26 weeks. My last baby Benjamin bump photo.
27 weeks 3 days gestation, 90 days early ~ 2 pounds 4 oz. with a long road ahead
Written two years later... November 2020
Two years ago, crazy things were happening. The universe had plans in the works for us. I listened to my body and for the next 4 weeks I was basically on bed rest. Ultrasounds showed everything was fine. No explanation as to why I was bleeding at 24 weeks. No reason to think my body didn't know what to do. No reason to do anything other than what we were doing. I did though... I shifted my lifestyle for the next 4 weeks and spent a lot of time resting. Just holding on to this sweet baby. Although something wasn't right I knew in my heart everything would be just fine so I just held the space. Little did I know we were beginning the journey of a lifetime. 4 weeks I bled. The unknowing. It felt like it went on a long time but then it all happened so fast. I had a couple of days of feeling pretty rough. I called my midwife and we decided to keep in touch. See what happens. Maybe head in to the hospital the next day for some tests to see what's up. The night Benjamin was born was a total whirlwind! I was uncomfortable. Just trying to relax through all of the anxiety that was creeping around the outskirts of my thoughts. I couldn't sleep. Evan was so supportive and stayed up watching movies with me. Eventually he thought maybe he needed to catch some z's just in case. Sitting there alone and just feeling I realized that all of this discomfort was more. I woke Evan up and said it was time. 3am or no, we had to go. Got Maddi up and out of bed and we were on the road. I called my midwife. I called my mom. I knew. Then the waves really started to come. Fast and furious. The moon that night. I will never forget that gigantic fiery orange ball of light in the sky shining over Nanoose Bay as we made our way to the hospital. When we arrived I was in such a haze of pain I feel like it was an out of body experience. By the time I got hooked up, and the Doctor showed up to help out, my body was moving through the motions. I had no control. My water burst right there in the intake room. Its the funniest thing thinking about birthing Maddison.. the effort. The pushing. Man I couldn't stop my body from birthing Ben. Ready or not this little boy was making a break for it. They wheeled me out and rushed off to the birthing room. Evan and Maddison hardly had time to pick up their coats. Ben had arrived. 4:44am. 27 weeks, 3 days. 2 pounds, 4 oz. The most fragile life. I had never witnessed something so miraculous as a teeny tiny living human. Breathing. Crying. Everything he was supposed to be doing. By some form of miracle. The first hours are a blur. One step at a time. Don't look to far ahead. Be here now. Trust. Thank goodness I had the trust. The next 2 and a half months of NICU life is a whole other story so I'll save that for another time. My point here is life is a miracle. And if your ever forget that, look at my super strong amazing growing boy who started out so fragile such a short time ago. Capturing the hearts of everyone he meets. The magic in him is so clear to see.
Stay tuned for Part 2 - The NICU story
With appreciation and endless gratitude ~ Amanda
Thank you!
