here’s a story for you. our 2nd baby was due yesterday on November 8, but about a month prior to her due date i started getting a strange itching on the palms of my hands and soles of my feet at night. of course i googled it (what else is there to do at 2am when you’re wide awake?). and that’s when i learned about Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. i told myself, “don’t be ridiculous.” i couldn’t possibly have it. i told Anton about it, he echoed my feelings. but i had this nagging suspicion that something was not right. i moved my appointment with my OBGYN up to the next day and told her my symptoms. she immediately said i needed to be tested. the following day i was in a mall with a takeaway cup of coffee about to shop for some groceries when my doctor called me. my body’s bile levels were “through the roof” and i had to be admitted to the hospital for more tests. i cried in the elevator to the parking lot. we told ourselves, it’s fine – at least we caught it in time. what i didn’t know was that i’d be scheduled for a c-section a few days later (i never did leave the hospital), and our daughter Eva would be born at 37 weeks.
lessons: sometimes googling your symptoms is a good thing! trust your gut. if you feel like something is off then ask your doctor. don’t fear being ridiculed. always ask for a second opinion. if you’re pregnant and itchy: get it checked out.
now if that didn’t sufficiently distract you, here are some more distractions!
wow! congratulations, momma knows best xo
Oh thanks for sharing that obit. What a clever way to keep a bit of your dad around, to send him off in brilliant rumors, which I’m guessing is how he liked to live. Glad you’re back and okay.
Three posts from you in almost as many days! Such a treat!
YES. You have no idea how happy it makes me when I log on and see you’ve posted something! Especially these.
Wonderful post! Thank you :)
Longtime reader here, writing to say congratulations, and glad you are all well and healthy. That sounds like quite the ordeal. Also writing to say how inspiring it is that you continue to post and also share thoughtful content (and amidst such large life events, to boot). Blogging, in my opinion, is the promise of the internet, and will only be fully realised if we continue to post (I must get back in the habit, myself). Thank you so much for keeping your window on life open to us; and sending best wishes, to you and yours.
Congratulations and thank you for posting about the process of becoming a mom. I’m pregnant for the first time and had a moment earlier today where I doubted my ability to become a mother. The article “Should I have a baby?” made me laugh and realize my lack of imagination. I think it might get as well have the title “Can I raise another human being?” I also liked the photo series on breastfeeding. So inspiring!