7 months ago our life changed forever- we became parents.  Little did I know that 6 months ago my idea of what challenges lay ahead were really going to be tested.  When we got pregnant everyone who was already a parent told us the same thing, parenthood is the most rewarding and challenging experience of your life.  I got a real wake up call when I was diagnosed during a time where my biggest worry should have been lack of sleep.  I wanted to write this post to let you in on my most wonderful experience – my pregnancy. Because of my diagnosis I have not been able to talk or even think about what happened before Cancer became apart of our life.  But I don’t want it to be overlooked because it was the most magical experience and I will never forget it.

My entire pregnancy was amazing- I never got sick, I barely gained any weight and I overall felt happy all the time.  I knew from the moment I got pregnant that I was going to deliver naturally (after all- I am a Chiropractor ;)) with that being said its a lot easier said than done.  I stated to do extensive research on all the physical and mental work I would have to put in within the 9 months to get my body ready. I came across the Bradley method after talking to my patients and colleagues about my plan.  I purchased a copy of it on amazon and got to work.  I practiced the stretches, exercises, breathing and mental affirmations until the day I went into labor.  I also continued to work out – primarily strength training 6 days per week and the most important thing I did was to get adjusted two times per week.  I can not stress how important it is for your body to be well adjusted.  Having a baby naturally is like running a marathon you can’t just get up and do it- you have to train for it.

My labor story:  on Thursday August 4th at 1:30am I was fast asleep when I felt liquid.  I woke Bar up and told him what I felt, he immediately told me to go stand in the bath tub.  As soon as I did a lot more water came out and it was confirmed that my water broke.  We called Northwestern to let them know we were going to be coming in.  I started to get worried, every book I read stated that if your water broke but contractions did not start you would have to be induced.  Bar told me to relax and not to worry about what might happen.  I decided to take a shower, after all I knew I was about to have a baby might as well look presentable for it 😉 as soon as I got out of the shower my contractions started (YAY!) they were very mild and tolerable.  After I blow-dried my hair and started to straighten it they got worse.  I was timing them at 1 minute long and 5 minutes apart.  By the time we got to the car they intensified even more and the 15 minute ride to the hospital felt like an eternity.  We got to Northewestern at 3:00am.  We got checked in to triage and I was asked if I was going to get an epidural I said No and we were placed in a triage room.  As soon as we got settled I was told I was 4 cm dilated and that it would be awhile, it was now 4:00am and I told Bar to call our parents so my dad wouldn’t leave for work and instead would come here. Then Bar left to go park our car since it was still in Valet.  As soon as he got back my contractions were out of control and I felt the urge to ‘push.’  Of course I had never had a baby before so I didn’t know if I was right but from my research it was described as the urge to make a bowel movement and that’s exactly what I felt.  I told Bar to please get a nurse for me so they can check my dilation.  The nurse entered my room and told me a room was not ready for me in labor and delivery and that I would be here for awhile.  I told her that I felt like I needed to push.  At first she ignored me and then looked up from the monitors and asked me what I just said to her.  I repeated myself between my painful contractions and she immediately checked my dilation and stated, “baby girl you are complete, you are 10cm!” She looked at me in disbelief.  She started breaking down the bed and yelling that we needed to hussle it as fast as we could upstairs to labor and delivery.  I start to freak out but calmed myself and replayed everything in my head of what I learned to stop the baby from coming.  I was not about to have him in the elevator!! We got upstairs around 6am and none of my doctors were around but a sweet resident, Dr. Charlene Butler calmed me down and told me that she was going to deliver my baby.  At this point I didn’t care who was going to deliver him because he was on his way out regardless.  I started pushing and at 6:48am Kiaan arrived.  As soon as he was in the world I started crying because I couldn’t believe I just did what I wanted and I had a healthy baby boy.  That was the most exhilarating moment of my life thus far.

As I think back about his birth I still can’t believe my body was able to deliver a healthy baby boy naturally while I had a tumor inside me.  The human body is amazing and is capable of things we can only imagine.  It’s crazy how life gives us challenges when you least expect it.  I thought my hardest challenge would be the delivery of my baby and tackling parenthood.  Little did I know we would be tested 3-fold.  Our trip to Bali got me reflecting on my life and that’s what made me think of my delivery.  As much as you can plan and prepare for life there will always be challenges and you have to remember that even in the toughest times, to be grateful.

I am blessed to have a baby boy, a husband who loves me unconditionally, a loyal dog, a supportive family and an amazing body that can literally handle anything!