|
|
|
|
Great Expectations
Journal entry #1
October 31, 2001
Next journal entry
Only seven more weeks. It seems incredible that I'm due to
have a baby in less than two months. I've seen the
sonograms, heard the heartbeat, felt the kicks in my lower
abdomen. And there's no denying my belly is bigger than it
has ever been. Still it doesn't seem real that I will soon
give birth, will soon be a mother.
Perhaps part of my disbelief comes from the fact that early
in my pregnancy I kept myself from getting attached to the
little creature inside me. At 18 weeks I underwent gall
bladder surgery. I was losing weight because anything I ate,
including plain boiled noodles, would cause pain in my
abdomen. Though I knew I had to feed my baby, I was growing
afraid of swallowing food. I knew I couldn't make it another
six months like that, so I made the decision with my surgeon
to have my gall bladder removed, even though it put me at
risk of going into labor early and losing the baby.
As I awaited the scheduled surgery date, I stopped telling
people I was pregnant. I didn't want to look at any baby
stuff or think about the baby, just in case things turned
out badly.
The surgery was planned as an outpatient procedure that
would have me home the same day, but I had complications.
Some of the gallstones had escaped from my gall bladder,
forcing the surgeon to do more cutting than expected and
forcing me to stay in the hospital for five days. Baby,
however, made it through just fine.
Another, far more typical aspect of my pregnancy may also
have kept me at a bit of a distance from my baby. Like many
parents-to-be, my husband and I have decided not to know the
sex of our baby ahead of time; we want to be surprised. So I
can only refer to "it" as baby, not he or she. If I knew
what I was carrying, I may have found myself bonding more
closely with "it." Yet I do not regret not knowing; it will
make delivery day all the more exciting.
As the birth approaches, however, reality has begun to sink
in. I talk to my baby as I soap up my protruding belly in
the shower and as I drive to work in the morning, when the
little one enjoys getting a morning workout by gently
pounding my lower abdomen. Throughout the day, as if to
remind me of his or her presence, the baby occasionally
unleashes a kick.
Yes, only seven more weeks, and I can hardly wait.
Next journal entry
Watch the Program
|
The Stem-Cell Debate
|
Windows on the Womb
Great Expectations
|
How Cells Divide
|
How is Sex Determined?
Resources
|
Teacher's Guide
|
Transcript
|
Site Map
|
Life's Greatest Miracle Home
Search |
Site Map
|
Previously Featured
|
Schedule
|
Feedback |
Teachers |
Shop
Join Us/E-Mail
| About NOVA |
Editor's Picks
|
Watch NOVAs online
|
To print
PBS Online |
NOVA Online |
WGBH
©
| Updated November 2001
|
|
|
|