Personal Narrative: Giving Birth To Two Children

The diaper pin represents when I took my first breath on July 12, 1989 in St. Cloud, MN. I was born on a clear morning just after 8am, and I was 7 pounds 11 ounces measuring at 21 inches long. I also had a head full of curly brownish red hair, the only one of my 2 older brothers and 2 older sisters that had hair. My parents were married at the time of my birth, and there were no significant issues with my mother during the pregnancy that impacted my development. I was however, a C-section baby, due to my brother being a C-section baby just 1year and 11 days before my birth. After my mom returned to work, my aunt watched my siblings and I until I was about 1 year old when my neighbor became my permanent daycare lady.

I gave birth to twin daughters. They were extremely premature (born at 6 months gestation), weighing around 2 pounds each. Given that I was already dilated and in labor by the time I reached the hospital, they decided to have the babies naturally. Despite having contractions for more than 30 hours, I recovered quickly after the births and was discharged the next day.

My waiting began over ten years ago. I was around only around two years old then. Now at fifteen years old, I’ve had no luck in finding a permanent home. In those ten years, not a single soul has even come as close as to wanting to know my name. I’ve seen children, ranging from ages four to twelve, come and go faster than a blink of an eye. Every day for the past ten years I’ve had to lie to myself to keep myself form completely falling apart. At five years old, I started telling myself someone was going to adopt me, but even then I knew no one would go out of their way to adopt someone like myself. I would say candid things about myself, to let out steam. I always thought it was something I did or said maybe even something I heard that I

My life before I had a baby was considered my own. I was laid back and pretty much worry free. When I wanted to go somewhere, I would just get up and go. I could stay out as long as I wanted to. If I wanted to get crazy with my friends, I could. My friends where always around and we were going here and there constantly. I didn’t answer to anyone but me. All I had to worry about was what I wanted and needed. My life was mine and mine only. My time was mine and only mine. Everything revolved around my feelings and me. I know I sound selfish but I think everyone is at that age. Before Austin came, if I wanted to sleep late or just lay around the house in my pajamas I could. I have found that when a bay comes along, that your life is not yours

“Push, push, push! You almost got it.” I could remember like it was yesterday popping out a new born baby and seeing what happens next. My son came into this world with being a crybaby and spoiled as by his grandmother. My son became a big part in my life: Thinking about him before I think about someone else. Becoming a beautiful mother with grey hairs arriving before I met my mid-twenties. Even going to the laundromat because we had so many clothes we had to make two trips. Maybe being a first-time mother it's more to think about and deciding if it's the right thing to do. Becoming a mother wasn't easy, I wanted my son to have the world so, I made my decision of trying to be the best parent every for my son and that's when he became a mommy’s boy.

Being a new mother was a learning experience; even before my daughter was born I was already learning to be a mother. I instantly began to protect my unborn child by not doing certain things that I felt would put my daughter at risk, like lifting heavy objects or stressing. Becoming a mother was a blessing not every woman gets to experience pregnancy. Motherhood changed me to a different person. I felt like a mother already.

A few days ago my mom told me I was supposed to be a December baby, but I am a October baby. I was born two months early. When I was born my skin was yellow. I had to be wrapped in a blue blanket that made me light up blue. Its called a Bilirubin blanket.The doctors said I was Jaundice. My mom and I had to stay in the Hospital for a few days to recover. Even though I was born very early I was still very healthy. I still am.

May 28, 1997 is a day that I have thought about many times. At the time, I was unsure how I felt about the way I was treated; I realize now that I was facing discrimination. I was neglected, ignored and not given the same treatment as the woman in the next room. Sadly, the person who discriminated against me was my labor and delivery Nurse. My experience that evening should have been one of joy, excitement and celebration. Instead, I was treated like a dumb child, undeserving of happiness that delivering a baby brings.

When bringing the baby home my family wasn’t surprised, but they did believe the baby would already be crying. When I went out in public people stared at the baby- probably because it was fake and sitting in a real car seat- surprised. When I first took it I was happy to be experiencing it. I believed It was going to be easy and not do anything because at the same time I was watching my six-month old cousin, Mariah.

It’s February 1st, 2016 and the weather outside seems like it’s already summer with a nice 70 degrees and slight wind, although tomorrow we are supposed to get some snow. That’s pretty normal for Oklahoma weather.

As I was driving, I remembered back to July 20th, 1997. The day remained muggy and humid outside, but the hospital room was freezing. How do I decide to adopt my child out? The biggest decision of my entire life. Who could make me even consider this? Only my father could. He told me I had to do this. I had to protect her from him; he hated this poor child because of the color of her skin. Then I heard the most glorious sound. She cried for me. I ached for her. What was wrong with me? Why did I not stop this? I could not look up

It is as though she didn’t hear her mother’s allegations against her dad, only the attack. Arlene was ready to pounce, apparently just waiting for the opportunity. “You don’t like being around me either, you only like work. Daddy is my real mommy, always around, and you’re not. You just waited all this time because you wanted to yell at him because you haven’t said anything to me all night. I stayed with you watching TV just to see if you would talk to me but you just sat there, waiting, ready to pick a fight as soon as daddy came back. How can we enjoy this new camper if you won't let us? I thought you would be glad daddy agreed to buy it, so we don’t have to sleep on the ground anymore, and even that didn’t make you happy. You’re never

In the fall of 2011, after five years of struggling with infertility, my husband and I found out we were expecting twins; Samuel and Abigail. At nineteen weeks I went into active labor. After four days, Samuel’s water broke. I was able to remain pregnant for eight more weeks. During this time I was daily told my son would die. It was unreasonable for me to grieve while hearing his heart beat and feeling his kicks. I had to choose hope. The twins arrived thirteen weeks too

I remember the day when the whole community got together to congratulate us on the big news.

One night, my parent’s received an email titled, “You Are Having Three Baby Boys!” and soon began to research names. They wanted our names to sound official, as they believed that an official name would allow you to hold important positions. Every night, my mother scanned through baby books hoping to find names. When my mother went to St. Peter’s Hospital for her first ultrasound, she noticed that I was holding my two siblings up, making her believe that I was very strong. Unlike my siblings, my name had to sound official and strong. After another month of researching, my parents ended up with the name Alex. Alex might sound strong, but my parents chose this name as it represents Alexander The Great (King of Macedon and his strong willed actions