Episode 38: Gretchen's C-section at 23 weeks CGA.

Gretchen and her son Alex.

Birth has a lot of unknowns. When exactly will you go into labor? What do intense contractions really feel like? Is birth different if my baby is premature? What does it mean for me and my baby if I know my baby is going to go to the NICU?

Birth stories are important. Hearing real birth stories is an important step in feeling prepared for your own birth, and equally important, healing from a delivery that didn’t go as planned. While every birth is unique and different, there are commonalities that births share - and through listening to stories, you can feel empowered and connected with other mothers.

Here at Mighty Littles, we want to share birth stories from mothers whose infants have gone to the NICU, normalizing this experience, and sharing stories that help you with your healing. On this episode, Gretchen relays her birth story, discussing what happened when she went into labor at 22 weeks, away from home, away from family while on a training trip for her job with the coast guard.

Tiny footprint, demonstrating how little you need to be dilated for a breech premature infant to start delivering through the cervix.