Tessa's Pregnancy Story

Posted Wednesday, October 05, 2011 12:17 PM

March 24

After three months of endometriosis treatment, I was starting to get discouraged. One morning, I got up to go to the bathroom and decided to test. When I went back to check, I saw the test lying there—and there were two pink lines. I was in total disbelief and decided to take nine more tests to be sure. They were all positive! I rushed over to my husband, Joseph, to share the news. We cried and hugged. We felt so blessed to have been given this gift!

April 19

We were eager to see our baby at the first ultrasound appointment. My husband and I had tears of joy as we watched the Doppler beat away. It was the first time it finally hit us that we were going to be parents.

July 8

We were excited to find out the gender at the next ultrasound. My parents and sister decided to come along with me and my husband (it was a family affair, to say the least)—we all sat in the waiting room with bated breath awaiting our turn. The technician finally called us into the room. At first, the ultrasound technician couldn’t tell what the sex was—the baby wouldn’t sit still! A few minutes later, she checked again and announced that we’d be having a girl. We were ecstatic!

July 28

The first time I felt my baby moving was such a relief — she was healthy and okay. Some of my fondest moments were the nights we spent just leaving our hands on the top of my growing tummy, talking and singing to her as she tumbled around.

November 14

Time for my baby shower! A close friend organized and hosted the event at her home with delicious food and goodies. My family and friends gathered to celebrate our baby’s impending arrival. Everyone wanted to touch my belly and feel her move. We were so thankful to everyone who spoiled our little girl that day.

November 17

I woke up at 7:40 a.m. with abdominal pains. I rushed to the bathroom, at the same time yelling at my husband to wake up. Five minutes later, my water broke! I couldn’t believe it. We arrived at the hospital an hour later. My labor was progressing very quickly; the contractions were extremely strong. I finally got an epidural to ease some of the pain, but the midwife had to turn it off because it made pushing impossible (I couldn’t feel anything!). Once the epidural wore off, I pushed...and pushed...and pushed. Finally, at 6:01 p.m. Layla Grace was born into this world at 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and measuring 21 inches. She looked just like her father and was everything we thought she’d be, and more. We fell in love with her immediately and continue to fall in love over and over again every single day. Whenever anyone asks me if I remember life before Layla, I always say, “Yes, of course. But I couldn’t imagine my life without her now.”

>> Do you want to share the story of your pregnancy with The Bump? Email kmulpeter@theknot.com.