It sounds unimaginable at first. After being told in her fifth month of pregnancy that she was at risk of miscarrying her daughter, Donna Kelly of the U.K. was given an unusual prescription. She could try checking into the hospital for the reminder of her pregnancy, which is a difficult enough sentence for anyone, but while there, she would have to lie upside down the entire time.
So she did. For three months, 24 hours a day, she lay upside down to eat, sleep, watch TV, and anything else one could do in that position. The only time she turned upright was to use the restroom.
She told The Telegraph that while she was surprised at the recommendation at first, after suffering from previous miscarriages, she was willing to try anything for her baby's health.
It made me feel sick and I had a massive head rush at first but after a couple of days, my body adjusted and I soon got used to it. It could be boring at times but I knew it wouldn't be as painful as losing my baby.
And that's the thing … while at first it sounds unimaginable that she would go to such lengths, most women would do the exact same thing. Motherhood is the most transformative process in the world. It changes you in ways you could never have imagined and makes even the most self-centered among us willing to give up our lives for a child we've never even met. Miscarriage especially leaves you feeling so helpless that if there was a way — any way — to prevent it, most would welcome it no matter how difficult.
When we hear of mothers committing such selfless acts or showing bravery in the midst of tragedy, we always say, "I don't know how she does it." But the truth is that's what we do when we're mothers. It's almost like we have no other choice because that maternal love is so strong as hard as a situation may be.
Fortunately for Kelly, all her efforts paid off, and she delivered Amelia six weeks early last August. She was small, just 4 pounds, 15 ounces, but healthy. She said the hardest part of her journey was being away from her son, 4, for that long, but that giving him a sibling was worth it. Just like most sacrifices we make as mothers are worth it … and then some.
Can you imagine spending three months upside down to prevent a miscarriage?
Image via surlygirl/Flickr
