My Pregnancy

When I first found out that I was pregnant with our third baby I was scared!  I didn't know how I was going to manage with three children when I was still nursing our son and he was still in diapers.  I was busy enough with a five year old and a one year old, I could hardly get anything done!  Well, it wasn't long before my feelings of fear turned into feelings of excitement.  Who was this child I was carrying?  Was it a boy or girl?  (we didn't plan on finding out the baby's gender)  Would they look more like Mommy or Daddy?  Would they be another 10-pounder?  Could I do a VBAC or would I have to have another cesarean?  Would they have their sister's artistic and musical talents, or brother's smarts?

When our second child was born, I had to have a cesarean because my doctor felt there was a risk of Shoulder Dystocia.  His measurements in the ultrasound were so large!  When he was weighed at 10.7 lbs. I was thankful I didn't have to push him out. 

With the third child, I felt that a VBAC was the way to go, but I wasn't going to be heartbroken if I had to have another cesarean birth.  I felt close to my doctor and felt like I could trust her opinion.  I was growing so big all throughout my pregnancy even though I gained less than the other two.  The way I carried her, I looked huge!  People everywhere would stop me and ask, "are you sure you don't have twins in there?"  I can't tell you how many times I heard that one!  Everyone thought I was going to have a boy although I felt deep down that it was a girl.  I had already had one girl and one boy and this one just felt like a girl.

Since we didn't plan on finding out the baby's gender, I had to prepare for a boy or a girl.  I bought a little wooden cradle and set it up next to my bed.  I had white and light green and yellow blankets and little clothes that either could wear.  I spent time nesting and cleaning and sewing little tiny shoes.  My doctor told me that I must stop breastfeeding my 19 month old son because his nursing was causing me some painful Braxton Hicks contractions, but other than that, my pregnancy was great, without any problems.

5 months pregnant with Ellie on our trip to Maui

Holding Ellie in my last month of pregnancy

One of my favorite things about being pregnant is feeling the baby moving and turning inside my belly.  I've talked to lots of mothers and this seems to be a favorite pregnancy moment among all mothers.  It is finally proof you can feel yourself; a real baby moving around and growing, a real person.

'For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.' 

Psalm 139:13

Ellie would kick and dance like this all the time!  I just happened to have my phone this time and got to film her.  I'm so glad I did.  I had no idea that two weeks later would be the last time I ever felt her move.