it was 1975. I was sure I was pregnant. I already had a one year old son. There were no home pregnancy tests in those days. so I went to the doctor. the test came back negative and he prescribed me some pills to “start my period”.
I was still convinced I was pregnant, but I was taking the pills, my period wouldn’t start, and my doctor did another test. sure, I was pregnant.
About eight months later, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, who was born with spina bifida. she has spent a life between doctors, operations and sadness. she was also deaf and developmentally disabled.
It wasn’t until many years after she was born that I stopped to wonder if those pills (to regulate my menstrual cycle) could have caused some or all of those conditions. I guess I’ll never know.
my sweet nicole flew away in 2000.
Credit: Diana Wright