Grace C

My pregnancy was going well with my first child, Zachary, until my water unexpectedly broke at 35 weeks due to PPROM, or preterm premature rupture of the membranes. Mentally, I had been preparing for a normal birth, the kind marketed to me on Instagram. Instead, I spent the next 32 hours in the hospital getting a shot in the butt that would speed up the baby’s lung development, watching Black Panther twice, and descending into an induced labor’s “rings of hell.” Finally I was ready to push! We put on Eye of the Tiger and I got to work. However, two hours later, no progress and the fetal heartbeat was all over the place. My doctor made the call for an emergency C-section and I felt devastated. Zachary was born in the polar vortex at 3 lbs, 15 oz, and spent 11 days in the NICU. During that time I had difficulty breastfeeding and developed the baby blues. It was tough to return home without Zachary and visit him in the NICU while still recovering from the C-section (those parking passes are key!). He had low birth weight and needed to learn to eat before he could go home, and pass many other medical tests. It was a difficult time but all the babies in the NICU are such fighters. I didn’t realize it then, but I was fighting too. Receiving a gift from The Mother’s Day Project would’ve meant the world to me at that time and that’s why I’m proud to support it. Help me spread some joy for these families in need by donating today! #preemiestrong