When and how did you find out you were pregnant?
At the time, my significant other and I discussed wanting kids in the future. He’s a father of one child and expressed the idea of the abundance of happiness with having a daughter. I had also come to a point where I wanted to experience motherhood, to bring life into this world. I certainly did not think it would happen so soon, but four months later, my journey to motherhood began. It all started when I missed my menstrual cycle and decided to take a pregnancy test. After taking three pregnancy tests, I discovered I was pregnant on April 25, 2021.
How many pregnancy tests did you take?
I took a total of 4 pregnancy tests. A week before April 25, I took a pregnancy test that had a negative result. I just kept having a feeling that something wasn’t right. I had to go out of town for a work trip, and when I arrived home, I took another pregnancy test that gave a positive result. I was surprised and in disbelief at the same time, which led me to take two more pregnancy tests to be sure.
Were there any signs before finding out you were pregnant?
I had awful stomach cramps and felt extremely uncomfortable doing anything other than lying down and curling up in a ball. I also felt exhausted with a loss of appetite. I did not think I was pregnant because all the symptoms were correlated to getting my menstrual cycle. However, after waiting a week for my menstrual cycle to start, it never came. At the time, I was also dealing with stress from work, so I assumed stress caused my menstrual cycle to arrive later than expected.
Who was the first person you told about your pregnancy?
The first person I told was my best friend. I was extremely nervous and shaken up to tell anyone else.
What did you want the gender of your baby to be?
I always wanted all girls, no matter the number of kids. I guess I spoke it into existence because, for my firstborn, I received a baby girl.
What was the worst experience during pregnancy?
Thankfully my pregnancy was a smooth one. I did not experience any morning sickness. The only complaint was having to sleep on my back and side (I’m a stomach sleeper). Therefore, I was happy to get back to my regular sleeping style, except, after delivery, I found myself sleeping on my side and back often.
How much weight did you gain?
I gained 11 pounds throughout my entire pregnancy. In the beginning, it was a struggle with my appetite, but it eventually picked up. Even though my baby ate more than I was providing her, I had to drink Ensure to keep up. I supposed I feared gaining too much weight and not liking my postpartum body. However, I am okay with my postpartum body size even though I have grown out of ALL my clothes.
When was your expected due date, and when did you actually give birth?
My expected due date was January 1, 2022 ( New Year’s Day). I wanted her to come on New Year’s because I thought it would be awesome for her to have a unique birthday, but she was stubborn and did not want to come out. I was induced on January 2 and delivered on January 3, 2022.
Walk us through the day your water broke or the birthing process?
Babygirl did not want to come on her due date, so I was induced on January 2. I arrived at St. Luke’s Hospital in the Woodlands, where I checked in and was taken to my private room to change into my hospital gown, fill out paperwork, and get my IV inserted to start the medication to kick start contractions and start labor. It was a slow process in the beginning. I had my mother and significant other in the room with me, so we talked about what my baby would look like once she was here, how life would be different, etc. Once the contractions started kicking in, I lowered the lights in the room, put on some soothing music to help me focus through the pain as it built up, and began to use my birthing ball and squatting techniques to help my baby come down more. This also helped with the pain. My significant other and my mother also assisted with whatever I needed. Every few hours, my delivery nurse would check my cervix to see how much I had dilated (this hurt badly). I was stuck at 4cm for the longest, but the contractions were getting more painful, so I asked for pain medication. I cannot recall the name of the medication, but it worked immediately to where I was no longer in pain. However, it made my heart race, and I felt nauseous. I was able to take a nap until the medication wore off. I woke up in so much pain and could feel the contractions again, but they were even stronger. I felt like my baby was about to rip through my stomach. I was screaming at the top of my lungs for the nurse to get me an epidural ASAP, even though I had planned to have a natural birth. It took a while to get the epidural because I had difficulty getting out of bed due to the contractions and felt like I couldn’t move. After getting the epidural, I could not feel the contractions as I was numb from the waist down. I was able to sleep up until I was 10 centimeters dilated and ready to deliver my baby. At 2:36 pm on January 3, I delivered a beautiful baby girl who weighed 5 pounds and 14 ounces. Kameron was finally here!!
Did you get an epidural?
Yes, I caved and got an epidural, although I planned to go without one. I practiced breathing techniques and different birthing positions ( as if I was training for a marathon). The pain was intense, and I would not have made it without an epidural. The contractions were too close and lasted a long time, and I felt like I was not getting a break to breathe and process between each contraction. I practically cursed out my nurse to get me the epidural immediately.
Do you remember your first words to your baby?
I requested a mirror to see the process as I pushed. It was such a magical moment. When my doctor handed her to me, as soon as she came out, I said, “Hi, mama, it’s okay.” I laid her on my chest for skin-to-skin contact, and she stopped crying. I could feel she felt safe, and at that moment, we embraced each other in silence for a few minutes, and then the nurses took her to clean her up.
Did you have any health complications during or after childbirth?
As mentioned previously, I wanted to avoid getting the epidural; therefore, I did try pain medication first to offset getting an epidural. I cannot recall the name of the medication, but it practically doped me up to where I could not feel the pain from the contractions for a while. However, it made me nauseous and caused my heart to beat faster than normal. I pushed past the feeling and fell asleep, but eventually, I started throwing up right when the medication wore off, and I woke up in intense pain from the contractions progressing stronger. At that point is when I insisted on an epidural. After delivery, the doctor pushed on my stomach to ensure all the placenta was out, and I started throwing up again. I caught a fever that had to be monitored and treated with medication for 24 hours.
What’s the best thing you enjoy about being a mom?
The best part about being a mom is catching my baby gazing at me as if I’m the most significant person in the world and that I’m her protector. We have created a bond that will never be broken.
What has been the most challenging part of being a mom?
The most challenging part about being a mom is learning how to adjust as a first-time mom. Thank God for my village of family members and friends who have stepped in to support me through this journey.
Anything outrageous happened at the hospital?
Nothing outrageous happened, but one significant memory was during the pushing process, my mother held onto my leg while huffing and puffing as though she was actually helping me push the baby out. I ceased pushing to tell her to calm down before she passed out. A nurse had to stand beside her to ensure she was alright. My mom also got a bit woozy from the bubbles in the Sparkling Cider the hospital provided to celebrate the delivery. My mom kept saying she was drunk (she’s not a drinker), and I kept assuring her it was juice with bubbles without alcohol.
Any do-overs or regrets:
I don’t have any regrets. However, I definitely would have asked for the epidural instead of taking the medication that caused my heart rate to rise, made me nauseous, and had me throwing up.
Any takeaway or advice?
My advice to all expecting mothers is to savor every moment of your pregnancy journey and bond with your baby while they are in your womb by reading to them, singing to them, talking to them, and rubbing your belly. It makes the bond between the two of you even stronger when your precious bundle is finally in your arms. I also advise you to get as much sleep as possible because it will be nonexistent when the baby comes but know it will all get easier as they grow older. Last but not least, have your village help you; with or without a significant other, you will need all the help you can get.
Who shot your Maternity shoot?
By A Little Taste of Heaven Photography in Humble, Texas
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