moment in my memory.