Gretchen Rossi and Slade Smiley welcomed their child, Skylar Gray today. This is the first child for Gretchen and Slade’s third child. Slade has two sons Gavin and Grayson.
Gretchen started IVF four years ago. It was an emotional struggle including the loss of fourteen embyros. Also, Slade underwent a reverse vasectomy as part of the process.
The pregnancy was not an easy one either. Gretchen Rossi suffered from morning sickness that lasted all day for months. Then just this week Gretchen reached week thirty nine and was advised that due to her lack of dilation she would need have a C-section, She was hoping for a natural birth. Here is what she shared about that…
A Difficult Decision For Gretchen
I had a really really tough day yesterday because of having to make a super hard decision after my doctors appt. but after a lot of contemplation, crying, struggling, (and based on the medical pros and cons) the Doctor, Slade and I have decided a c-section is going to be the safest thing for me and baby tomorrow. Doctor said I am only dilated 1cm and I guess I have a “cervix of steel.”
So I either labor for potentially days and go through this balloon like procedure to try and open my cervix (which may or may not work) and possibly put myself and the baby in a lot of duress during that process (because I can’t have an epidural for that part yet) and then end up potentially in a c-section anyways, or I just do the scheduled c-section, which will be a lot less stress on myself and the baby.
When you have this vision of how you want your labor and delivery to go and it doesn’t turn out they way you imagined, there is this sadness and internal struggle. with “why isn’t my body cooperating” or am I making the right decision etc. So after crying it out, and being sad about not having a “vaginal birth” yesterday, I asked God to give me a sign that this is the best decision, and he did! So I am scheduled for the c-section tomorrow know that having her in my arms safely is all that matters!
Alls Well That Ends Well
Despite almost getting married at their baby shower, Slade and Gretchen have yet to marry after their very long engagement.
The couple has not quite completed the nursery and still have a few minor touches to go. After the earthquake last week, Slade has been busy reattaching wall hangings in the nursery,
Congratulations to Gretchen Rossi and Slade on their new bundle of joy.
I’m happy for Gretchen! Just wondering why they put Gray in the name when Slade has a son named Greyson that he calls Grey?
They said to honor Grayson’s health struggles, something about him being strong and persevering.
That’s why they gave her that name. His son Greyson has brain cancer, and it was a tribute to him. Kind of a nice sentiment.
I can only imagine Gretchen being a loving and affectionate mother. I’m so happy for her. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for both of them over the years but especially her. Congrats!
I’m happy for Gretchen. Now years later she yell at Lynn about being a good mother.
congrats, but 40? when i started watching rhooc my daughter was in high school and she will be 40 next month lol
It’s only been on since 2006 so if your daughter had to have been a tad older than highschool.
Very happy for them! Small piece of advice: if the wall hangings fell down during that earthquake come up with another plan for your wall hangings. That earthquake wasn’t even that big here in LA (YES it was in Ridgecrest, but not here in LA). There will be bigger…
I too am questioning the 40 – I don’t follow ANY of these ladies (in any franchise) that closely but I think 40 is a stretch lol
Congrats to her on the baby and I like the name (not that it matters lol)
What’s she talking about? She was at 39 weeks and one centimeter. She wasn’t overdue so her explanation of why she had the C section was stupid. I could see if she was a week or more late. 40? She can’t only be 40.
She was 27 when she started on the show. I thoughtought she was around 30 so that seems right
I know Ktina, that doesnt sound right. Her cervix would not be dilating much if she wasnt in labor. Dont need to share my labor story, but whatever, people chose c-sections or get them for a variety of reasons. Glad she finally got the baby of her dreams, that’s what matters.
Congratulations to Gretchen and Slade! I wish them the all the best and love the name they chose. Very sweet and thoughtful.
Regarding the labor/c section conversation, my little sister went through the same situation less than a month ago. Same explanation from her ob, same amount of dilation, everything; Gretchen’s delivery/labor plan story could be my sister’s story word for word. We thought it sounded crazy because I wasn’t dilated at all when my water broke with my first or when I went into labor with number 2, but she followed her Dr’s orders because it’s not like you can just go out and get a new OB at 38 1/2 weeks when you’re 35 years old. She also got the geriatric pregnancy label. Lol. I know that’s a real medical term but we still laugh about it because health and age don’t always go hand in hand and the wording is hilarious; images of a great grandma with a walker prepping for birth pop into my mind. Maybe there’s a different protocol with “older” moms and cesareans. Sorry for rambling! I’m very happy for them and a healthy baby and mom matters far more than how the baby was delivered.
I was an older mom with my last child. I’d expected my paperwork to read “advanced maternal age.” Nope, it said “elderly pregnancy.” Insurance’s terminology, not the doctor’s. The doctor told me well in advance of my due date that he planned to induce a week early because of my age. Maybe Gretchen’s doc had a similar plan.
Congratulations Gretchen and Slade. I’m happy for them.They seem to have a solid relationship, so the baby will be in a happy home. I hope his son Greyson is doing well too. He’s such a little fighter. Well, God Bless to all of them.
Congratulations! I do think they will be good parents.
Good luck and best wishes to Gretchen! She’ll need it with that human parasite of a man leeching off her.
What is this thing with new mothers that they MUST have a vaginal birth?
Whether it’s a Csection or vaginal birth you are still giving birth.
Congrats to Gretchen and Slade. What a very happy time for them!
Maybe she was worried about wearing a two-piece after. But I agree with you, as long as baby gets here!
It is still major surgery where they are slicing you open. There are still potential complications with having your guts shifted around in a way that doesn’t happen in a vaginal birth. Recovery is much different too. You can potentially be sick from the narcotics they give you b/c of it; most of the time after surgery they just get you to try to sleep it off as much as possible but if you are hoping to breastfeed, that ain’t happening.
She was absolutely smart in having it be a planned one. My cousin’s first born was an unplanned c-section after over 24 hours of labor. When the doctor told her the potential size of #2 and that he’d like her to consider a planned c-section, she immediately told him to book it. (Size of #1 is what caused the problems) even though she had thought to follow in her mom’s footsteps and have a vaginal birth after a c-section. Planned vs. unplanned? Night and day differences in recovery, but there was still a recovery involved that family who gave birth naturally didn’t have.
Congrats to Gretchen and Slade! So happy for them! Yay yay yay! It’s all good!
I’m genuinely happy for them. I love the middle name… but coupling the word SKY with the color gray?
She can finally tell vickie to shove it up her arse. She knows what its like to have her own child.
Wow bad year for Vickie. Lol