The amazing Nicole Pia, mother to Zoey (4) and Dean (2).
Nicole and her husband found out they were expecting their first child about a month after they got engaged. She had a lot of morning nausea, with little sickness until she had gallbladder surgery at 13 weeks. At 19 weeks, the day before her bridal shower she got into a car accident that totaled her new car, thankfully both she and baby were okay. She was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes at about 30 weeks but was able to manage with diet alone. Nicole had an ultrasound on her 40 week check up which revealed low fluid so they sent her in for induction.
She was at 2cm for a long while before she was allowed to have an epidural but 30 minute's later the baby's heart rate began decelerating and not coming back up. They began to rush around prepping for a cesarean when a nurse asked for them to check her one last time. Amazingly, she had progressed from 2 to 10cms and she remembers her doctor telling her, "Nikki, you can get her out faster than I can, you are at 10, PUSH" And she did, almost before her husband could wake up to hold her hand. Zoey was out in three contractions, with nine small pushes. Tangled in her cord but healthy and happy.
They had some latching issues and decided to stop breastfeeding all toghether at six weeks. Her husband was getting ready to deploy and her stress level was maxed, it was the best choice for her.
In December 2013, her husband had been home for 3-4 months from his deployment, when they decide to have another baby. They conceived right away and with this baby came all day nausea again, compounded by all day exhaustion for the first 14 weeks. At 17 weeks they thought her water broke one afternoon but learned that it was likely baby had just kicked her bladder hard enough to release it. She developed gestational diabetes again which was diet controlled without issue. At 34 weeks and 2 days, she began experiencing early labor but it stopped after receiving IV fluids and she was sent home on bedrest until 36 weeks. Nikki was able to resume normal activity and planned a weekend alone with her husband.
They had just dropped her daughter off when contractions began again. She was able to sleep but woke up at 4am to her water breaking. They got to the hospital a couple hours later and 30 minutes later her baby was caught by a nurse before her doctor even arrived at the hospital. He nursed right away and continued until 15 months old. Once she weaned, Nikki began to experience Postpartum depression but feels much better with a low dose antidepressant medication.
Nikki has struggled with body image throughout her life but has been so drawn to this movement and the women within it. She hopes to provide a positive example for her children and wants to be able to reflect on this image on the rough days when she needs a pick me up and reminder of her beauty and strength.