I found there was a LOT of negativity put on me with my decision to interrupt my pregnancy with Savannah when given the diagnosis.

I took a week after the diagnosis to make that dreadful decision, all the time feeling Savannah kicking inside me.

Did anyone else feel these same pressures?

People threw around the term 'abortion' which made me angry. I felt like people who choose to abort have a decision to end the life of a healthy child (when in healthy child circumstances).

I felt like all my choices were taken away from me.... I couldnt decide to have a healthy baby.... either way the enevitable was going to happen.

Looking back... I remember how scared I was when I was in labour with savannah that she would cry or that she would live... because no one could tell me whether she was in pain or not. Not ONE doctor could tell me whether she would be in pain.

It is the hardest decision I think I have ever had to make.....

I never looked at it like a abortion.. I feel like I did what was best for Gracie, not knowing if she felt anything..

I had to go to a different hospital to be induced and the week leading up to it the nurses kept calling to go over everything with me.. At first they were pressuring me to have a procedure done kind of like a amnio to stick a needle into her heart and inject something to stop it.
They wanted to make sure she wouldnt be born alive.. (She was born still.)
NO WAY.. I could not do that, she was not a animal that you put down.
So then I was refusing to go to that hospital. There was a nurse her name was Wendy that called me, and she was a god send, wonderful.. If it were not for her I dont know how I would have gotten through it.. She called me a couple of times a day to talk, she would call Gracie by her name and everytime she did I would lose it. It felt so good for someone to acknowledge her. She told me to go buy things for her. So I did. I got her a premie outfit, a blanket with butterflies on it and a teddy bear that said sweet dreams. I had her cremated with it all and a picture of Brad and I.
Noone ever showed us her condition on ultrasound. Wendy did and she took a ton of u/s pictures for us, and marked everyone with hands, feet, etc..
She was off her shift was I was admitted and she still walked me to my room and sat on the bed and cried with me.. The next day right after Gracie was born she came to my room and hugged and talked with me. She reassured me I did the right thing..

I live all those moments in my head as though they were yesterday, its amazing to me that I its still so fresh in my mind.. All I wanted was what was best for Gracie. I didnt care about myself at the time. Just her.
I also was layin there in labor thinking oh god, please let her be gone. Just make this as easy as possible for her, let her feel nothing, give me all the pain..
If I could go back I would do everything the same, nothing I would change..

Thanks Stacie...

Its a relief to see other ppl go through similar things when been given the anencephaly diagnosis..

Thankyou for sharing ((hugs))

Hi Lori and Stacy, How far along were both of you when you delivered??
<3
Kathleen Maranda
mom to Edward Maranda
12-13-84

20 weeks and 2 days.

21 weeks..

I went to 34 weeks....exactly 6 weeks before my due date. I went natural not induced. It was my personal choice to give Bryce the best life I could for as long as I could. If I had the choice to induce I wouldn't because I cherished every second I had with my Bryce.