My Pregnancy Journey
My Baby Girl was born in November of 2024.
I decided to write about my pregnancy journey because there’s not a lot on the topic from a personal perspective.
Throughout my adulthood, I’ve gone back-and-forth on whether I would want a child. For quite a few years, I was more firmly in the child-free camp. When my then-fiance moved in with me, I knew I didn’t want to go on hormonal birth control. After doing a lot of research, an app-based program that tracks your fertility by using your body temperature appealed to me the most. I loved that it’s chemical-free and waste-free.
When you follow the app strictly, it has a high accuracy as a birth control. However, I was more of the opinion at that point in my life that if baby happens, baby happens. I used the app correctly, but did not always follow its recommendations. One day in August of 2023, baby happened.
My husband was immediately overjoyed. It took me a little to get used to, but I was also very happy. Our family of two was about to become a family of three. This joy only lasted for six weeks. In September, I had a miscarriage.
I was devastated and suddenly, I went from being on the fence about having a child to desperately wanting one. Since the app works as a fertility tracker, it can be used either as birth control or a tracker for conception. We were fortunate that I only had to wait four months before I was pregnant again.
Throughout my pregnancy journey, I was terrified of having another miscarriage. Every time I went to the bathroom, I was so scared I was going to see blood. Every appointment, I was so scared I wouldn’t hear a heartbeat.
And yet, thankfully, beautifully, my pregnancy progressed as normal. I was much more nauseous this time around. (They say it’s a good thing because it means the hormones are doing what they’re supposed to do. At the same time, the human body is weird. Some women aren’t nauseous at all and have perfectly healthy babies!)
In April, I started showing a little bump. In late July, I started feeling something in my tummy, though at first, I couldn’t tell if it was gas or not. A week later, I was certain that it was the baby moving! In July, I bought maternity pants and dresses, though, living in New Orleans, I was almost exclusively just wearing dresses. By September, I got super tired when I walked more than a few blocks and my husband had taken over chore duty almost completely.
I was still so anxious that an ultrasound would reveal some heartbreaking news or that I would suddenly stop feeling her move. But each appointment, she was healthy. Each day, she continued to grow and kick. I became tentatively hopeful that everything would turn out okay. As she grew, I also felt more comfortable that if she did have to come out early, she would most likely be okay.
At thirty-eight weeks, I officially started my maternity leave. She was still snuggled up inside, along for the ride. Over the next few weeks, I was able to rest, which I am so grateful for. Her due date came and went. My midwife recommended induction, explaining that if she stayed too long after forty weeks, there could be complications. So, at forty-one and three, at midnight, we went to the hospital and the Pitocin drip began. My pregnancy journey was about to come to an end.
I had wanted to have a natural, chemical-free birth, but it would not be so. After about six hours, I decided to ask for an epidural, which honestly hurt more than it helped. It did allow me to get some sleep, during which time labor progressed.
It progressed, I dilated, but not enough. After pushing for four hours and almost twenty hours of labor hours, the OB on duty recommended a C-Section. (I say OB on duty because, like I mentioned, I had a midwife for my prenatal care. There was an incredible team of midwives in the birthing room with me while I labored, but midwives are not qualified to perform a Cesarean.) I agreed that it was for the best. Baby Girl (B.G.) arrived into this world, healthy, at 9 PM on November 14th, 2024.
My pregnancy journey came to an official end, but our journey as parents had just begun.
Thanks for reading and joining me on this journey!
💜
Laura
