How I Came To Be Doing What I’m Doing. Part 2

Part 1 here.

So I was 17 and pregnant.

After showing Nathan the test and seeing his eyes light up (I had been telling him I was pregnant for 3 weeks by this stage, even without a test) I immediately rang my friend.

She was lovely and talked me through it. I was alternately excited and scared. I decided not to tell anyone until after Christmas, I didn’t want to ruin it for everyone.

I was feeling very seedy when I woke up Christmas day. There were things to do and we were expected at Nathan’s Nans for lunch. As I prepared the pasta salad to take with us, I had to keep running outside to retch. I contemplated how I was going to make it through the day without dying.

I made it through lunch and went home to pack for my parents house. The closer we got, the more nervous I got and the sicker I felt. After arriving and opening presents, I broke the news to Mum even though I had decided not to. I was just too sick to hide it.

Mum was great, but I thought Dad was going to kill me (or Nathan). Put a bit of a damper on Christmas, but I definitely needed their support.

Time passed and I was horribly sick, I lost 8kg (17lb) and looked like a stick. Luckily at around week 14 I started to feel better. I had 8 weeks of feeling fantastic, then my morning sickness came back with a vengeance. I spent a good portion of the rest of my pregnancy in bed.

My stomach never really got very big. At 25 weeks I measured 20cm – 5cm smaller than I should of. Scans were booked and Amy was regularly assessed, but no big problems were found. They also prescribed me anti-nausea drugs. Ahhh Zofran, how I love thee. I still felt nauseous, but was hoping I could put some weight on.

At 36 weeks I had gained approximately no weight. I had a belly and a baby who kicked like a trooper, but I was still 1kg lighter than when I fell pregnant. I ate really well, at least as much as the nausea would allow and took good care of myself, but man was I sick.

Every day that Amy spent inside of me, I got a little sicker. My skin broke out badly and I felt awful. I was counting down the days until I was due.

From 37 weeks onwards I had regularly increasing painful contractions. I knew I wasn’t in labour but the Braxton Hicks were getting stronger and stronger. I tried every thing to help speed labour along. Raspberry leaf tea? Check. Chamomile tea? Check. Star jumps? Check.

Unfortunately nothing worked and Amy was determined to stay put.

5th August 2005, 37 weeks pregnant. Amy was born exactly one month later, 1 week overdue.
The watermark covers up the worst of my bones poking through my wrists.

Part 3 is here,

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