Pregnant Singhni Needs Advice On Giving Birth!

[Guest pregnantsinghni]

VJKK VJKF!

I know this is a silly question but i am due to give birth next month and i wanted to know how other amritdhairs have tackled the problem of showing legs etc during giving birth. What did you guys wear?

Whats the best bani to read?

Also did you wear your kirpan? what about kashera?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

VJKK VJKF!

[ms514 427]

VAHEGURU JI KA KHALSA, VAHEGURU JI KI FATEH

I say this as a father of two, a husband who was in the delivery room with my wife for both of our children in the U.S and both my wife and I are Amritdhari. This may be VERY different in other countries. I know that UK and Canada have much more familiarity with Sikhs and the articles of faith.

Typically, the hospital (if that is what your country supports for childbirth - I know some have midwives and at home births - quite different) will require that you change into a hospital gown. You will be essentially exposed waist down (more on Kashera below). During labor and imminent childbirth, you'll probably be too busy with childbirth (and its related "discomfort" aka. pain) to care who sees what and want that the child be delivered. Be aware that there is a very uncomfortable procedure related to checking for cervical dilation - you may want to speak to your OB/GYN as to what that involves to be aware of what it involves. Lastly, nobody cares what you look like and the medical professionals do this every day multiple times a day. Their concern is to deliver your child, not to perve on you. At the point you are in labor, you probably won't care.

Best bani - all bani is good, though I am not sure you want to be in Bar Ras and listening to/reciting Chandi Di Vaar or Shastar Naam Malaa (I say this for your husband's sake, as you may get urges to Jhatka him during labor. Please don't - he has his uses). My wife chose soothing, slow paced Simran on repeat. Otherwise, whatever can keep you calm, focused and remembering Akaal Purakh. Very important is to start reading Gurbani/doing Simran before the child is born. Some scientific evidence points to children being able to learn things faster that they heard in the womb. Your child would have a head start on Sikhi, so the more the better before birth and whatever you can do extra after helps (and you will be busy).

My wife wore a smaller (though fully functional, about 4 inches long) Kirpan in her Dastaar with our second child. She ran into a situation where the security with our first child. Basically, the night nurse complained about the Kirpan (was about 9 inches or so) and security told my wife she could not keep it on. She said that its an article of faith, she is not taking it off and if they push it, she will leave the hospital (that introduces the potential for a lawsuit if something goes wrong). The guard checked with his supervisor, who said to leave my wife alone. The smaller Kirpan was also chosen to make it more manageable during labor. I believe this should not be a problem in countries like UK or Canada, but may still be of concern in other countries less familiar with Sikhs.

Kashera - keep it on one leg and you can wrap it with an cravat/ ACE bandage around your ankle to ensure it does not slip off. That way it stays on your body and allows for delivery. The personnel are more concerned with free access to deliver the child and a Kashera on an ankle is out of their way enough so that it is not an issue.

You also want to have a very frank discussion with your OB/GYN about hair being sacred to Sikhs and to not cut any hair on your body for delivery. The OB/GYN will give you feedback about what can and cannot be done. There should NOT be any reason to cut any hair on your body for completely natural childbirth (aka. no C section or other surgical interventions). In fact, you should be able to discuss with your OB/GYN any of the above and they should be able to accommodate you.

Hope this helps.

[luckysingh99 1,199]

Agree totally with above post and suggestions.

I would also probably say to just focus on waheguru simran and jap... and it well help you get through it.

[Guest Kaur]

VJKK VJKF!

I know this is a silly question but i am due to give birth next month and i wanted to know how other amritdhairs have tackled the problem of showing legs etc during giving birth. What did you guys wear?

I had my son in US. Hospital provided me with a gown. It was a long gown. Seriously, at that time I was only thinking about my contractions so I did not care about exposing my legs and what nurses thought about my body hair. I mean Bhenji, if you have female doc, you shouldn't worry about showing legs. I mean when you are in labor, all your concentration in on delivering your child.

Whats the best bani to read?

Japji Sahib, Sukhmani Sahib and Naam Simran.

Also did you wear your kirpan? what about kashera?

Yes, I had all my kakkars. Kirpan was under the gown but one of the nurse saw it and my husband explained it to her. Turns out she was a Muslim and knew about Sikhi. I tied my kachera to my left leg.So I can still have it on but its not in the way. Nurses and staff is their to help you relief pain

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Have someone with you. Someone who is near to you. Have your husband or your mother with you.

Stay Calm Bhenji and Jap Naam!!!! My delivery was very long but you know Guruji sent this really caring and supportive midwife who stayed with till my son was born. She already worked her two shifts and her shift ended 4 hours before my delivery. She overstayed without getting paid just to help me out. She was asked to leave but she told her staff that God was telling her to stay with me. She said she felt the spiritual connection. So Bhenji, leave everything on Guruji. He will be there for you and your baby.

VJKK VJKF!

[sat 542]

My delivery was very long but you know Guruji sent this really caring and supportive midwife who stayed with till my son was born. She already worked her two shifts and her shift ended 4 hours before my delivery. She overstayed without getting paid just to help me out. She was asked to leave but she told her staff that God was telling her to stay with me.

Waheguru ! this maybe off topic but a similar thing happened when my wife was giving birth to our youngest child, she was in labour for hours and two midwives had completed their shifts, something was not right! So i left the room and went outside and did Ardas at the feet of Guru ji and when i went back in the room an asian lady doctor came in and within in minutes she carried out a procedure and my son was born.

[BritishSingh 96]

WJKK WJKF. Just a point to add, all the suggestions are very good. I am in the UK and I don't know about US hospitals but, Me and my wife are both Amritdhari and I also took into the delivery with me a small sarbloh bata and patase. When my son was born the mid wife cleaned him, wrapped him in a towel and placed him in the incubator. I filled the bata with warm water ane put in 5 patase. Then I took out my kirpan, which I also rinsed under warm water, got into bir ras position and stirred the patase in the bata whilst reciting Jap Ji Sahib at the same time. Once Jap Ji Sahib was complete i did ardas and I put 5 drops of the Amrit from the tip of the kirpan into my boys mouth. I gave the rest of the prepared Amrit to my wife. Only then did my wife give him his first feed.

This is called janam sanskar and is found in taksaal maryada. I was taught about this in gurmat class when I was growing up.

Hope this helps also. WJKK WJKF