Laura talks About Lauren
Digest- Let's talk about your baby Laura
Wright- I could talk about her forever!
D- Did you know you were going to have a little girl?
W- Yeah, I had seven ultrasounds (scans)!
D- How was your delivery? Better than when Cassie gave birth to R.J.?
W- (laughing) That was the funniest thing. Dinah and Cassie are in the front seat of a bucket seat car with a gearshift between them. Why weren't we in the back seat having that baby?
D- Did your real-life labor go smoothly?
W- I started going into labor on a Saturday night, and then it stopped. Sunday night, I started having contractions again. I went to the doctor's office, but I was only dilated one centimeter. The doctor wanted to make sure the baby wasn't under any stress, so he hooked my up to a monitor that showed how strongly my contractions were, and they started coming every two-and-a-half minutes . So we went to the hospital, and the doctor broke my water. He said, "That wasn't her head I felt." I'm thinking:"She has no head!" But she was breech, and you know what that means-a Caesarean. Which was fine with me because I never pictured myself squeezing out a kid. That grunting and pushing; I just couldn't see going through it!
D- A Caesarean isn't easy, either
W- It's a hard recovery. It hurts just to walk. But it was worth it. She's truly been a life changing experience
D- How?
W- I couldn't care less about so many things. When other people bother you or get on your nerves, who cares? I've go something great at home.
D- Is your husband John, a good daddy?
W- He's great. If she wakes up at 4, I go get her, and he's in the kitchen making the bottle. He does it all. It is his daughter-he should
D- Well, a lot of guys don't change diapers
W- I think every man should. I don't see why a woman should and a man shouldn't On top of having to carry the kid and deliver it...
D- Since you worked with a baby on LOVING, did that prepare you at all for motherhood?
W- Heck, no! No one's prepared. I couldn't stand kids when I was young. I didn't even start liking children until I was on LOVING. It made me see babies in a different light. When you work with a child in a scene, it's like, "Oh, God. Don't let the kid cry." It's not about your scene. You start to see that children are so innocent. Their lives are in your hands. And that's what I guess I was so drawn to. And then when I found a man who I loved, I couldn't wait to share a family with him. It's amazing, in the right situation. I don't see how people do it alone. I have more respect for a single mother, I can't even tell you. And I can't imagine a couple who aren't in love saying, "We don't get along. Let's have a baby, maybe it'll make things better." It won't. It adds that much more stress. The second you have that baby, it's a 24-hour job for the rest of your life. You can't quit, and if you do, you're a stinker. But it's the most important job there is.
D- So what do you do on days when you have to work?
W- Lauren comes wherever I go. When I bring her to the studio, everyone goes, "Does she ever cry?" She has her moments, but for the most part, she's wonderful. When she gets older and goes to school, I don't know if I'll continue to [commute from Pennsylvania to New York] to work. She has to be in the same state as me-period. Nothing is as important as her. This job is great, but my husband's got a really great job. He's and architect and has his own business. If children are going to take me home, then that's where I'm supposed to be.
D- There are many new mommies at GUIDING LIGHT, both on-screen and off. Does Lauren ever play with the other babies at the studio?
W- Liz Keifer's (Blake) baby, Isabella, held Lauren's hand a couple of weeks ago, and it was so cute. And then we were all at Beth Ehlers's (Harley) baby shower. Lauren was the only on there in jeans and a T-shirt. The other babies were in dresses. Everyone was like, "How old is he?" I said, "He's 5 months old." I got sick and tired of everyone thinking that she was a he that I just went along with it!
D- Do you and John plan on having more children?
W- I'd like to have on more. If it's a boy, we'll probably stop there. If it's a girl, we'll probably try again
D- How has Lauren changed the relationship you share with your husband?
W- That's a drastic change because, it goes from being just the two of you to the three of you. You're extremely tired. I've had one full-night's sleep since November 16! The other day, I was driving to the store, and it was warm outside and I wanted to be at a tiki bar in the Keys drinking with my husband, but then I got home and there she was smiling and wanting Mommy. Do I miss being able to do that on a whim whenever I want? Yeah, that would be great. But it's nothing compared to the joy that she brings. When I see John holding her, it's just the most beautiful thing.
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