Friday, October 13, 2006

Pregnancy Memories

Pamela from http://justthetwo-of-us.blogspot.com/ shared her memories of her first pregnancy recently. It brought back so many memories of my own.

DC and I were 25 and 30 when we were married. That was considered old maidhood in those days. We'd never heard of the ticking biological clock at that time, either, but that is what was happening to me. I began to be very eager to have our first baby.

I'll never forget the little butterfly tickle as I felt her for the first time that morning as I tried to motivate myself to get out of bed and get to work. I worked in a bank at that time and there were 12 of us pregnant out of 100 total employees. We had the greatest time sharing stories as we came back from our monthly, then weekly appointments.

The day that stands out the most starkly is the day I got a call at my desk about mid-morning. I had been in for my monthly check a few days earlier. They wanted DC and me to come by at lunch time to visit with the doctor - no explanation why. I truly didn't think of it as ominous - I don't know why. We met each other at the doctor's office and waited for far too long in the waiting room. Of course, the doctor had been called out for a delivery just as he was to talk to us.

When he finally called us into his office, he cut right to the chase. He told us that the blood test they'd done a few days before indicated that I had contracted rubella. This is a type of measles that can cause deafness, retardation, and any number of other serious problems with the baby. I asked if I could have had rubella without knowing it - I hadn't had a moment's illness during the pregnancy, not even morning sickness. He told us that we were "not too late to terminate the pregnancy." This was also before abortion was a hot button topic. But DC and I looked at each other, knowing without saying the words that we were going to have this baby, no matter what might be wrong with her (though we didn't know then that it was a girl, because this was also before ultrasounds). She was kicking me the whole time, as if to say, "Mommy, I'm okay!"

They decided to do another blood test. I held the nurse's hands so tightly as she stood with me during the blood draw. This nurse was special to me for years, right to the day she retired. I still miss her when I go in for my yearly check-up (at the same clinic with the same doctor who eventually delivered her).

That was the longest week-end of my life. This was a Friday. I went back to work, though I don't know how I did it. My boss was a fine Christian and he had prayer with me, right in the lobby of that bank. What a blessing!

Monday finally came and they called us with the result - a lab error! No sign of rubella or any other problem. She was born several months later and was the most beautiful baby girl - Kristen from http://kristenssocalledlife.blogspot.com/ is that little baby who was telling me that she was okay.

I could not find a single picture of myself during this pregnancy. I can't imagine that we didn't take any. But here we are when she was about 5 weeks old. I haven't worn my hair this long before or since.

dedication

17 comments:

Karla said...

Aww. Aren't y'all cute?! ;)
And look how skinny you are!!
Those pregnancy and post-pregnancy hormones work wonders for the hair, huh? :)
"Lab error..." Um hm. Right. ;)
Praise the Lord! Thanks for sharing your story.

Kristen said...

And I am obviously eternally grateful that you and dad are pro-lifers!! Thanks for giving me life!

Mall Worker said...

That is such a cute picture! I'm so happy that it was just a lab error!

Carole Burant said...

What a wonderful story but I cringe to think what a lab error could have caused...imagine being the type of people who would have agreed to the abortion...when all the time the baby was perfectly healthy!!! Love the picture!! Thank you so much for the birthday wishes, they are so very much appreciated:-) Hugs xox

Susie said...

Loved reading your pregnancy story. We have a very dear friend whose Mom had Rubella while she was pregnant. He was born profoundly deaf. I can't imagine a world without him in it!!
(This was before there were even tests to detect rubella as he is 62)
Glad your story had such a wonderful ending!

Linda said...

What a precious story Dawn. It makes me feel so sad to think of you waiting that long week. How good God is. Your baby girl is now a beautiful young woman.

Pamela said...

Oh my goodness, Dawn. What an amazing wonderful story! Such a compelling and powerful story of love and faith, and look how beautiful she turned out! We are strictly pro-lifers, as well.

I love your picture...so cute! What a feel good story, so encouraging!

Grafted Branch said...

Working backward...that picture is sooo adorable! No doubt about it -- those smiles belong to happy new parents!

Thank the good Lord above that you didn't panic and take the doctor's info as advice, and then...*gasp*...act on it! Can you imagine? Oh, it takes my breath away how flippantly people sometimes treat human life.

mouse said...

Kristen was such a cute baby and she sure seems peaceful laying in her daddy's arms. I am so glad you listened to your hearts and not the doctors words.

Barb said...

I love Kristen's comment. I'll bet she IS glad. This brought back memories of my first pregnancy. I was given a medication for morning sickness. I took it one time and just had a funny feeling about it so I never took it again. A few years later it was announced that that medication caused babies to be born without arms and baby girls to be born without uteruses.

I've always knows God spoke to me and told me not to take that medicine.

Imagine if you'd taken that doctor's advice and terminated your pregnancy only to find out it was a stupid lab error. It's scary.

Anonymous said...

You have to wonder if it was a lab error or a miracle, and how many other lab errors have resulted in abortions. I can't understand how a doctor could recommend terminating a pregnancy, but I'm so glad you rejected the offer.

rena said...

Love your story...and the picture. God is good.

Nancy said...

WOW! What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Nancy

Zanne said...

I don't think it was a lab error, I believe it was a miracle:-)
What a blessing to have a Christian boss who is prepared to pray in the lobby of his workplace, thank God for his faithful prayer...
Each child is a miracle...AMEN
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story

Anonymous said...

You sound like you have a wonderful family! You should be proud!!! :)

kpjara said...

I love this picture and am SO glad everything turned out 'perfectly' for you and Kristen! We are blessed to have you both in this blogdom.

Looney Mom™ said...

Wow. That is awesome - and Kristen is a beautiful blessing. God is so good.