‘My family is complete, but I miss being pregnant’

“My husband and I are in complete agreement: with three children our family is complete,” says Katie. “The baby phase is behind us. I used to say I didn’t want to get pregnant again. I still stand by that, but it sometimes feels double. Because I do miss being pregnant.’

Fluttering and kicking

Katie was pregnant a total of five times. She miscarried twice. “My shortest pregnancy lasted seven weeks, the longest thirty-eight,” she says. ‘Every time I sang to my baby from the moment the heart beat. Those moments, when I hummed and dreamed of what the baby would be like, are some of my fondest memories.’

But there are more situations that Katie fondly remembers. ‘That magical moment when to your great surprise – because I didn’t get pregnant easily – two lines appear on the pregnancy test. The first ultrasound, on which you see a small, flickering heart for the first time. But also those fluttering movements in your stomach in the second trimester and the kicks and punches in the third trimester.’

Highlight

Katie says she is grateful that her body was able to conceive and carry her children. ‘I know that there are people who fervently long for a child, but who fail to conceive. They would do anything to carry just one healthy baby. To them it may seem ridiculous to say that I miss being pregnant. But what I’m trying to say is that I miss it because it was a wonderful high point in my life.
It’s like thinking about my wedding day or my best childhood moments. I’m glad I was able to make those memories, and at the same time sad that I can’t relive that happiness.’

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