“At first, my little ‘hobby’ was an outlet – a very private and personal one. We had recently endured the sudden loss of our son. It was noticed by friends – and friends of friends. I quickly realized there were so many mamas that understood.”
‘During a regular, boring trip to the grocery store at 26-weeks pregnant, I went into labor. We rushed to the hospital. The NICU doctor had to ‘speak with us.’ My heart broke all over again.’
‘Just stop having kids. This one will probably die too.’ This is NOT ok. As I was scrolling, this comment stopped me in my tracks.’
“As I read this terrible comment, my jaw dropped on the ground. This same woman went through my pictures and attacked me and my children. I usually just delete and move on, but she got under my skin. I couldn’t just ignore it.”
‘My husband and I never planned on more children. The fear was too big for me to tackle. I lost two children. Anxiety washed over me as I faced the same exact surgery.’
“I am a mother to four. Most people only see one child standing next to me, or notice my one on the way. But strangers will never know my daughter is actually a triplet. Her brother and sister died 5 years ago. Rainbow baby. It’s a term I love, but sometimes despise.”
‘Take a pregnancy test, crazy!,’ my sister said. My husband was out of town. He thought I was pulling a prank. We were SHOCKED. I was mind blown to see that positive! I WAS PREGNANT!’
“Jared and I met in the Army. For me, it was love at first sight. We started trying to have children right after we got married. At first, it was just fun. Then I started to get sick.”
‘I gave birth to my son while high on methamphetamine. I wish I could tell you I sobered up, but I did not. We were joined at the hip. We were both addicts, but wanted to be sober.’
“I was so afraid. I just knew CPS was going to take him, but a miracle happened. He was born completely clean. No drugs in his system. He was perfectly healthy. Neal and I cried and cried. We went home that following Monday and swore we would stay sober.”
‘My husband and I decided during his deployment we would try to get pregnant as soon as he got home. I got pregnant the first try. But, I wasn’t supposed to mother this baby.’
“It was hell. My doctor removed it and sent me on my way. And then I was alone.”
‘Baby, when I hear you say you’re pregnant what I actually hear is ‘life destroyed.’ He was right. The Universe had been playing this cruel joke on me for 4 years.’
“Surprisingly, the doctor pulled me into her arms, ignoring professionalism and boundaries, and held me. She whispered in my ear, ‘I heard you talking in the change room. I know how badly you wanted this. Don’t give up yet.’”
‘I used the bathroom. My heart sank. I dove into panic mode. I am actually in labor. I surrendered to the universe. ‘Please just take care of me, please allow her to live.’
“I had lost 20 pounds by 18 weeks. Then it happened, ‘code white’ over the intercom. Twelve doctors and nurses ran into our room scrambling around me. I will never forget the moment before my eyes closed. My Guardian Angel grandfather had my hands in his, as if he were in the room. ‘Please keep our miracle alive.’”
‘My husband was my rock. But he was secretly falling apart as well. I thought it was because he never mourned our baby girl. He had been having an affair.’
“Not only had he been having an affair, but he ‘loved’ this other woman. We were approached about a pregnant woman looking for an adoptive family for her baby. I begged. My husband had a vasectomy and we paid an absurd amount of money to get it reversed. Chances were slim.”
‘I want to try for another baby,’ I told my husband. I was so scared. I took a test and it was positive! I felt fear creep in. At night I couldn’t sleep.’
“When I saw our sweet baby moving on the screen, I felt like I could breathe again. After that, I started to feel our baby kick. I was finally able to believe this baby would live.”
