Farah Khan: I was not thinking about failure

We bring you exclusive excerpts from Dr Firuza Parikh's book The complete guide to becoming pregnant. Parikh is India's foremost fertility expert.

Dr Firuza Parikh is one of India's most renowned fertility expert who has helped thousands of chidless couples concieve.

In her book, The complete guide to becoming pregnant, she talks extensively about artificial insemination and Indians' approach towards it.

In the following excerpt film director and Parikh's client Farah Khan talks about her experience of going through in vitro fertilisation:

I believe in angels because I have three beautiful angels at home who surround my life with love and happiness. However, there was one particular angel who was responsible for giving me my children, and she is Dr Firuza Parikh.

Giving birth to triplets at the age of forty-three is no walk in the park, but I had little choice. I got married at the young age of forty, and both my husband, Shirish, and I were keen to start a family soon.

God bless IVF because it's never too late to conceive any more. However, having said that, I have to point out that going through IVF is a gruelling procedure; maybe that's why only a woman can go through it!

My first meeting with Dr Firuza Parikh changed my life. I knew at once that I was in the best possible hands. Dr Firuza Parikh was my guiding light through it all. She was always encouraging and positive. And, most importantly, always honest.

When I finally conceived triplets, she put forth the pros and cons in front of me. But Shirish and I were so determined to have them that I agreed to all her terms and conditions. Today my life is beautiful, it has meaning and I'm almost always happy. And I know Dr Firuza Parikh gives this happiness to thousands of women every year, to many who can't afford it... And just like me, thousands of women remember Dr Firuza Parikh in their prayers everyday and thank the angel for their little angels

When we started planning a family, I did not think I would require any special help as my gynaecologist then, seemed to think I would get pregnant naturally. But two years passed by and I did not get pregnant. It was at a chance meeting with Haseena Jethmalani (who was pregnant with twins) at a friend's party where she gave me her doctor's number. It was as if it had been planned that I would meet Haseena that day and that she would direct me to meet Dr Firuza Parikh.

The next morning I called Dr Firuza Parikh.

Firuza tells me that when I walked into her office for the first consultation, I carried an air of urgency about me.

She perceived me as being organised and ready to start the treatment without wasting time. She says that she was struck by my positive attitude towards having a baby and life in general.

Our first session included a detailed history, a thorough examination, and a comprehensive review of all my past treatments. In view of my age and history, she suggested that we try ICSI.

I had asked her, 'Doc, can we start today?' She then explained to me how the cycle starts with a month of preparation. I looked at my diary for my commitments to Om Shanti Om, made the necessary changes, and said, 'I am ready.'

No sooner had I left her office than a thought struck me and I went back. 'Well, I am disposing my sanitary napkins today as I won't need them for the next nine months,' I declared.

Dr Firuza Parikh told me much later that at that very instant she knew that I would become pregnant. However, she had cautioned me that IVF is not always successful, and that for me, the chances of failure were more than the chances of success. But I was not thinking about failure at all.

The treatment consisted of a round of injections, blood tests, ultrasound scans, and a periodic review of the findings.

Although I was neck deep in the production of Om Shanti Om, I kept every appointment, was on time on all days, and would sometimes request for a night appointment. I loved chatting with all the couples while waiting to see Dr Firuza Parikh. Sometimes her staff would end up chatting with me as well.

I sincerely believe that if you do not have a positive attitude towards the procedure it is not going to work.

Also read: 'I DID NOT make his wife pregnant!

Complaining doesn't help and if you think that you are not getting pregnant, then you won't. I know that many women worry about going through the process of IVF, mainly due to the injections that have to be administered.

I hate injections just as much as anybody but it is only an injection. Dr Firuza Parikh is not asking you to climb Mount Everest! Every morning I would go all the way to the clinic at Jaslok for my shot from Firuza. After my shot, I would head for my shooting to Film City.

Now when I look back at all I had to go through, it is something forgotten and done with, and it seems worthwhile to see what I have got back.

Twenty to thirty years ago if you were above forty, there was no way you were going to have a baby. IVF is a wonderful thing. One has to ignore the injections as the reality is that nobody is going to invent a pill that you can take to get a baby.

Firuza was always very gentle and encouraging. You need that, especially because IVF is a very emotional kind of treatment. I never thought about going to any other doctor other than her, how much ever time it took to get me pregnant. Shirish was a pillar of support

By the third beta HCG test, Firuza had subtly hinted that we may be looking at a multiple pregnancy but said that she would only confirm it after a scan Twenty days later, a sonography confirmed the beating of three tiny hearts.

By then I was immersed in the making of Om Shanti Om. Firuza was apprehensive about how I was going to manage the bed rest and the demands that a triple pregnancy would put on me. She drew out a strict regimen for me and told Dr Anahita Pandole -- her assistant and the obstetrician who would be directly responsible for my pregnancy -- to take charge and spell out the rules. These included no late nights, bed rest, a healthy diet, and minimum work

It was a good thing that she was strict, and I told her that I would follow the rules. However, the truth was that I felt the worst when I was suggested complete bed rest, one month prior to the delivery.

That was the time I bloated, my legs were swollen, and I couldn't walk, when on the other hand I was very active till my baby shower

Firuza had told me to admit myself in the hospital as soon as the film was released. When I did, I was so bored that I was constantly giving live interviews to news channels. I think she was fed up with me by then.

A caesarean was planned. Shirish was in the operation theatre with four cameras. Dr Pandole was swift with the knife, and Dr Fazal, our paediatrician, had kept three incubators ready.

I knew from the moment I saw them that Diva would be the crowd puller, Czar would be in control, and Anya would be the beauty

Around ten days later, Shirish and I took the babies home. Life has never been the same again.

Before I had my babies, I would tend to be self-absorbed, and worry about little things, but now I am a changed person.

I am calmer and in a happier space. I have a lot more empathy for people, though I am not sure if I have developed enough patience yet.

The little things don't upset me anymore. They don't seem to matter much because the bigger picture has been put into place. Life has been good to me after the babies. Everything has changed for the better.

Excerpted with author Dr Firuza Parikh's permission from The Complete Guide To Becoming Pregnant, published by Random House India.