Today’s blog is so different for me to write. Instead of sharing some of the amazing people I have photographed, I’m sharing the big project that has been in the works for the past 9 months. My big ol’ belly (as I have so lovingly deemed it). We wanted a fun way to include big brother Luke – and really, some weeks he was definitely more cooperative than others. Then again, he is two years old (almost 3!) so that is to be expected. It is so much fun to look back and watch not only the progression of the belly, but to see just how much Luke has changed as well!
The pregnancy started out like so many do. I was sick sick sick for the first 13 weeks, but felt great after that! I was able to still do 5+ miles a day on the elliptical, do light weights and go on walks every evening.
As week 28 approached, I was becoming a little anxious because I had pre-term labor with Luke at that point. They were thankfully able to stop labor for him and I went full term (all the way to 39 weeks!) and had a healthy 8lb 13oz, 21.5″ beast of a baby. So we were VERY excited when week 28 came and went without any problems with Hudson.
….Then came week 29.
My husband and I went to an evening Rangers game with my in-laws to enjoy one last game before it was too hot (and I was too big) to go. Throughout the day, I hadn’t been very hungry, but that wasn’t too big of a shock as my appetite had been very hit or miss the entire pregnancy. In the 7th inning, I began to feel off. I sat there holding my belly and felt it hardening. Something wasn’t right. I sat there throughout the rest of the game concentrating on breathing and trying to hide my discomfort (looking back, that was SO ridiculously stupid). It took what felt like forever to get down to the car & I cried the entire hour long drive back home.
Needless to say, I was in pre-term labor. I was scared for my baby & his health. Thankfully, the hospital & my doctor were wonderful and stopped labor. I spent the night in the hospital and was sent home on medication to stop contractions. The nurse mentioned bed rest, but since the doctor on call hadn’t explicitly told me I was on strict bed rest – I didn’t follow it strictly. The next day I went out & shot a session without any complications.
The meds I was on made me very sick & I dropped 8 lbs in a week. They switched my meds & all seemed to be okay….. until I started having regular contractions and ended up back in the hospital at 30 weeks. Again, they pumped me with meds & safely stopped labor. My doctor changed the dosage & stressed STRICT. BED. REST. The only exception – I could finish out my photo sessions as long as I listened to my body & stopped immediately if I had a single contraction.
We began celebrating little milestones of not having a trip to the hospital. We made it a week – yay!! Two weeks – woo hoo!!
We had ultrasounds done weekly to check on Hudson & to see if things were progressing any further. My precious little Hudson was always perfect & very healthy. We made it all the way to week 35 without a trip back to the hospital! I had a stomach bug & got severely dehydrated one day. Because of my bodies tendency to overreact and start contracting, we had to head back to the hospital. We actually even took all of our bags & baby stuff in the car because these contractions were intense – every 5 minutes and getting stronger & stronger. By the time I was hooked up to a monitor, they were at 3 minutes apart. After 2 bags of IV fluid and more of my meds to stop contractions – I was released to go home…with a baby still cooking!!
It probably goes without saying that we are SOOOOOO excited that I am now FULL TERM! I am officially off of meds to stop contractions and off of bed rest as of yesterday. Of course we are looking forward to meeting our new little man – but I’d totally be okay with him hanging out in there for at least another week or so.
So, to all of you who have sent sweet words, asked how I have been & who have made it through sessions with me in the past two months especially – THANK YOU! Your support & encouragement has been absolutely amazing! Now the fun part of the waiting game begins. 😉
