Whatcha' Wanna Know Wednesday: on pregnancy

Q: How are you doing with this pregnancy? How were your other pregnancies? Are you nervous that you may have another special needs child? Where & how will you have this baby? Are you on restrictions like you were with your other pregnancies?

Pregnant with Mia ~ 20 weeks

A: Pregnancy is amazing.
BUT...
I do not have a pregnancy-friendly body.

It's just the plain truth.
This 4th one is proving to be just the same as all the others.
I mean, growing a child is definitely one of those wondrous things
that I'm so grateful to experience.
And the result - my precious children - have all changed my life
in the best of ways.
But being pregnant is hhhaaard for me.

Hearing our gem's heartbeat
last month

a. Morning Sickness is over-the-top miserable
b. preterm labor/bedrest - Good grief!
c. caring for Bugg - very tricky

Mia Darling ~ one week old

With my first baby, Mia, I had lots of contractions really early on. The doc said they were just Braxton Hicks, no big. But at 35 weeks, I was already 3 cm. Which means I had to cancel our anniversary trip to Lake Tahoe and was put on bed rest for a week. I walked around at 4cm for a couple of weeks. One night, I was having painless contractions very consistently and so we decided to go to the hospital just to see what was going on. I was 6 cm! Yes! It's happening! 10 days from the due date. The crazy thing is, I wasn't in pain! All the laboring women probably hated me. Contractions were very tight but not painful. But of course, I got the epidural anyway. And the pain did come. Just late in the game.

I remember just hanging out on the bed in the hospital, and all of the sudden monitors started going off. In rushed all sorts of docs & nurses. Baby's heart rate had dropped. The contractions were too much for her to handle. So they had to give me something to slow the contractions down and they put a fetal monitor on her head. I was so grateful to be in that hospital. I felt safe & well-cared for. Then the docs discovered that Baby was sunny-side up and I might need a cesarean. The back labor was so intense! Brian gave me a blessing and was so wonderful to coach me through it all. And.....she turned. Good girl.

After 1 1/2 hours of pushing, an 8 lb, 9 oz. Mia Darling entered our lives and filled us with so much love that we had to grow an extra heart to contain it all.

I was in a starchy, noisy room with 2 other moms.
Brian didn't get to spend the night because there was no room.
The nurse encouraged me, the naive new mama,
to feed Mia a bottle since she was a bigger baby.
All of these things could have really soured my joy & caused me frustration.
But I was so taken with the blessing of having heaven's window open
to grant us this beautiful child.
A daughter.
One that we got to keep forever.
I was so happy.
It had been a perfect experience for me.

And with Wyatt, our 2nd baby, things got a bit more dramatic. The doctor thought that my water broke one evening. I was only 29 weeks plus already dilating. And because they already knew that Bugg was special & would be needing the NICU at the University Hospital in Salt Lake City, I was life-flighted (ugh! worst, scariest ride ever). They gave me a steroid shot for baby's lungs to develop. I got a tour of the NICU and saw the diaper Bugg would wear if he were born then. Tiniest ever.

However, it was determined that no, the bag of waters did not break, but I did need bed rest. So for SEVEN weeks, I lived on my parent's couch so my mom could take care of me & Mia while Brian was going to school. It was a good & hard time. Mia, only 1 1/2 years old, was so full of life. I wanted to do so much with her. And Brian was making long trips back & forth to school. I was worried out of my mind about our future with Bugg. But we were so cared for & loved living with my family. I could talk & cry to my mom whenever I needed. Mia was entertained 24/7.

I made it to 36 weeks and they took me off bed rest. Because of my history - not really knowing I was in labor because it was painless - I was induced 2 weeks early. I was okay with it since I didn't want to have a special baby on the side of the road and I was already 3cm anyway.

Labor was 3 1/2 hours long. Epidural? Oh, yeah. Everything went really well. I felt so safe being in such a wonderful hospital, with super sweet nurses. My emotions were very up & down about the future, however. What was my life going to be like when Wyatt was born? Would he be whisked away to have brain surgery before I could meet him? After 20 minutes of pushing, an 8 pound baby Bugg was born. I wish I could relive those moments. It was so special. Angels attended. The feeling in the room. In my heart. My love for my husband. Joy! Just like at the births of all my children have been. Miraculous. Indescribable. More on his birth and the pregnancy.


The third time around, my paranoia was high. I didn't know if I could handle the news that our baby would be special. I loved our Bugg so much but another special one? There were times when my anxiety would drive me insane. I just had to trust God. His Plan is perfect.

I had a new doctor that was more easy-going. While I did have lots of early contractions, she didn't think bed rest was necessary. Hip Hip! Also, Bugg was only 25 pounds. That sounds so easy now. I did my best with him. Had lots of help. Wyatt was very patient.

The night before Ella's birth.

I was induced 10 days early. Just 'cause. So handy. And it calmed my anxieties. We could have our 2 kids all cared for ahead of time. I didn't have to worry about not knowing when to go to the hospital.

Labor was dandy. About 6 hours. That epidural really has it goin' ON. What a champ! I will do it again, too. In a hospital. I've had perfect & safe experiences and feel just right doing so this time, too.

Our Ella Rose, born 8 lbs, and so sweet, perfect, adorable. My joy was full. Meeting her for the first time was like a soothing warm blanket to my soul. I can't describe it. I needed her. And having the 5 of us together was sweet bliss.

Pregnancy is hard but worth it. I'm over the morning sickness but already into those durned contractions. My doctor cautions me about lifting Bugg but knows that life must go on. With him in school, that helps a ton. And Brian is off work most days, by the time Bugg gets off the bus. It'll work.

I've heard/read/watched a zillion & one birth stories. Each one so different, so incredible, so touching. I love them all. My cousin who had her daughter on the side of the road in the car, my aunt & uncle who got to adopt their precious babe, watching my mom on videotape give birth to my younger brother & sister by cesarean......

In a hospital, at home, medicated or not, flying across the country to adopt.......I believe that God's hand is in the miracle of birth and that it is one of the most beautiful ways to experience heaven on this earth.

Yay! I can't wait!