by Melissa Willets posted in Pregnancy

Since finding out I was pregnant with my fifth child, I've been careful not to overdo it. Maybe it's because we lost our last baby. Every day I'm extra cautious not to pick up anything too heavy, or go up and down stairs too quickly. But I'm telling you, no matter how vigilant you are, everything can change in an instant like it did for me.
The other morning, I was waiting for the school bus with my daughter when, oddly, it passed us by. I guess the driver hadn't seen us. And brilliant me, I forgot for a moment I was 7 months pregnant, and began running after the bus. Except with my shifting center of gravity, it wasn't so much a run as a fall. I stumbled a few times, trying desperately to catch myself, but it was too late. I'd like to say that in the seconds before my pregnant body made contact with the road, I was able to think fast and land in a way that protected my belly. But the truth is, I just fell. Hard. Mostly on my hands and knees, but soon I was lying flat on the ground, mere feet from the bus, and with my kids looking on in horror.
Neighbors had to help me to my feet, as I tried to take stock of my injuries. Hands cut and bleeding, check. Knees throbbing and dripping with blood. Check. Although I was in pain, the fear that I might have hurt my baby was the only thing I cared about.
Once back inside the house, I started crying uncontrollably. No really, what if my son wasn't okay" What if I lost him too" I phoned...