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I Almost Died Giving Birth To My Daughter — Today, She’s 13
As Liv turns 13, I wanted to share her birth story.
Olivia is my baby, the last born of seven. She has always been outspoken, dramatic, and a joy. Not many people know that I almost died giving birth. This is her story.
Olivia was born on February 20, 2011. She was born on her brother Nick’s birthday. They are 13 years apart. I always loved that my oldest and youngest have the same birthdays — with neither birth induced nor planned.
I discovered I was pregnant with Olivia when Charlie was only nine months old. I wasn’t sure I wanted another child after Charlie, but Olivia proved me wrong. She completed my family, and I have never regretted having her.
My pregnancy was difficult. After eight pregnancies (one stillborn and six children), my poor body was tired of having children. I had gestational diabetes (insulin-dependent), low fluid, and was spotting blood for most of my pregnancy.
At 34 weeks, I started leaking more blood. It wasn’t spotting but more like a menstrual cycle. My doctor recommended getting checked.
After my examination, Dr. Brown (my OB) decided I needed bed rest. He ordered me to stay off my feet. He was uncomfortable with Olivia coming before 36 weeks.
