This is a photograph of POD when I was twelve weeks pregnant. It was our third scan.
We were overjoyed when we found out we were expecting opting to go ahead with a pre-booked game of tennis. Quite possibly the worst game either of us have ever played. We were like two giddy teenagers. Pregnancy had come late to us after all and I was approaching forty.
The feeling of total and utter joy was replaced just two days later. In the hospital words like ‘miscarriage’, ‘eptopic’ and ‘elderly primagravida’ were bandied around.
Our first scan was at five weeks when we saw an amniotic sac. Amazing to think you could see anything at this stage. We then had a further scan at eight weeks when we saw the fetal pole and, most importantly, a heartbeat. It was an incredible moment.
We saw POD looking like a baby for the first time at twelve weeks gestation. I was so apprehensive I thought I might actually vomit. I had a watery feeling in my throat and the voices around me spoke an unfamiliar language. We declined the downs test as it was invasive and there was a risk of miscarriage. I was already high risk.
The nervousness I experienced was due to underlying fear of pregnancy. I was diagnosed with epilepsy in 1983 and whilst its been fully controlled since 1996, anti-epileptic drugs (AED’s) are widely documented to cause defects and deformities.
An ultrasound of POD’s brain and heart cavities took place at St Thomas’s in London. It was a nerve wracking yet unimaginable experience. The wonderful, kind lady with us had a genuine love for what she was doing and took great pleasure in showing us POD’s organs. Including her brain in her skull.
We had scans on a regular basis throughout my pregnancy. POD arrived at 10.46am on Christmas Day 2010 after a 47 hour labour. Her appearance was marked by the sound of the Salvation Army singing ‘Good King Wenceslas’ outside the delivery suite. I think I will remember that moment forever.
Linking this post up with What’s The Story? which runs on the PODcast blog and Magic Moments at The Oliver’s Madhouse.
WOW, so much to go through and such a magic moment on your delivery day. Pregnancy is such a scary journey and I don’t think you realise that when you are young. I used to dread the scans, praying that everything was OK and relaxing when they said they could see our little boy.
A great story to share x
Thank you Jane. You’re right pregnancy is a scary journey – and an unpredictable one. I was nervous about all scans including the one I had at 38 weeks!!!
Lovely story beautifully written
That’s really kind of you Afra, thank you. Be over shortly 🙂
What a beautiful story, I’m so glad it worked out for you. It must have been a very scary time for you.
Thank you Sarah. A bit scary mary but we came out of the other side. POD is amazing 🙂
What a brilliantly beautiful story. I never knew she was born on Christmas Day
Thank you, very kind of you 🙂
Lovely story, and I’m glad all was well with little Pod. I had 9 scans with Little Man, from 7 to 20 weeks due to bleeding pretty much every day, so I understand the fear, but as with you, all was well in the end 🙂
Sounds like you had the most dreadful time with Little Man, so sorry. He’s a great little chap 🙂
What a lovely post Charly. No wonder POD is so very precious to you – every baby is a miracle but she must seem like an extra special one….and a Christmas one at that! x
Thank you Suzanne – she’s a good little egg 🙂
Fab photo, I remember all three of my pregnancies and the scans that went with them, fab memories…, I am a newbie blogger and linking up via the What’s the Story? link up, http://awalkthroughthecountryside.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/whats-story-5th-august-2013.html
Thank you Nikki and for joining – welcome 🙂
oh my god, that is amazing. What a great story. One that I bet she will love to hear over and over again as she gets older.
Thank you, that’s so kind of you. Fabulous when you think about it really 🙂
Oh wow, that gave me goosebumps, didn’t realise you had epilepsy, we have experience of that in our family too. That term elderly primagravida is given to anyone over 35! So funny that I had my first in my mid 20’s & TC in my mid 40’s & no-one dared call me that – infact everyone was so good to me medically & it went so smoothly, so pleased all went well for you & POD and she does not look like a dolphin 🙂 Lovely scan pic xxx
Whoops sorry about the goosebumps! It’s funny the terms they use isn’t it. I got used to being called an ancient mother in the end. The most helpful comment was ‘you should have had a baby at 35’.
Lovely story. And I wonder what the reaction of our children will be when they see these photographs in years to come!
Thank you Jamie, bit of an emotional one this week! I do hope they won’t run for the hills 🙂
awww Charly this made me cry, what a really emotional post! thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments x
I’m so sorry Jaime, bit of an emotional one this week. I’ll rectify with something silly next time 🙂
Oh honey – just got the biggest lump in the my throat when I read this. What an amazing post xx
Bless you! If it makes any difference, I had a lump when I wrote it! Thank you 🙂
What a fantastic story and photo. How lovely to share that with us. Pregnancy is such a nerve racking time isn’t it.
Thank you Joy – it never seems straightforward does it!
gosh thats some added stress you dont need it must have been difficult for you and im so glad all turned out well in the end its reassuring i bet you got extra care with lots more scans and checks i love that even at 12 weeks there is so much detail in the fetus
Aww thank you Helen. I got lots of care, really well looked after for the most part. The 12 week scan is amazing 🙂
Gorgeous! And must have been all the more special after the scare you had.
Thank you – I think you’re probably right 🙂
What a beautiful post! & such a special long awaited birth memory 🙂 ..thanks for hosting x
Thank you Victoria and you’re more than welcome 🙂
Brought a tear to my eye to! I was 38 when I was pregnant the first time with JJ but didn’t have any complications. I remember the first scan, seeing the heart beating and realising that you hadn’t just imagined the whole thing – so emotional. I was 40 with EJ and we were given a relatively high risk for chromosomal abnormalities so we opted to have a CVS done at St Georges in Tooting. I remember sitting in the little ‘waiting room’ with the other half agonising over that decision. It all turned out for the best though! X
Thanks Sam (or sorry!). Sounds like you had a tough time with EJ, I’m so glad it all turned out for the best 🙂
Oh,that is so lovely, and bought a tear to my eye. Being pregnant over a certain age brings so many anxieties, even without your additional fears. So glad all went well x
Thank you Mary. I always found it particularly helpful when people said I should have had a baby at 35!
Oh I have goosebumps – what an amazing entrance into the world. The Salvation Army is the epitome of Christmas to me. Well done you and POD. A beautiful, moving post, and of course one fantastic picture xx
Thank you lovely lady. It was quite a surreal moment it has to be said 🙂
What an amazing story, and a Christmas baby as well – brilliant!! Eek, it’s made me all goosebumpy it’s so lovely.
Thank you Jess – it wasn’t the best timing but never mind 🙂
Such a lovely post. Pregnancy should be a joyful time but sadly, some can be stressful and full of doubt and heartache and fear. Thankfully, you got your beautiful POD at the end of it.
Thank you Laura, it so true – all of that 🙂
How lovely. We had a big scare with baby man – never a nice thing x
Thank you Louise – it can be such an unpredictable process. Such a relief all came good in the end, the same for you I’m sure 🙂
Lovely post* found on #raisingperfection xx
Thank you Cara – and for joining in, lovely post 🙂
A wonderful moment indeed. I wonder whether POD remembers Good King Wenceslas, on some deep subconscious level? Sounds as though you had a lot to go through before you got to that point – well done you!
It will be interesting to see if POD does remember in some way – we’ve not had it in the house yet so time will tell. Thank you for your fabulous post 🙂
This brought a tear to my eye too. I was 40 with my first pregnancy and have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Like you I had many scans. I ended up having an emergency caesarean but thankfully all ended well. I still find it hard to talk about the actual birth. Thanks for sharing your story, it helps to know not everyone has a text book time.
Sorry about bringing a tear to your eye. It sounds like you had a tough pregnancy, I hope you were well looked after. Probably a good thing not talking about the birth 🙂
Awww, what a lovely story. Got me all teary eyed. You have such a beautiful little girl now so it was all worth it xxx
That is an amazing and wonderful story. Great that you have your epilepsy under control, and even better that POD arrived in one piece, and on Christmas Day, and with carol singers singing! Ps…. a 47 hour labour!? X.