I’ve shared my first and second daughters’ birth stories in the last two issues, and now, here is my final daughter’s story. This pregnancy was a whirlwind of emotions!
As shared in My Birth Story Part 2, our rainbow baby was born in June 2022. She was such a sweet and fun baby, and along with my teenage daughter, kept me busy. I only had one period in August, but the doctors told me it was normal to not be regular for a while. So, I didn’t think much of not having one. As we entered late October, I realized I was still missing a period.
At that point, I was in a bit of shock because I couldn’t believe it! The thought of being pregnant again and having two kids so close together was stressful. Yet, I had no idea at the time what incredible and wonderful timing this child’s birth would be.
The morning sickness returned and was extreme. I lost weight in the first trimester and only gained maybe one or two pounds in the first half of the second trimester.
I stayed hopeful that, like my last pregnancy, it would end as the second trimester began. No such luck. It finally eased in early or mid January of 2023 – just in time for my life to take a tragic, unexpected turn.
In the beginning of March, I entered my third trimester. I had only gained four or five pounds. While I promise I ate as much as I could between constantly going up and down the stairs of our new two-story house and taking care of a then almost nine-month-old, I was so active. My doctors then said we will keep an eye on it and to keep eating a lot of calories.
As all that happened, my mother, who lived in Sparta, had fallen ill and went to the hospital in Elkin. She was transferred to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
We live around 10 minutes from the hospital, so after she was released, she temporarily came to stay with us. From that moment, life and my pregnancy was just a blur of busy and chaotic. She moved back home to Sparta around mid April.
At the end of April (my due date was June 7th, my 40th birthday to be exact), my weight remained low, and on the ultrasounds, our daughter showed up in the fifth percentile for weight. They discussed an early induction in the coming weeks if her weight didn’t go up. However, in early May, her weight went back up and she was over the 10th percentile. So, my induction date was moved out to my 39th week on May 31st.
Meanwhile, my mother got worse and never got strong enough for treatment. On May 15th at her doctor’s appointment, it was recommended she and my stepdad call Hospice. I remained hopeful that maybe my baby would arrive, so my mom could meet her new granddaughter.
Even after many contractions, I continued to remain for weeks at two centimeters dilated. I started having more and more close together contractions, and I headed to the hospital. Only to not make any progress and be sent home, twice. I told my husband and teenager I wasn’t going through that again, so I’d have to feel beyond pain before I’d go back!
On Monday, May 29th, my mother passed away. As you can imagine, the sadness and grief was overwhelming, especially on top of pregnancy emotions.
The next evening, my contractions continually got worse. During dinner, I was even to the point of laying down through most of it. My husband and daughter both told me I likely should just go to the hospital. I was hopeful the third time was the charm and off to the hospital I went a little after 7:00 p.m.
I must have looked bad as they took us right back. I went into the bathroom to change into the hospital gown. The contractions were so intense that I really thought I might have the baby on the toilet, but I made it back to the bed. The nurse checked me and was surprised I was already at eight centimeters. She sent us back to labor and delivery.
While I was able to get an epidural, unfortunately, it didn’t kick in until after the baby arrived. I told the nurse I felt a lot of pressure and felt like my water was about to break. When she checked me, she said my water sack was about to break and the baby was right behind it, so she immediately called the doctor in. Boy, was she right!
I went from an insane six hours of pushing with my first to only 30 minutes of pushing with the second. Well, this last one was a real record. To be honest, I’m not even sure I actually pushed! As soon as the doctor walked in, checked me and said push, I really didn’t even get a chance as our daughter practically fell out! Our sweet littlest baby was born at 8:54 p.m.
In less than 48 hours, I had experienced the lowest of lows with losing my mother to the highest of highs with my youngest daughter being born. Scarlett was the sunshine I needed in my life right at that moment. She taught me happiness even in the worst of times and is a constant reminder of that happiness.
