Amber Stuart Mixes a Media Career with Motherhood

Amber Stuart is a reporter in Huntsville, AL, for WHNT News 19. Orginally from Decatur, AL, she graduated from Jacksonville State University with a degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Theatre. She has been with WHNT since May of 2005. The Stuarts live in Meridianville where they are involved in the First Baptist Church of Meridianville. Many people don’t know that Amber has epilepsy. It is well controlled by medication, but Amber wanted to let other Valley mothers know a little bit about her story. Recently Valley Babies had the opportunity to sit down with Amber, her husband Kevin, and their almost 1 year old son Cole.

VB: How did you decide to become a reporter?
Amber: I like to talk and I’m nosy!

VB: Have you done any local theater work?
Amber: No, no time. Before I started in TV I did Unto These Hills in Cherokee, NC, for a summer.

VB: How did you and Kevin meet?
Amber: We met at WAKA, CBS 8 in Montgomery where he was my photographer/producer. Now he’s a banker with Wachovia.

VB: What was your reaction when you learned you were pregnant?
Amber: I was overjoyed. We had 2 miscarriages beforehand, and we were trying really hard. To have one stick and last was a blessing. They were trying to get us to do progesterone, but God had given me peace that this one was going to last.

VB: How long were you off when Cole was born?
Kevin: She went on bedrest a month before Cole was born, from Nov. 18 – Dec. 29.
Amber: I delivered 16 days early because of preeclamspsia. Cole was actually due January 14th. My pregnancy was crazy at the end. I had to have a C-Section because he was breech. I had lots of family around so it wasn’t too hard. I went back to work in March.
Kevin: At about 2:00 in the morning after he was born we took the baby to the nursery, and by 2:30 she told me she was ready for another one!
Amber: Having a child is the most beautiful thing in the world. Hearing him cry was the most beautiful thing ever. It still is.
Kevin: Not at 5:30 in the morning!
Amber: Yeah it is because he’s standing up in the crib saying “Momma, Momma!” (Amber waves her arms, imitating her son.)

VB: You have epilepsy, how did that affect the pregnancy and birth?
Amber: It didn’t affect it at all because I stayed on my medicine. The OB and neurologist both said that it was better for me to stay on my meds during pregnancy than to have a seizure. The only hard thing was that I couldn’t breastfeed. I was upset at first, but by the time I had him, I had moved on and was okay with it.
Kevin: And I got to give him bottles at 1 or 2 in the morning.
Amber: How many did you give???
Kevin: We alternated…once you went back to work.

VB: How has being a mother changed your life?
Amber: I‘m kinder and gentler….more patient. But at the same time I’m a little tougher. I don’t let people run over me as much.

VB: Many mothers have to balance a career and motherhood. How do you manage to find that balance in your life?
Amber: It’s tough, very tough. It’s not a breeze at all! Now we’re just trying to get up earlier in the day.
Kevin: Every day is different: you go to work, get him from daycare and come home and play with him.
Amber: We get up earlier so we can play with him a little at daycare. We LOVE our daycare workers!
Kevin: When she went back to work in March, her sister who is 10 years younger and in college at Calhoun came and lived with us until July, so we didn’t have to put him in daycare until then.

VB: Any plans for a little brother or sister for Cole?
Amber: A couple!
Kevin: next year
Amber: I’m ready now! I’ve got the baby fever!