Disclaimer: This blog contains sensitive pregnancy photos. I ask everyone to be respectful and any negative comments will be deleted. It took a lot for me to be vulnerable to share these images. With my health history, I wanted to be as transparent and open as possible with this miraculous pregnancy.
Many of you already have been following my journey and know that my health history has been plagued with illness, numerous surgeries, and plenty of setbacks. I had my colon removed in 2008 because my Crohn’s disease was so progressive. Doctors, worried about the dangerous potential of colon cancer and with fast deterioration of my colon, removed it to save my life. That journey was wrought with so many setbacks and ongoing severe illness. Chemotherapy, biologic treatments, thousands of procedures, multiple ostomies, hospitalizations, and repeated surgery had severely impacted the quality of life I was living in my late teens into my 20s. Most of my dreams were put on hold just to survive.
The one dream I held onto and hoped for was to one day be a mother. Doctors could never give a definitive answer as to whether or not pregnancy could even be possible. It was always a “wait and see” possibility. Without my large intestine or parts of my small intestine, even carrying a baby to term was a huge risk. And, it has been. This miraculous pregnancy has been filled with many issues, illness related problems, and so much worry. Yet, this sweet little boy growing inside me is a fighter. Just like me.
That is why, as we came closer to my due date, I dreamed of having pregnancy photos taken to mark this extraordinary time in our lives.
My colo-rectal surgeon told me last week, despite all the complications, try to enjoy this. “Enjoy being pregnant, Nadia.” She said, “Time goes so fast, we forget these moments. Try to remember how exciting it is to feel him moving…” And it is! This is so true! I have to appreciate everything I am going through to bring him here, and I love him so much that I don’t care how much I have to endure. This is temporary and so worth it.
Next week, I stop the last of my medications needed to keep my disease in remission, so our baby has the best chance and can be his strongest at birth. That part is very unsettling because I don’t know what my body will do without those medications. I am hoping that the last dose will sustain me through the final weeks until delivery and beyond. With that in mind, I decided now was the best time to do these photos. While I felt as good as I can expect to feel, I wanted to capture the power of this moment and the profound feelings of this health and pregnancy journey. I channeled my inner “life-giving goddess” for these powerful images!
I want to thank my mom and dad for their help in bringing my vision to life through these photos, and a huge thank you to Nate for being the most amazing husband and best friend on this journey. I couldn’t have done this without him..obviously..haha!!
“Life reveals her beauty one precious miracle at a time.” ~Flavia
Enjoy the photos.
~Nadia
Thank you Nadia for sharing your journey and wonderful blessing of this miracle pregnancy. I will be praying for you and your little warrior like you. Blessings for you, Nate and the whole family.
I am so thrilled for you. There is nothing better than being a mommy, and I know my life would be so empty without my girls. Enjoy every moment of your journey that you can, even the down times. Just imagine the stories you’ll have to tell your son when he grows up. You’re in my prayers.
You are a beautiful person and these pictures show the beauty from inside and out.Be happy and congratulations on everything you have achieved. You and your husband make such a wonderful couple. Bless you all.
You guys look so happy and your Just glowing and beautiful. God bless you and I will be praying for your family.
Wow you are a GORGEOUS STRONG woman and you are my great example (sorry translation is hard but i try) to fight in live. Im so proud on you that you share this with us! God bless you both and that your baby boy will be a strong man like you and his dad!! thank you for showing this moment with us. We hope all goes well and that you have soon your baby boy in your arms <3
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story and photos with us. Children are worth everything we have to endure to bring them into this world.
WOW you have a big bump lol Congratulations and I wish you all great joy. 👍💝🌹
Lots of love for you and your lil fighter!! Praying hard and earnestly for your healthy, full-term pregnancy, an easy delivery and complete post-partum recovery. Your surgeon is right, Enjoy !!
❤
Thank you Nadia for sharing these beautifu photos and this happy moment of your life. I hope everything goes well and wait to see your little boy’s face. Hughs and love.
Love love love the beautiful pictures of you, baby and husband. I pray that GOD wraps his arms around you and your baby, and keep you both safe and healthy. The pictures of you and father will bring joy and happiness for a life time for your little one and future family members. I can’t wait to see the miracle baby when he or she arrives. Thanks for sharing your journey with us!
Congratulations and thanks for sharing your journey. I’ve been a nurse for over 30 years and know all to well the pain and anguish you must have endured. I am the mother of 4, with 3 bonus kids and 5 grandchildren and can’t imagine my live without any of them. I love to crochet and follow your creations. Good Luck and prayers for a safe delivery and healthy baby. God bless you and your family. Michelle Penn
Nadia, I have followed you almost from the beginning and so admire your courage throughout your journey. These photos are absolutely lovely. Prayers for you, Nate and your little one in the next chapter of your lives.
When are you due? I want to check and see how you and that sweet miracle are doing!!
I am so inspired by you–simply for being you. Your courage, living with IBS/Crohns and being pregnant is phenomenal. But the real demonstration of your character is in these beautiful inspiring pictures of your body. The pictures show your survival, your hope and your joy.
Nadia, I’ve followed you for years now, and consider you to be a good friend! You’ve been an amazing inspiration to me and many others in your YarnUtopia community, and please know how much we all love you! These photos are simply precious! I wish you and Nate the best in this final chapter of your amazing journey! I pray for your health and happiness my friend!
Much love,
Robert Roth
Brave and beautiful. May God’s grace and peace sustain you and your Family
Beautiful!
Dearest Nadia, what an inspiring and brave young woman you are. Please know that you are much loved, not just by your wonderful Nate and your amazing family, but also by all of us who have been following you for many years. You are in my prayers, dearest one. I live far, far away, on a tiny island called Malta,in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. But I’m close in spirit! Much love and hugs xxx
You look absolutely beautiful Nadia… Wish you a safe delivery.
Wow, I love the white dress because it looks like you have a cape. You are a super hero to me and should have a white cape. Your courage is amazing, you are young but any older haven’t gone through what you have gone through, me included. My good thoughts and love for you and your family are with you.
What a wonderful testimony to your strength and perseverance. May your delivery be smooth and your recovery swift.
You are a beautiful, loving, caring and inspirational woman. You will be a superhero to your precious baby as that’s how I see you in my eyes as your crochet student. Sending you all my love to you and your loved ones. Xo Sharon Pyyvaara from Australia
Absolutely stunning!!
🍼👶🤱👪
Congratulations
Beautiful photos Nadia. I feel like they capture you as you are and as you are truly meant to be.
You are truly a beautiful and inspiring person inside and out.
I wish you health and blessings through this crazy wonderful journey we call motherhood.
And I have no doubt your son will be as beautiful as you are!
Love and Blessings
Ann <3
So much love and beauty has been conveyed in these photos. Do enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and look forward to holding that little miracle when he makes his way into this world.
You are so strong and you have such talent. You’ll both be amazing parents because you cherish the time you have. You take nothing for granted. I wish you nothing but positivity, light and strength on this next part of your journey!
So happy and excited for you!
This brought tears to me! So lovely. Thank you for sharing. Good luck to your little family.
Gorgeous!! Congrats!
Thank you for all the prayers!! I am also hoping for an uneventful last few weeks!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog and comment! We are so blessed with support from this amazing community, and from friends and family. Your prayers are greatly appreciated!
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE MAKE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES. LOTS OF LOVE AND PRAYERS
I am so happy for you both. I find it shocking that my BABY is going to be 35 next month and her BABY is going to be 7 ten days later . It’s always amazing that when you hold that precious bundle for the first time you forget allthe misery associated with pregnancy. And their childhood gallops by so fast. Blessings to all three of you.
You are beautiful Nadia, these photos are beautiful and that baby is blessed as are you and Nate. I have tears of joy for your little growing family. Thank you for sharing.
We are all with you, Nadia! We will be the wind beneath your wings. You’ve got this.
💪🏼🙏🏼
This is the most precious time of being pregnant just feeling your baby moveing in side you it’s a feeling you will never for get this little boy is going to be so proud of his beautiful mother he can’t wait to see you imI so happy for you my prayers are with you .ps Happy Easter
Beautiful photos
Being a mom myself, I can understand some of the pregnancy struggle you are going through but you are going about it with such grace and beauty. It’s so inspiring! Your photos are incredible. Blessings and joy to you and your growing family!!!
I am so happy for you . You deserve all the luck in the world and i hope everything goes well with the baby my mum had Crohn’s disease and had a lot of her insides taken out she struggled with it for over thirty years of it sadly my mum has passed away in 2009 i miss her so much .
You are a very strong person you are battling through Crohn’s disease and are a fighter i am very happy for you and your new baby boy .
Nadia, I’ll bravo to you and Nate!!! What stunning pictures that you will have for the rest of your lives and to share with little Nate when he’s old enough to understand!!! Thank you so much for sharing and I wish God’s blessing on you once you stop taking the medication. I pray that He will sustain to the end so that you have a very happy birthing experience. Be bless and never change who you are. You are wonderfully made and He will see you through.
Nadia, I have followed you almost from the beginning I found you when I was going through colon cancer, I admire your courage throughout your journey and feel very close to you. You taught me through your tutorials how to crochet and spend alot time through chemo following and making things. These photos are absolutely lovely. I am so happy you are becoming a Mom there is nothing like it. Stay strong and positive as you can, I’ll be sending Prayers for you, Nate and your little one as well to the rest of your family. So looking forward to seeing your baby boy. You make my heart strong, proud and smile! 🌻😊💕
Nadia, you are absolutely beautiful and your doctor is right… Enjoy this time and enjoy being pregnant!!! Prayers for you and your precious baby – thank you for sharing this with us!