I’ve written so very much about C’s birth and early years. You’ve all been brought into my world to experience all the ups and downs of raising a miraculous micropreemie. I’m sure nearly all of you are also aware by now that I had a baby before her. My son. I call him A. on here. C’s story is so incredible and atypical… you may have believed that A. was just a typical kid up until this point. He is not. And his early years were no walk in the park. I’ve decided to tell you about it…
*****
It took us fifteen months to conceive the first time. It was both an eternity and the blink of an eye. We told no one, at my insistence, because I couldn’t bear the thought of anyone looking at me with pity in her eyes. I was also shocked because my family had never had issues getting pregnant. And I was in my twenties. Healthy. So we said nothing. I was the cliche… when I stopped thinking about it so much, I got pregnant. So terrified of being disappointed, I was 9 1/2 weeks pregnant before I even agreed to take a pregnancy test. And I still thought it’d be negative.
It was not. And we were overjoyed.
I had a happy, fairly insignificant pregnancy. I battled typical morning sickness, but I didn’t let it get me down. I choked down popsicles for breakfast and let my father-in-law bring me ice chips and a washcloth and murmur, “I know it’s hard, but it’s worth it…” I already knew that. So grateful to be pregnant I was, that it never occurred to me to fuss about the sickness. It wasn’t that big of an issue.
Until the day when I was 4 1/2 months pregnant when I just couldn’t stop throwing up. Chicken broth, saltines, Gatorade, ginger tea… I got sick on everything. After 48 hours when even ice chips made me vomit, they admitted me to the hospital and diagnosed me with hyperemesis gravidarum. I received anti-emetics through an IV along with seven liters of fluid. They let me out when I proved I could keep down a “liquid diet.” At my next check-up, I had lost eight pounds. And I hadn’t gained much to start. As my regular non-maternity pants slipped down my hips, my manager at the bank where I worked pestered me to buy “new, smaller pants”, which seemed insane given the fact that I was five months pregnant!
Eventually, the sickness eased and I did gain weight. By 7 1/2 months pregnant, people occasionally noticed my bump, but they were always shocked beyond belief to learn how soon I was due. It’s just how I carried. My height, controlled weight gain, and tight first-time-mommy abs all contributed to it, too.
Blurry, but there I am, less than a month to my due date!
My due date, January 20th, came and went. I felt great. I never suffered swelling, water retention, or back pain. I could stand for hours on end at work with no real ill-effects. I never once wished for the end to be near. Yes, I was ready to meet my sweet boy or girl, but I was never “sick of being pregnant!” I was happy to- finally!- have a nice round baby bump. I was thrilled to no longer be sick and to enjoy my food. I did reduce my hours from full-time to part-time after my due date passed but, other than that, I just carried on.
I went to the doctor on January 26th and was told that nothing had changed. They’d see me in a week. I am grateful to this day that I had an OB who did not even discuss induction until you hit at least 42 weeks. I think there are far too many inductions happening and, being a first timer, I’m afraid I would have agreed to it had they suggested it. I didn’t know any better.
I requested a chicken burrito from Taco Bell (don’t judge me 
) and we headed on home.
to be cont.
Oh great! Now I want Taco Bell!
Ha! That’s what I do… plant the seeds… (insert evil laugh)
Pregnancy stories always fascinate me! What a journey you’ve been though – looking forward to the continuation. I had a fairly “typical” pregnancy. I was sick, gained 30 lbs, went 5 days overdue. I’m so grateful that I didn’t have to be induced and my labor was only 6 hours. It was an experience but not nearly as frightening as yours. I can’t imagine not being able to gain weight – I do too easily
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Thirty pounds is a spot on perfect weight gain! It’s ridiculous, really, that I struggle so much to gain during pregnancy. And kind of annoying. I’d much rather have that problem when NOT pregnant!
I know you had troubles gaining weight but you said even with your third baby you looked the same as with your first. I’m only 17 weeks pregnant now and look at big as you did in that picture. Granted I’m only 5’3 so there’s not much room for baby to go but out. Anyway, you looked awesome!
Congrats on being almost halfway! I get so excited about babies on the way.
Thank you for your kind words… I did show sooner with #3 than #1, but I never did get particularly big. Mostly, I was always so grateful how good I felt during my third trimesters. I was very lucky!
hmm..so I look more pregnant right now than you did in that photo and I am NOT pregnant. UGH…I must exercise.
I have SEEN you in pictures, Heather, and you look great! Bear in mind, I had not given birth a single time yet in that photo…
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