POSTS WITH TAG: emotions

Pregnancy Heartbreaking

Mom Induces Labor So Dying Husband Can Meet Baby

Posted by Michele Zipp
on Feb 13, 2012 at 11:05 AM

newborn baby feetThere are times when inductions are truly the best thing that could happen. That a medical procedure to bring on contractions to have a baby early is a blessing. This is one of those times. Diane Aulger of The Colony, Texas, gave her dying husband one of the best last gifts anyone could every give -- the gift of life ... in the form of their newborn baby girl. 

Mark Aulger, Diane's husband was only 52 years young. He had just gone through 8 months of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer. It was believed that he was cancer-free. The Aulgers were happy. They celebrated Christmas with their four children -- five if you count the baby still growing in Diane's belly. But after the holidays on January 3rd, Mark had to be rushed to the hospital because he couldn't breathe. 

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Pregnancy

There's Nothing 'Down' About Having a Child With Down Syndrome

Posted by Michele Zipp
on Jan 19, 2012 at 9:30 AM

baby with Down SyndromeRileyWhen my friend Jennifer Lister was expecting her third child, I was so happy. She's an amazing person, a fantastic mother. Jennifer and I don't live near each other anymore so we keep up on Facebook and I was so excited to virtually be there as her pregnancy progressed. Then she had a miscarriage. Everyone was naturally upset. But it was almost like Jen was the one to make us all get through it, even though it was she who was hurting and affected the most. She is a nurturer. So when she became pregnant again, we all rejoiced and prayed.

When she told us they wanted to rush her to c-section, we worried. When she told us her baby girl, beautiful Riley, had Down Syndrome, we worried for her health. But we learned quickly about the power of positivity, and we know Riley is here to do great things. Jennifer is allowing me to share her birth story, and how she sees Riley as a gift. On Down Syndrome, she says, "There's nothing down about it."

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Pregnancy

Miscarried Babies Should Be Talked About & Remembered

Posted by Aunt Becky
on Dec 26, 2011 at 5:07 PM

It's estimated that one in every four diagnosed pregnancies end in miscarriage. The reasons for miscarriage vary wildly, however most miscarriages do not ever have a diagnosed cause. Whatever the cause -- known or unknown -- miscarriages can be devastating. Even worse, miscarriage is a taboo subject, the type of loss that is rarely discussed.

Here is my story.

Shortly after my middle son turned one, I realized I hadn't gotten my period in ... well, I couldn't tell you the last time I'd had it. But I'd recently weaned the kid off breastfeeding, I'd been stressed about the death of a good friend, and, um, there had to be a zillion and a half reasons I couldn't recall the dates of my last period ... right?

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Pregnancy

Pregnancy Advice You'll Probably Get & Should Ignore

Posted by Aunt Becky
on Dec 25, 2011 at 1:44 PM

We all know how pregnancy brings about plenty of weirdness. You're growing a whole new person inside you, how could that not be weird? Weird symptoms. Weird feelings. Weird cravings.

But the unexpected weirdness that comes along with pregnancy is probably the most irritating: the impractical advice.

It comes from every angle, the unsolicited pregnancy advice, until you're ready to hide under the bed (presuming, of course, you'd fit), until those nine long months are over. From the checkout girl at the grocery store. Your mother-in-law. Ladies in the waiting room. In elevators. You can't go anywhere without someone spouting some sort of impractical advice.

Here are my favorites.

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Pregnancy

Horrifying Pregnancy Symptoms No One Tells You About

Posted by Aunt Becky
on Dec 19, 2011 at 7:42 PM

Pregnancy. It's the most joyful time in a woman's life ... or is it?

While growing a new life inside of you is easily one of the most miraculous things a woman can experience, there are an awful lot of weird things that go along with it.

These are the kind of things I've never seen in any of my pregnancy handbooks, but through word-of-blog, I learned that I was not the only one.

So here you have it: five of the most horrifying pregnancy symptoms you'll never hear about.

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Pregnancy

Gay Dads Have Happiest Reaction Ever to Baby News (VIDEO)

Posted by Sasha Brown-Worsham
on Dec 16, 2011 at 4:40 PM

Telling people you're pregnant is one of the most exciting and thrilling things you do during your entire nine months. Some have probably wanted it for years, some may have already guessed, and still others are shocked as all get out. Film that excitement and you probably have yourself a viral YouTube clip.

Well, two gay dads who were just told they are about to become grandfathers put every other grandparent excitement viral video to shame. Their excitement is loud and proud and made me cry.

See for yourself:

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Pregnancy

My Husband's Pregnancy Is Worse Than Mine

Posted by Aunt Becky
on Nov 7, 2011 at 6:06 PM

little mommy"I'm craving a cheeseburger."

"So let's go get one."

"But, I'm getting so fat. Look at my belly! It's HUGE!"

"It's not so bad, I promise."

"You promise?"

"I promise. You look fine!"

"I eat too many sundaes."

That was a conversation I had almost four years ago when I was pregnant with my second son. The conversation was, as you might have expected, was with my husband. The roles, as you might not expect, were reversed.

My husband was suffering from Couvade Syndrome.

In other words, he was pregnant, too.

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Baby

My Best Mommy Friends Live In My Computer

Posted by Christie Haskell
on Nov 6, 2011 at 8:53 AM

moms
Me and some ladies I flew cross-country to meet.
Sometimes the idea of packing up kids to head off to a playdate can be more than I'm willing to deal with. Also, I often find that the idea of trying to get to know someone in person can be overwhelming, especially for people who sometimes struggle with social situations. Making mom friends can often be like dating -- Does she like me? Is she judging my parenting right now? What happens if I don't like her, but then keep running into her?

Thanks to the internet, though, we as moms have the amazing opportunity to skip the crappy dating stage, and make some awesome friends. I know some people find the internet impersonal, but honestly, it really doesn't have to be. Done right, you can tailor-make support just where you need it, with just the right people for it to be a positive thing.

I don't mean to be sappy, I don't, but my little friends who live in my computer mean the world to me.

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Pregnancy

20 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Pregnancy

Posted by Aunt Becky
on Oct 20, 2011 at 10:15 AM

child with babyNow that I'm past the whole gestatin' kids thing, my friends are all amping up to have their first babies. Having started younger than everyone I know, this isn't terribly surprising, but it does make for an interesting case study. My friends, of course, don't have any idea that I'm watching them gestate, taking notes and remembering those days not-so-fondly. I imagine if they did, they'd probably unfriend me.

(Probably a wise move on their end.)

Anyway.

Here's my list of things I wished someone had gently bothered mentioning before I'd gotten knocked up.

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Pregnancy

Young Women Who Seek Sperm Donors Have No Idea How Hard Parenting Is

Posted by Julie Ryan Evans
on Oct 11, 2011 at 1:45 PM

screaming babyDating can be rough, no doubt, but increasingly it seems young women are giving up on men to get pregnant, and heading straight to a drama-free source when it comes to their need for a child -- sperm donors. The most surprising thing is just how young they are when they give up and go for it on their own. According to a British report, women as young as 18 are seeking sperm donors, and as many as 25 percent of users on some online sperm-seeking sites are younger than 25.

Maybe it's because my toddler daughter has been sick, and I haven't slept in three days, and my clothes have been soaked with vomit and snot, and I've had to miss work, and I can't imagine not having had my husband to help me during it all, but all I can think is: Are they crazy?

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