Preggo Journey

Where do I begin?!

I found out in early December 2013, at work, that I was going to be a mother. It was a surprise to both her father and myself, we were not ready to be parents, nonetheless were we committed to one another. One thing you will learn about me is that I have no problem with admitting the truth. It is a form of accountability. So here we are parents to be, with no sense of direction. He naturally wanted to be sure that he was going to be a father ( You know how they say Mama’s baby Daddy’s maybe?) being that we had no commitments. I assured him, and he took deep breaths on all accounts. He came to every doctor’s visit for the most part, so there was at least that.

I started to grow. I mean everything started to grow. It was like an alien invaded my body and took over all systems in a funny way. I suffered from morning sickness everyday in my 1st trimester at 5pm or if there was some funky smell that just did not agree with my nose. I could smell everything and I mean everything. That was fun. I really did not show until I was closer to 5 almost 6 months. Everyone assumed I was fat. Yes Fat with life! Haha! I craved Broccoli and grits and loved sour cream on fries. I was a very happy pregnant lady for the most part ,and I learned as I grew that my center of gravity changed dramatically. I used to be the fastest walker and I turned into the slowest. I found out I was having a girl and I was slightly intimidated. I had a vision of me having a little boy. Bows and hair? Pfft! What is that?! I eventually got over it.

Toward the end of my journey as a pregnant woman, my blood pressure started to rise and it led to me being induced which was the LAST thing I wanted. I wanted my daughter to bake as much as she could.

So I was not even allowed to go to my car to get my things for the baby, let alone walk to the hospital. They wheeled me over, hooked me up and I looked a mess in my mind. I was supposed to get a pedicure that weekend, my hair done, clean my house deeply to get prepared to bring a new human home. My blood pressure changed that.

My doctor offered me two options. She told me she could give me a C-section or I could let the residents induce me with a balloon technique. I opted for no surgical steel near me and took the balloon method. This method would get me to about 4 centimeters and with pitocin, get me to 10. It worked. I proceeded to attempt to thug it out for that entire time getting to four centimeters. At around 6 centimeters, I opted for relief and let them give me en epidural. I was able to relax until 10 centimeters. Just as I was ready to push, my epidural only went to half of my body and I had the pleasure of experiencing half of a natural birth.

I want to take this time out to thank the true heroes of the world, women who give natural birth. That is some really defying stuff. My body shook, my blood pressure went crazy and in 4 pushes my little person was here. She did not even cry. I was like is she okay?! The doctors rubbed her chest and she let out the best sound ever. A cry. I will never forget that moment. It was truly one of the best experiences of my life.

After that, a flood of visitors came to see the new baby. Then after a few days, I was discharged and went back home. I ended up being re-admitted twice a few days later because I developed Elcampsia. Ladies, please know the signs of Pre- Elcampsia and Elcampsia.

• Rapid weight gain caused by a significant increase in bodily fluid.
• Abdominal pain.
• Severe headaches.
• Change in reflexes.
• Reduced urine or no urine output.
• Dizziness.
• Excessive vomiting and nausea.
• Vision changes.

If you have these symptoms check your blood pressure ASAP. my blood pressure was in the heart attack and stroke levels and I did not feel anything. One of my signs was that I did not lose any weight after having the baby and my ankles were completely swollen.