First Daughter

 I could probably write a novel about my first pregnancy and what was going on in my life and what I was thinking during that time in my life. I always wanted children, I always wanted to be a mother, I enjoyed being pregnant, every time. But that first time (and especially the next one) I was surrounded by people who stressed me out and were just not good for my well being. My children are My Joy - but yes, there is something very special that first time around.

For the most part, I had a very healthy time during my pregnancy. It was 1997, so internet was available, but not like it is today. Still, I read everything I could get my hands on. I had every book and count down calendar available. I read Dr Sears and thought about a Home Birth. Amazingly, my Back did not hurt! I figured it must be pregnancy hormones. You know, the ones that make your bones all ready for birth? This was not anything I ever thought about talking about with my doctor or anything, I don’t know why. My doctor did see an abnormality in some of my Blood Work and had some more test done. I keep trying to wrack my brain and remember what it was about, but all I can remember is that after the fact, he thought it “might” have shown Lupus? And I am not even sure if that is correct. The thing is, what if that was the first sign that I had an autoimmune disorder and I missed it?

Well my family has a very strong history of Type 2 Diabetes, so that puts me at a higher risk not only of getting it, but also for Gestational Diabetes. This pregnancy, I was considered ‘boarder-line’ and all I had to do was watch my diet and my doctor checked me out during my office visits. It was still very scary for me. I worried about my baby, but she was perfectly fine. 

About a week before her due date, I was very uncomfortable — it felt like she was doing summersaults. Turns out that she was! I had gone in for my check up and after measuring my stomach and poking around my doctor started looking perplexed. He walked me into the next room that had his ultrasound, and after checking things out, he tells me that she had turned Breach. After all that reading, after all those decisions about Natural Birth. She was my first C-Section. Scheduled. I did get sick from the anesthesia, but otherwise it was great. Recovery was great physically. I went home early. Got off my pain meds early and enjoyed every second of being a new mother.

I don’t remember when my back pain returned, it just did. It was just a normal part of my life. Oh, carrying that infant car seat, yikes! Nobody should have to do that. I do remember how much that thing hurt my back! Good thing she was a tiny little thing. So mainly I carried her in my arms until she walked at 9 months. She was bald as can be, and looked much younger than she was, so it was pretty funny seeing people react. About a year and half later, I was pregnant again.