I discovered I was pregnant in early November '98. My husband and I had been trying to conceive a child since our wedding in May, and months had gone on with no results. We went to our doctors who basically told us to just 'try' for 2 years, then they would try to help. I was frustrated with this, and researched into Planned Parenthood, which gave me information on temperature taking and charting - things my doctor had never mentioned. I got pregnant immediately, in the very first month of charting. We were very pleased.
We had picked names long before we'd even married; 'Anne' for a girl, 'Jack' for a boy. Eventually we added middle names.
Because the small town we lived in had mediocre medical care, we put off having an ultrasound done until we could be in a bigger city. While my husband was in trade school was the perfect opportunity.
The ultrasound showed that Anne had duodenal atresia; this meant that one of the valves in her intestines was blocked, and she would need surgery soon after birth. Also, the amniotic fluid would build up, and the excess would have to be removed (done much as an amniocentisis is). We had several ultrasounds done, made trips to BC Women's Hospital, tried to follow the doctors instructions as closely as we could. Unfortunately, they failed to explain the importance of needing to have the amniotic fluid reduced. No arrangements were ever made, and eventually I started to leak amniotic fluid as the sac tore slightly.
I spent a week in the hospital, leaking fluid, waiting either to go into labour, or for a complication to arise, necessitating a cesarean section.
Well, a 'complication' did arise; one night, an infection killed her. 3 days later I gave birth to my poor, stillborn daughter.
We named her Anne Rachel, our darling first born daughter.