Old Wives Tales, Myths and Superstitions About Conceiving Have Little to Do with Getting Pregnant

Getting married a little later in life, my husband and I only waited one year before deciding to eliminate birth control from our lives. Naturally, we expected a child to be arriving nine, ten or at the maximum eleven months later. That isn't quite what happened.

My younger sisters, easily surpassing me in producing children, seemed not to realize that the lack of children wasn't because we didn't like kids. As a result we would hear about birthday parties by seeing the family photos taken at the events. Our friends got busy with their kids, and occasionally the pictures of happy family vacations (and even the not-so-happy photos) highlighted a seldom noticed empty spot in our hearts.

Through the years, I silently contemplated the implications of the small "hole" in my life while others did their best to make sure it wasn't such a quiet issue: My twinkle-eyed grandmother teased me, "If you don't know how to create them, Honey, I'd be happy tell you how!" My mother gave me baby booties for a Christmas gift; A sure bet for fertility drugs? Other people were slightly less direct, and would politely ask us, "So, are you planning to have any children?" "Planning", we thought to ourselves... if only it were that easy! Plan, follow through and "pop" the children arrive. An older friend expressed shock that we hadn't run to the doctor to figure out the problem after two months. More than once well-meaning friends told us, "Don't worry about it... then it will happen!" Then I'd wonder to myself is I was really "worried" about it?

Several years passed, while siting at a romantic anniversary dinner, my husband and I discussed our options. We weren't really interested in adopting, and medically there didn't seem to be anything wrong, and yet no children had appeared. We decided that perhaps we just wouldn't have any children, after all, we were enjoying ourselves, and we hoped to travel. Somewhere up in heaven I am sure someone chuckled.

We discussed the lack of children with our pastor, asking about other couples who hadn't had children, and how they had made their lives more fulfilling. His helpful suggestions went a long way toward cementing the idea. We were ok with it; we wouldn't have children. Many of our friends began regaling tales of their parental woes. Perhaps this was their idea of making us feel better about our decision? Or maybe it was just the fact that most of our friends children were teenagers - and older! Some days this situation made us feel every day our age. My fortieth birthday, jokingly referred to as "the First Anniversary of my 39th Birthday" was quickly approaching.

Have you ever experienced the situation where you are contented with life? Not the idea that you or your world are perfect, (if you feel that way, please see a Psychologist); rather that feeling of purpose and well-being that comes when you have a place in the world, a job to accomplish, and you feel good about both? Well, I don't know about my husband, but a few months after that anniversary conversation I was there, in that wonderful zone - with two minor distractions. Every time I walked up and down our staircase I felt I needed a sturdier bra! "What is up with that?" I thought to myself, and then realized that I was overdue for an appointment with "Aunt Flo".

I didn't tell my husband. I nervously took the test... I had been disappointed so many times before. As the results appeared, I could hardly breathe! Then, I looked at the expiration date on the test... it was old... it was probably wrong... it couldn't be right. But it was.

Our son arrived slightly over nine months later. He was introduced as "a miracle baby" by our pastor. We felt that was an appropriate title.