The magnificent Marcella Miserendino, Pella James (5), Orla Grace (2) and Nicholas (1).
Marcella got pregnant with Pella in her early twenties. Her pregnancy was a surprise but she had been with her partner for 7 years and went through much of the pregnancy thinking she'd have his support. She carried to 39 weeks when she was induced due to low fluid. Labor and delivery were only about 6 hours from start to finish but Marcella pushed for two hours with Pella moving up and down in her birth canal without any interventions. Pella was over 7lbs at birth but had severe jaundice. Marcella nursed for about 9 weeks before choosing stop and later learned that Pella had been tongue tied. Marcella gave birth on February 2nd and her partner told her on Valentine's Day that he had another girlfriend and ended their relationship. Her stress levels at being an unexpectedly single parent were through the roof. Marcella later learned that Pella needed physical, occupational and speech therepy which she received in home for her first three years and continued through school and outpatient later on. A pediatric neurologist told Marcella that her daughter may have mild CP. Though she never had a documented brain injury, Marcella believes she may have had some residual trauma from her birth.
Marcella met her husband when Pella was 15 months old and married a year later. The following year she conceived Orla and had another easy pregnancy. She carried to 39 weeks again when she was induced due to Orla's weight, her doctor worried that her baby would be too big for her to birth. Orla's birth went well and was 4.5 hours from the time Marcella's water broke. Marcella had a cyst in her breast removed after Pella was born. At that time she also had a reduction and got breast implants so she wasn't certain if she'd be able to breastfeed Orla. She tried pumping and nothing happened so she assumed that her milk ducts were severed and decided to formula feed instead.
Marcella learned she was pregnant with her son when Orla was only 2 months old. Nicholas was born when Orla was 11 months old and was Marcella's easiest pregnancy yet. She carried to term and delivered him vaginally at 9lbs and 15oz but she tore badly and hemorrhaged during Nicholas' delivery which made for a very difficult postpartum period. She couldn't walk for a week and had a slow recovery.
When Marcella was pregnant with her first daughter she blogged and was very public about her experience. Because of this, she was able to connect with other women going through a difficult time and hopes to raise awareness through continuing to share her story. Having her daughter changed her life even thought it was far from easy. She battled postpartum depression alone until realizing that therapy and medication were needed to help get her through her personal life and focus on bonding as a mother. Above all else, Marcella hopes that other women can realize that no matter what they are going through, they are never alone.