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My pregnancy with Betha
Grace was a difficult one from the start. Hyperemesis set in
early, but that was normal given my previous 4 babies. This time,
though, it had it out for me and didn't leave like it normally
did around 20 24 weeks. Instead, it hung in there until
a bit after she was born. Then, in my 3rd trimester, it was found
that my blood pressure was slightly elevated. There was also
a concern about the fluid level in the womb. Between the two,
I was sent to bed rest which was hard with four other small
children, but was really welcome due to how weak I was feeling
from the Hyperemesis.
On October 18th, 2002,
I was in the hospital for yet another non-stress test and another
ultrasound scan. I had the non-stress tests on a biweekly basis
and ultrasound scans more often that I wanted, but I knew both
were necessary. I was very ill this day, pretty much the same
as the many days before, but was weak physically and emotionally.
I had had it. Sandy felt bad and I could tell she was concerned.
So I agreed, against my deepest wishes, to be induced on Monday,
October 21st.
That day came and I
was feeling excited about finally being back on track to feeling
good, yet I was very very sad. I didn't want the pregnancy to
end. I love pregnancy, even though it seems to be my worst enemy,
I always win in the end and get a beautiful healthy baby. I was
scared, because it was induction. Not what I had wanted. I wanted
another natural birth. I wanted to be able to walk around, get
in the shower and try out that new birthing tub that I just missed
when my last son came just a bit before they got the tub in.
But, alas, it wasn't meant to be.
Gretchen was there
with me. If it wasn't for her and the nicest nurse anyone could
ask for, and my husband, I would have never been able to do this.
I was put on pitocin
drip when I arrived at the birthing center that morning. In the
past, when I had Pit, it always acted immediately, but that was
because I was already in labor. This time though it took several
hours before it got going.
I felt I would not
be able to handle the labor and delivery very well because of
how weak I was due to the great lack of nutrition. So against
my better judgement, I agreed to the dreaded Epidural. And dreaded
it was. It worked at first, but quickly wore off. The subsequent
doses, did nothing to help the pain it had quickly became
useless. I was terrified at that point. I felt I was too weak
to cope. I was still throwing up during the labor as well and
just didn't see me making it through.
Somehow, though, I
did it. With Gretchen and the world's sweetest nurse and my beloved
husband at my side, I did it. Early in the morning on October
22, 2002, our fifth beautiful baby was born. We didn't know the
gender until that moment and when I seen she was a girl, I just
cried and cried and kept repeating, "It's a girl! She's
really a girl!" I was so hoping for her to be a little girl.
She's our third daughter.
The recovery was very
very hard. I was so very weak from the pregnancy that I never
dreamed of it being that hard. But now, 7 months after her birth,
I can't believe that she's here and that the pregnancy and birth
is now just a memory.
I want to thank Sandy,
Gretchen and Sue for all their kindness and support through this
pregnancy and my last. I miss not seeing you guys. It's going
to be so different since Betha "Gracie" is our last.
I encourage anyone and everyone to seek out a midwife for their
care, especially during pregnancy. The midwives at
Jeannette Family Birth Place are the best.
Thank you for all that
you have given me and my family.
Brenda Anderson
Northern Cambria, PA
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