Jessica Carey

The phenomenal Jessica Carey, Elliott and Zane (Di/Di Fraternal twins, 3 years old today).

Jessica and her boys are previous project participants from our last stop in Portland. You can view their previous photo here: http://www.4thtrimesterbodiesproject.com/gallery-1/2015/11/23/jessica-carey

Jessica thought that she was having trouble conceiving due to PCOS but learned that she doesn't ovulate and doesn't have eggs to ovulate. They turned to fertility treatments and IUI and her boys were conceived on their last attempt. Jessica's pregnancy was uneventful until 36 weeks when Elliott's water broke and his placenta ruptured. They rushed to the hospital and her boys were born via emergency cesarean birth. 

Elliott wasn't breathing so he was taken immediately to the NICU but only spent two days there. Zane was sent to the NICU a few hours later due to low blood sugar for a four hour observation. In the meantime, Jessica clotted and hemorrhaged and they were worried she would need to be opened back up and have a blood transfusion but the doctor was able to get things under control. 

Once home, the boys began losing weight quickly even though Jessica had a lot of milk. The doctors kept insisting that there was something wrong with her supply but eventually figured out the boys had issues sucking. They were finally sent to an occupational therapist where they learned how to hold the boys mouths to get them to suck out of bottles and were able to use donor milk. They soon learned that Elliot had a lot of food sensitivities so Jessica had to switch him to home made formula while Zane continued getting donor milk. 

Elliott developed plagiocephaly and began showing signs of cerebral palsy so they continued OT and went to see a neuro-developmental specialist. They were able to resolve both his plagiocephaly and see his CP diminish with therapy and time. However, by 15 months both boys began showing signs of regression and Autism and were officially diagnosed at 21 months. They are both non-verbal, in intensive therapies four days per week and start developmental preschool on Monday. Feeding is still an issue with both of the boys, they are only able to eat pureed foods and drink from a bottle. 

Jessica is grateful for what her boys can do but motherhood thus far has been really hard. When she participated previously she was at her high, so happy but she's at her lowest low these days. When she realized how she was doing she wanted to document it so she can be more mindful of her progression as she want's to move towards happiness again. She says she's barely keeping it together but has a hard time leaving her boys so she just doesn't. Jessica knows that other special needs moms have this low point and she wants to let others know they are not alone. 

Kelly Evans

The incredible Kelly Evans with her daughters Aidan (15), Isabella (11), Charlie (2) and son Jack (10 mo).

Kelly was in her 20's during her first two pregnancies and said that she was blissfully naive and unaware. She was educated but unaware of all that's out there. Kelly's first husband was in an airplane accident and passed away while she was 7 months pregnant with Isabella. She went through an incredibly difficult time going from death to life in such a short span of time. Kelly says that Aidan made her a mother and Isabella taught her that life does go on, that she and Aidan made her life continue. She carried to term with both of her girls and both Aidan and Isabella were born vaginally in hospital and she was able to breastfeed for 6 months and 12 months respectively.

Kelly remarried and decided to have another child. Charlie always measured small and Kelly was considered high risk due to her age but they didn't know anything was wrong until Charlie was born. She arrived via cesarean three weeks early due to extremely low fluid and breech position. She was small and had to spend three weeks in NICU. It was difficult for Charlie to feed and Kelly knew in her heart that something was wrong. At 9 months old, Charlie was diagnosed with Koolen-de Vries syndrome, a rare genetic syndrome that is caused by a micro deletion of the 17 chromosome. Kelly notes that Charlie has changed her life and made people who used to be invisible to her visible, every day her existence makes her a better person. A few months after Charlie's diagnosis, Kelly found out she was pregnant with Jack. She carried him to 40 weeks and hoped to have a VBAC but her doctor had recommended a repeat cesarean and she ended up opting for one after going into labor on her due date. The pair have a wonderful breastfeeding relationship today and she is relishing the time with her last baby. Kelly wants to embrace where she is and who she is with motherhood right now and document what she believes to be the happiest time of her life.

Erin Krutz

The amazing Erin Krutz and her daughter Remi (3 months). Erin didn't particularly enjoy being pregnant but had a healthy pregnancy nonetheless. She struggled with her body and image prior to getting pregnant but once she was pregnant really began to enjoy her body. Erin's pregnancy was very healthy until she was about 34 weeks along. She had started to feel very different and went in for two ultrasounds that revealed things were still doing okay until she went into labor. She had a wonderful birth experience and Remi was born healthy and able to breath on her own. Unfortunately, Remi struggled to eat and they had to spend 19 days in NICU to learn how to eat. When they were discharged, Remi was almost fully bottle fed, but they have worked up to nursing with a shield, and have since weaned off and are able to successfully nurse from the tap.