We found out we were pregnant with Rory 6 weeks after having a miscarriage. I know we were so blessed for it to happen so quickly. I was so excited to be pregnant and really focused on enjoying the pregnancy despite our concerns that we would lose another baby. I have always had to work very hard to maintain my weight, I was never one of those people who could eat whatever I wanted or just lay around. I was active my entire pregnancy and continued to jog up till the day I went into labor. I was not extremely indulgent, I never ate entire bags, boxes, or cartons of anything. In the 42 weeks I was pregnant, I gained 35 pounds, which I didn’t feel was too bad. I loved being pregnant and I loved my growing belly.
We had an amazing midwife and had full intentions of having a water birth at a free standing birth center. When they offered to give us a tour of the hospital “just in case” we declined because I was so sure that I was having my baby in the birth center why would I waste my time visiting the hospital?! Let’s just say thank God the Birth Center mandates preregistration at the hospital…
Shortly after returning home from a wedding on June 14, 2008, my water broke and regular contractions soon began. After 10 hours, my husband and I decided it was time to go to the birth center as we had an hour drive ahead of us, we did not want to go too early because they only have 3 birthing rooms and we knew they would send us home if I was not far enough along. When we arrived our midwife instructed 2 students to begin filling the tub while she checked me – that’s when I saw the look on her face. She said ” I have good news and bad news, the good news is you’re 7 cm dialated, the bad news is my finger is in your baby’s butt!”…I knew we would have to go to the hospital, that was that. In the long run, it was wonderful, the hospital was fine, the cesarean was no big deal, and we got to take home the greatest souvenir ever, our baby Rory.
I went home from the hospital 10 pounds heavier than when I went in…I gained 10 pounds of fluid, I went the entire pregnancy with not so much as a swollen finger and went home looking like the stay puff marshmallow man. Still I thought, no big deal, I was nursing and I ate well, so the weight would just fall off…right? Not quite, it stayed and stayed and did not budge, all my friends were back in their jeans in a few months and I was still wearing maternity pants 5 months pp…..finally, slowly but surely after I stopped nursing upon returning to work, it started to budge little by little. It’s still a struggle, I have to watch what I eat and work out 5-6 days a week, but I knew that would be the case. I firmly believe in the theory of 9 on and 9 off! Happy Birthday to my Muffin, I can’t believe it’s been a year. I am so amazed that my body produced him. He is the joy of my life, he makes me love my husband more and more. I pray that we will be blessed once again to give him a sibling. He amazes me every day!
1st pic 37 weeks pregnant, 2nd 5 days pp, 3rd 3 months before pregnancy, 4th-6th pic 1 year pp, 7th pic our family
~ Age: 29
~Number of pregnancies and births: 2 pregnancies, 1 birth
~The age of your children, or how far postpartum you are: 1 year
you look amazing! so jealous. i am 9 1/2 months post partum and i look horrible, still have most of my pregnancy weight, and now i have a pooch tummy that hangs over my pants.
You look amazing!
You look fantastic! I think it’s so adorable that your son has the same hair as his daddy – too cute! May I ask what the story is behind your tattoo? I’ve never seen anything like it – love it!
you look so great, lucky you
wow! thanks, ladies! you guys are so nice! i know my son looks so much like my husband, it’s amazing! the tattoo is my grandmother, it’s from a picture that was taken of her in 1947 on the beach in atlantic city, she was 26 at the time which is the same age i was when i got the tattoo. she passed away when i was 23, the entire time i was pregnant, my mom would always remark that my grandmother was “hugging” the baby because one arm went around my belly and another around my back – it was sweet! thanks again :)
Looking great! Beautiful.
hi,
are you from philly? i don’t recognize you or anything but that outdoor picture looks just like my parents neighborhood. i just had to ask.
hi viki, yes we live in northeast philly, and i too can recognize a philly neighborhood when i see it…we live in one of 4 identical raised rancher twins, the rest of the houses on our block are singles.
Love the last picture – your son is adorable, looks just like his Dad.
i knew it! my parents live in the northeast… 19115. you look great, by the way.
Great story. You are a good writer. Your little family looks so happy and sweet.