40 Weeks of Prayer - Week 4

(Originally Written June 28, 2007)

This week, pray for:
Your emotional health
This is an area that I am passionate about! I suffered from postpartum depression after Joseph was born. It was a very dark and sad time in my life...I pray that I never have to experience anything like that again. When I found out I was pregnant this time, I was so upset because I feared slipping into the same type of depression. My doctor has been great and we already have a plan of action, just in case....though he has told me that just because I had PPD the first time does NOT mean I will definitely have it this time. Please, please be aware of the signs....I thought I had the "baby blues," but some very dear friends insisted that I call my doctor because they knew it was more than just the blues. I cried constantly, couldn't eat, couldn't sleep (even when Joseph slept, which was rare during those first few weeks!) I never had feelings of suicide or hurting my baby...I just felt like I would never be happy again...I felt like I was mourning someone's death. I can only describe it as mourning the loss of my "pre-baby" life. I felt LOTS of guilt over this because I had gone through 4 years of infertility treatments and had PRAYED and PRAYED for this baby! It just didn't make sense that I would be feeling such despair! I should be overjoyed, like the women in the Johnson & Johnson commercials! I am not writing this to scare any of you moms-to-be, I am just sharing my experience! Once I learned more about what was happening, I was able to receive the treatment that I needed. I felt MUCH better within a short period of time. I am always available for anyone who wants to talk more about this subject...I don't want to write a book tonight and bore all of you!! This week I will pray for my emotional health as I prepare to give birth to Elijah (SOON) and I will pray for the Lord to help me deal with the challenges of taking care of 2 boys (plus Jarrod and 4 dogs!) :) I will also pray for all of you pregnant ladies who will soon be riding the "hormone roller-coaster!"
I hope you all have a blessed week!!
Dana

40 Weeks of Prayer - Week 3

(Originally written June 20, 2007)

This week pray for:
Your physical health!
We can all pray for this...no matter what stage of motherhood we are in! If you are currently pregnant, you know there are about a million things you can pray for when it comes to your physical health. It can be overwhelming. Your body goes through so many physical changes. Doctors appointments, ultrasounds, lab work! There were several medical tests that I declined with both pregnancies because I didn't feel like I was in a high risk group. There are so many things to consider...and you hear such conflicting advice at times! No caffeine...but my doctor told me to drink 1-2 cans of Coke when I get headaches! No deli meats...no hot dogs...no soft cheeses...how will we ever survive 9 months of rules?! Then, as you get closer to delivering you start going to the doctor EVERY week! You are probably more uncomfortable physically and sleeping may be more difficult. You start *seriously* praying about your physical health and stamina to make it through labor and delivery. Once you have the baby, it is still important to pray for your physical health! Now you have another human being depending on you! Lack of sleep can start to take its toll on your physical health...your immune system may weaken. Whew...so much to pray about...yet so much to be thankful for at the same time!
This week, stop and pray for your own health no matter what stage you're in...trying to get pregnant, currently pregnant, nearing the end of pregnancy (PLEASE Lord!), recently postpartum, or several years postpartum! Our kids need us to be in good health!

Thanks for reading these weekly "rambling" sessions!


Love,
Dana

40 Weeks of Prayer - Week 2

(Originally written June 10, 2007)

This week, pray for:
Baby's Growth and Development
Even if you've already had your baby, we all need to continually pray for the health of our children. As an expectant mom, this is one of the areas that I have struggled a lot with...will my baby be "healthy?" From the time I found out I was pregnant, I started to think about all of the things that could go wrong. I thought about
all of the women I knew who had babies with health issues. I know God won't give me more than I can handle, but this is one area that I really had a hard time handing over to Him completely. All of the "what ifs" were a huge burden on me. I'm a lot better now, but I still have those moments of fear....especially as my due date approaches. I will continue to pray this week for my baby's health, as well as the health of the children of our group members.