Getting to Baby Number 5 Took Some Work
After 4 uneventful, healthy pregnancies, getting to baby number 5 took some work. We were beyond devastated when we suffered a miscarriage in March 2008. I knew the moment it happened. I just felt it and I prayed for 2 weeks I was wrong. When I walked into the doctor’s office that day I had an apprehension I was trying to wish away. When my doctor gently spoke the words I feared, “Staci, there is a problem.” I already knew. I had told him something was different. He said my mother’s intuition was correct. Of all the times in my life when I did not want to be right… this was one of them. My life changed forever that day. I was almost 15 weeks along.
We moved on with lots of prayer and tears. Late that September my husband and I found out we were once again pregnant. We told no one and that ended up being a wise decision. At the first appointment we were told it was not a viable pregnancy and I “naturally” miscarried at 9 weeks. We gave up. It was too hard to keep going through that and my body was exhausted. It was that Christmas when we once again got pregnant. Of course, I would not know until late January… and the worry began.
We did not tell a soul. I tried to fight the tiredness and hide my nausea. My clothes were big enough to hide my growing belly. The doctor appointments were easy to get to by telling the kids I was going somewhere else. We were cautious and prayerful this one would “stick.” It was a few weeks into the 2nd trimester when we finally decided it was time to tell the family. Everyone was reserved with the news but we were determined to have this baby.
At 24 weeks I crawled into bed for the night and within a few minutes felt a pool of wetness. I was scared to let my husband turn on the light. Once he did we found blood and the tears began to flow. We quickly left for the ER and began monitoring the baby once we arrived. I spent the entire night in a head down, feet up inclined position. We had to keep pressure off the cervix. A perinatologist came in and said I was about 75% effaced and beginning to dialate. I faced a real fear of losing my baby that night. I did not sleep a wink. I talked and talked and pleaded with God to save my baby. I could not lose this one too.
The next morning the perinatologist was back. This time he was surprised to find no dilation. No effaced cervix. No bleeding. Everything had stopped. I was sent home. He was baffled. I knew immediately whom to thank. But our trials did not end there. After being given the obligatory 35+ and older maternal blood test, we were told our baby most likely had Trisomy 18 and would not survive past one year… if she survived labor. Again… we were devasted.
The morning before I went to the perinatologist for a 2D sonogram for a better look, a woman whom I never met called me by my name as I walked by and told me God had a message for me. She told me that God said everything was going to be alright. She did not know what I was going through but knew God was in control. I bawled on this stranger’s shoulder. I explained the trial and she told me about her precious son whom she had lossed. This still… to this day… has forever bonded us as friends.
My husband and I walked into the appointment with peace that day and smiled when we were told our baby was a healthy baby girl. We knew she would be. God had already spoken it so.
The rest of the pregnancy was filled with check-ups that continued to show normal development. No more bleeding. No more scares. A full-term baby and bouncing baby girl born on 9/10/09. We finally had our #5. Our family was complete.
That baby will be three in just a few weeks. And although she does not have the incapacitating disease we were told she might, she does have a few special needs. Not life threatening. Not devastating. They simply require a little more work on our part but we are up for the challenge and love her just the same.
Read more coming up in Part 2 as I share the very recent diagnoses we were given about our beautiful little girl.
About Staci
Twitter: MSRheinlander
says:
What a beautiful #5 to have
I miscarried before I had Alex and was so nervous and scared throughout my pregnancy!!
Melissa Rheinlander recently posted..#Book Review: Cradle My Heart by Kim Ketola
It is so hard NOT to worry. I fought it the entire way but the worry always crept in.
Thank you for sharing. That sounds like a miracle story. I have a son with special needs I can’t wait to read the part 2.
Thank you. And this was supposed to be all about her diagnosis but I found I needed to tell her story from the beginning. I am learning as I go with the Special Needs diagnosis. Working on that post now.
Oh Staci, this made me cry. I am so sorry you went through all of the tribulation, praise God for sending you your beautiful angel that spoke those wonderful words to you! I am passing this on, I have friends that really need to read your story right now.
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I know that God is always teaching me something and our Angel {Reagan} taught me more than I could ever imagine. I am so very grateful for my #5 and even more pleased that my story can help others. That is, after all, the reason we write! <3
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How amazing! I can relate with this post completely. We miscarried twice in between our two. We had decided to give it one more try….it was very similar to your story. Thanks for sharing!!
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So sorry for your losses but rejoicing in your healthy baby as well! It is always great to hear the stories of triumph from others too!
I had no idea you had gone through so much to have your fifth child. She is precious. You have such a beautiful family and are truly blessed. After meeting you in person, I still can’t believe you are mama to all these babies. One of these days you’ll have to share your beauty secrets with us!
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aw- worth the wait tho
and adorable!
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Aww, you have a beautiful family. I had always wanted a boy and was blessed with a son in 2008 which made my family complete.
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Thank you for sharing your journey! She is so precious! You are an amazing mother!
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Twitter: east9thstreet
says:
Oh Staci! Your story brings back so many of my own memories. I had a miscarriage at 6 weeks three months before I got pregnant with my daughter (who just turned 3 last week). I will never forget the day that it happened and how it reaffirmed my desire to want to be a mom. Hugs girl and I can’t wait to hear the rest of that precious angel’s story.
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Twitter: ChicnSavvy
says:
What a touching story. I am so sorry that you lost 2 babies and had such a scare on your last bundle of joy. I too had 1 miscarriage back in 09, and it has been a struggle. We have yet to really try again because of it. You are inspirational and this story touched me. It was so amazing how God worked through that stranger and told you exactly what you needed to hear!
Look forward to reading more!! ((HUGS))
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So sorry to hear about your families loss. I know at the time, you probably didn’t think it but GOD had obviously had other plans and now you have a precious 3 year old plus your other healthy children. When we were preg with our last child Kaylyn who is almost 2 1/2 I was over 35 too so we had that test and also came back positive for Trisomy 18. Scariest thing had to ever go through. In the end, after the ultrasounds and more testing, everything turned out just fine. Looking forward to reading Part 2. God only gives you what he knows you can handle and for that woman, what a blessing.
Staci, what a beautiful, yet heartbreaking story. Praise God for you little girl and the miracles He performed that kept her safe in your tummy until it was time. And Reagan, God obviously had big plans for her in your life. You have a beautiful family.
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Twitter: JanetGoingCrazy
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Thank you so much for sharing your story and I am so sorry for your losses. I continue to learn so much from you about Faith and God’s love and I thank you so much for that. God Bless you and your family as you embark on another journey with a new diagnosis. You are one of the strongest people I know and I aspire to be as strong in Faith as you are everyday.
Oh Stac……thank you for sharing!
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Twitter: momwithadotcom
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This is such a beautiful story – so many emotions. In the end, it made me smile because you now have an adorable, precious daughter! Thanks for sharing your story.
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She’s adorable and feels like such a little miracle! Thank you for sharing your story.
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Twitter: lorih427
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What a beautiful family. I have to commend you on all your success, both in the blogging world and as a mother of 5 children.
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