Grace Rohlfs

At 28 weeks and 5 days, I woke in the middle of the night experiencing abdominal pain and bleeding. Unsure of what was happening, I contacted my OB office and requested a call from the on-call physician. Although I was initially reassured that my symptoms were normal, my husband Nick and I felt strongly that something was wrong and decided to go to the hospital. Upon arrival and evaluation in Labor & Delivery triage, I learned that I was already 3 cm dilated. I was started on a magnesium drip and given the first of two steroid injections to support our baby’s lung development in the event of an early delivery. Once my contractions stabilized, I was transferred from Bethesda North to Good Samaritan Hospital for a higher level of care.

At Good Samaritan, I met with Dr. Voss from TriState Maternal Fetal Medicine, who clearly explained my condition, the care plan, and the possible outcomes over the next 24–48 hours. While the situation was frightening and overwhelming, the expertise and compassion of Dr. Voss and the entire MFM team gave us confidence that we were in the best possible hands. I remained hospitalized on bed rest and under close monitoring, with the understanding that I would stay until delivery or until reaching 32 weeks. However, approximately 60 hours later, it became clear that delivery was imminent, and I was moved to Labor & Delivery.

With the skilled care of Dr. Smith and the MFM team, our daughter was delivered safely at 29 weeks and 1 day. The NICU team acted immediately to ensure she received the highest level of care, and she was transferred directly to the NICU following birth, with her dad by her side. Born weighing just 2 pounds, 11 ounces and measuring 15.25 inches, she was incredibly small, and we were filled with fear and uncertainty about what lay ahead. Larken spent 50 days in the NICU, receiving constant monitoring and care. Today, we are grateful that she has had no major long-term complications related to her prematurity and was able to be discharged from follow-up care relatively quickly.

Our experience made us acutely aware of how fortunate we are and how critical access to specialized care and research truly is. Through our journey, we have seen firsthand the impact of March of Dimes and its mission to support families facing prematurity and other maternal and infant health challenges. We share our story to raise awareness that premature birth affects many families—often without warning—and to offer hope to those currently navigating the NICU journey. This is why I am asking for your support. Funds raised through my campaign help March of Dimes advance research to better understand and prevent premature birth, support programs, and advocate for policies that improve outcomes for moms and babies nationwide. If you believe, as I do, that every baby deserves the best possible start, I invite you to march with me or consider making a donation.

Together, we can fight for the health of all moms and babies.