Four months ago, life was beautiful and exciting. We had just found out that we were expecting our third and last baby, and we toasted to an exciting year ahead with sparkling cider. Knowing this would be our last baby, I planned to soak up every minute of this pregnancy. Little did we all know what life had in store for us in the coming months. It would certainly be a pregnancy that I would never forget, but not for the reasons I had thought 4 months ago.
A few days ago, I left the house for the first time in over a month. I stepped out of my car, pulled a mask up over my mouth and nose, and walked into my 20-week anatomy ultrasound appointment alone. A nurse checked my temperature at the door and asked me a few questions before I could go to the office. This is now normal life as we know it.
As I sat across the waiting room from another expectant masked mom, so many emotions ran through my mind. Fear over why we have to wear masks and anxiety over the unknowns of the anatomy scan. Sadness that my husband was missing out on this milestone for his only son and loneliness that he wouldn’t be my side.
But most of all, my heart broke for all the other expectant moms who have had their pregnancies overshadowed by the virus.
In the middle of my thoughts, my name was called that it was my turn. As I walked down the hallway, my anxiety gave way to excitement. I got to see my little guy wiggle around. I heard his strong heartbeat. I took a video that I would later play for my husband and daughters at home.
I realized at that moment that although life is now different and we are living in the unknown, life is still just as beautiful as it was 4 months ago.