Oh baby - what a big surprise!
Posted 3/27/03

"Honey, are you sitting down?" That was the question Laurie Kunst asked her husband Mike on Thursday, Feb. 27. The next thing she said was, "Weíre going to have a baby."

Now, that may not sound unusual to most people. But, since neither Laurie nor Mike knew she was pregnant it was unusual. And what was even more unusual was that she was in labor and having the baby that day!

To better understand this unique situation, weíll back up a few months.

Laurie and Mike of Ogilvie, have three children, Chad, 18, Ryan, 16, and Kari, 13. Since they were done having children, Mike decided to have a vasectomy 13 years ago.

Last August Laurie was experiencing some weight gain and went to see her doctor at Fairview Clinic in Milaca.

Based on her age, Laurieís 41, and knowing that Mike had a vasectomy, the doctor told Laurie she was likely experiencing pre-menopause. He informed her of the changes she might experience.

Laurie later scheduled another appointment to see the doctor on Feb. 27.

Between that time, Laurie did gain weight, about 22 pounds, and she did experience some of the changes her doctor told her to expect.

"You donít notice when youíre around her everyday," Kari said of motherís increased weight.

Mike said he noticed the weight increase in January, but said, "You donít tell women theyíre getting fat."

Other than the weight gain, things were pretty normal.

But, when she went to that appointment at 2 p.m. on Feb. 27, the doctor felt Laurieís stomach, which was quite hard, and decided to do an ultrasound.

Thatís when Laurie learned they were having another baby. And thatís when she also learned that she was in labor.

It was at that point that Laurie called her husband and asked if he was sitting down.

"It was a good thing I was sitting down!" Mike said of hearing the news.

His first thoughts after hearing of the unexpected addition to the family was, "Why me? I was hoping to retire at 55, but thatís alright, it keeps me young."

Laurie left Milaca and drove herself to Fairview Hospital in Princeton. And though she told her husband not to worry or even come to the hospital, Mike left his job at Grasston Feed Mill and headed to Princeton, telling co-workers and friends that Laurieís blood pressure was up and saying nothing about a baby.

He admits he didnít totally believe Laurie until he got to the hospital and the doctor confirmed it.

So, how were mom and dad feeling about this extraordinary news? Actually, pretty relieved. The two were afraid Laurie possibly had a tumor of some kind, so news of an unexpected family member was pretty sweet.

When Laurie arrived at the hospital in Princeton, several things concerned the physicians. Laurieís blood pressure was high, the babyís heart rate was low and the doctors had no idea how far along the baby was at that point.

At around 6:30 p.m., Laurie was getting into a helicopter for transport to Fairview Medical Center in Minneapolis as Mike was pulling into the hospital in Princeton to find his wife being airlifted away.

Halfway through the 15 minute flight to Minneapolis, Laurieís water broke.

Ryan met his dad at the hospital to drive Laurieís vehicle home and the two went back home, per Laurieís instruction, to be with the other kids and let them know what was going on.

Ten minutes after Laurie arrived at the hospital her little baby girl was born. It was about the same time that Mike and Ryan were arriving back at the house.

Kari was quite excited to learn her mom was going to have a baby. When Laurie called home shortly after, Kari said to her mom, "I hear youíre pregnant, Mom."

"No," Laurie replied.

There was a long pause and Kari seemed confused and disappointed. Until Laurie said, "Youíve got a baby sister!"

Chad arrived home later after work and was greeted outside by his dad. "Your going to be a big brother," his father told him.

Both the boys still seem to be somewhat in shock over their new little sister.

At the hospital

Their six pound, two ounce, full-term bundle of joy, Katie, was put in intensive care immediately after the birth.

Katie had an enlarged heart and because of the quick delivery and no prenatal care, she was in respiratory distress.

On day four at the hospital, the IV, and heart and blood pressure monitors were removed from Katie.

Laurieís sister provided them with a car seat to bring Katie home, Mike went out and bought a crib and gifts of clothes and baby items began to pour in.

Mikeís co-workers threw an impromptu baby shower and Laurie went on an unexpected maternity leave from her job at IGA in Mora.

Five days after she was born, Katie and her mom were back home - both healthy and adjusting to their new life together.

"Is this a joke?"

No one was believing the family as they made telephone calls to friends and relatives. Some thought it was an early April foolís joke.

Mikeís sister called their parents in Texas who asked their daughter, "Have you been drinking?"

It wasnít sinking in that Laurie had actually delivered a baby and no one had known she was pregnant.

Laurieís mother, Lydia Kulyas, said she was surprised to hear from her son-in-law that her daughter was pregnant.

An hour after she received the call, Kulyas received another saying that she and her husband had another granddaughter.

"I was worried about her age and her high blood pressure," Kulyas said of Laurie.

When Laurie called her mom the next morning, Kulyas asked, "How come you didnít tell anyone?" Laurieís reply, of course, was that she didnít know herself.

Kulyas said of her daughter, "If she had known, she would have told us."

So, how could this happen?

As you may have guessed by now, Mikeís vasectomy wasnít successful. Vasectomy procedures include either tying or cauterizing the manís vas deferens (tubes).

Will he be getting another one? Mike laughs and says heís been given enough "supplies" from friends to hold off on making that decision any time soon.

Laurieís previous pregnancies and deliveries were just as easy as this recent one. She never had morning sickness with any of them and the only difference, Laurie says, is there was movement with her other babies. There was no movement with Katie.

And it appears the reason there was no movement was due to Katieís disposition. Mom says Katie is an easy going baby. At one month old, sheís sleeping and eating well and growing like a healthy infant should.

As Kulyas said, "Sheís going to be spoiled, Iím sure."

Editors Note: The doctor was unavailable for comment.