Melbourne based couple Vaishali and Priyam Shah were on a holiday with their family in Sydney when at 20 weeks pregnant Vaishali started bleeding.
“We immediately called the doctor, drove back to Melbourne and went straight to the hospital,” Vaishali tells SBS Hindi.
The next day her doctor advised them that the sac was bulging which had caused the bleeding. Her pregnancy was in danger.
“I was kept under daily observation. The doctor said they couldn’t tell if the baby would survive,” she says, adding her pregnancy, until then had been smooth.
“It was very smooth and happy and easy till then. I had no morning sickness, no cravings, no problems, no mood swings.
“Our family had come from India and we had planned a baby shower in February. All our friends had saved the date and then suddenly this happened. We couldn't believe it was happening to us. It was like living through a nightmare,” Vaishali says.
“It was tough. I went in daily for a blood test and at 22 weeks, doctors said I was having mild contractions.”
The anxious mother-to-be was admitted to hospital and was put on complete bed rest for another two and a half weeks before she gave birth to her daughter at 25 weeks.
“Veda was born three months and seven days earlier than her due date, but there was this sense of relief that my daughter was safe and alive,” she recalls.
The newborn was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Mercy Hospital in Heidelberg in Melbourne.
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"The doctors assured her our child was fine," Priyam says. "The best medical care was provided to her."
For the next few months, Vaishali spent her entire day at the hospital.
“My husband took three months off work," she says. "Every morning, we would wake up and go to the hospital.
“We would spend our time giving her kangaroo cuddles (skin to skin contact) and I pumped milk to feed her. We went through a horrible time. We both were anxious and worried.
"But I must thank the doctors and the staff at the hospital. I had abundant support and care and I can’t thank them enough. The hospital took very good care of my child and me. I will always be grateful to them.”
Baby Veda was finally brought home 97 days after she was born.
“We were terrified as parents but there was a lot of positive energy from friends and family around us. Everyone supported us and blessed us with their wishes.”
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Did they ever feel their daughter would not make it?
“When I was 20 weeks pregnant, we were told by the doctors that they would not be able to (save the child). But we wanted them to give us a fair chance," Vaishali says.
“We tried all we could. We tried our best. It sounds easy to say but we kept the faith. We hung in there and did whatever we could.
"Not a day goes by without remembering what we have been through and we thank the Almighty for such a brave girl," she adds.
