The journey to welcoming our son Leo was nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster. It all began when I went into labor at just 30 weeks due to polyhydramnios, a condition that caused an excess of amniotic fluid. After 2.5 years of IVF, I had a very complex pregnancy, dealing with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), polyhydramnios, and my struggles with endometriosis and adenomyosis. The pain hit me hard, with relentless contractions that made even the simplest tasks feel impossible. To manage the situation, I was placed on medication to stall the labour, but the pain continued for a gruelling two and a half weeks.

After consulting with the medical board, it was decided that a cesarean section would be scheduled for me at 33 weeks and 5 days. The unbearable HG added to my discomfort, and the risks posed by polyhydramnios to my baby weighed heavily on my mind. Finally, the day arrived. I was admitted at midday for my 3PM C-section, feeling a mix of anxiety and excitement.

As I prepared for the procedure, I brought my own playlist of music to set the mood and something to soothe my nerves and create a calming atmosphere. At exactly 4PM, Leo was born, weighing in at a remarkable 3.07 kg. Everyone in the room was astonished; they couldn’t believe how big he was for his gestational age. Given that we conceived through IVF, there was no possibility of mistaken dates, but the nurses kept asking if we had somehow gotten it wrong.

After his birth, Leo was taken to the NICU for monitoring, where he spent 16 days. Thankfully, he was a very healthy boy, needing no machines, just a touch of jaundice to manage. It was bittersweet leaving the hospital without him, but we made it our mission to commute every morning and night to spend time with our little fighter. Each visit was filled with love, cuddles, and feeding sessions, bringing us closer to the day we could finally bring him home.

The moment we walked out of the hospital with Leo, our hearts were full!
What a privilege to be his mamma!