Crazy Bride? Crazy Mother?

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

29 Sep 2006 12:28 PM

What would you say if I told you that a woman (a reportedly sane woman) walked down the aisle only 11 hours after giving birth to her first child? Would you call her decision crazy? I did. But you can judge for yourself.

According to the Daily Mirror newspaper, Nicky Heys, who resides in southwest England, went into labor three months early--the night before her wedding day. At first she thought her stomach pains were pre-wedding jitters, but when they worsened she was rushed to a local hospital. A few hours later the 35-year-old secretary gave birth to a son, Harry, who weighed just 1 pound 12 ounces.

Heys told local reporters: "A few hours after the birth, the doctor asked if we had anything to do today. I said: 'I've got a wedding to go to -- it's mine'." Turns out the doctor gave her the okay to go ahead with the ceremony. (Mind you I could barely stand after giving birth to my child, so the thought of putting on a wedding dress, walking down the aisle, and standing to exchange vows is the absolute last thing I would contemplate doing.) However, Heys says she and husband Neal Agar received a standing ovation from friends and relatives in the church in Bristol.

But the madness doesn't end there... Heys told reporters after the marriage ceremony was done she and her new husband went to the reception and enjoyed a dance before going back to hospital. (Again, I can't imagine this scenario.) Heys did say she canceled her honeymoon in the Maldives to be with their son, who is in an incubator.

Listen, to each his (or her) own. I am not slamming this mom for her decision, rather I am merely saying there would be no way I could have danced after giving birth to my daughter. But more importantly, there would be no way on earth I would have left the hospital if my baby was born weighing in at one pound and was lying in an incubator.

But, that's just me. What would you have done?

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Libby Pelham (12965) 29 Sep 2006 08:40 PM

Well, I have only experienced a c-section, but if he weighed less than two pounds, maybe it wasn't has hard on her? Like I said, I have no idea - I took the easy way out (actually my son decided that for me).

But like you, I'd be more concerned about leaving my baby alone, especially since it sounds like he was premature.

Michele Cheplic (37445) 30 Sep 2006 03:26 AM

Thanks for your comment Libby!