In 2023, my pregnancy and birth experience ended at 34 weeks gestation with cholestasis, preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, uterine inversion, placenta accreta, severe postpartum hemorrhage, and a life-saving hysterectomy.
My daughter, Inez, spent 42 days in the NICU at BWH battling a myriad of obstacles. We were so consumed by my conditions prior to birth, that we didn't think about what life would look like for our 34 week preemie. We were wholly unprepared for life in the NICU.
Thankfully, NICU nurses are the most incredible people on this planet, and they cared for us as much as they cared for Inez.
Inez is now two years old, and is the strongest and bravest little being we have ever encountered.
Being diagnosed with pregnancy related illnesses blindsided us when it shouldn't have. I have worked as a paralegal for a birth injury law firm for years, and trained and practiced as a birth doula through the first years of the pandemic. I have been in the "birth world" for years, but still wasn't prepared for what came for me and my family during pregnancy and birth.
I had the privilege of knowing the vocabulary, knowing the symptoms, knowing the course of care I would likely receive - and I was able to advocate for my family because of that privilege. My husband, Al, and I hired a doula to fill in the gaps of our knowledge, and to help Al find his voice when I couldn't participate in my care and was still too sick to see Inez. We are walking for those who do not have the privileges we had.
Inez and I beat some very serious odds.
Statistics are comforting until you become one. You can be comforted by the rarity in numbers until your situation adds to them.
It is not lost on us that I nearly became part of the rising pregnancy-related mortality rate. We are walking for those who were not as lucky as we were two years ago.
With preterm birth and pregnancy-related death rates continuing to rise, we are committed to raising funds so that every family gets the best possible start.
Please consider making a donation. Together we’ll be part of a movement to make America a more equitable place and ensure that every mom and baby is healthy.
With preterm birth rates continuing to rise, the U.S. remains among the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth, especially for women and babies of color.
At March for Babies™ you're lifting up communities, creating connections and taking action to make America a more equitable place and ensure that every mom and baby is healthy.
Together, we’re marching to raise funds and awareness to transform the health of all families!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
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