On this week's podcast episode, we have part one of team member Carrie’s journey with her daughter Hattie! Carrie is a full-term NICU mom to Hattie who spent 19 days in the NICU. Throughout Carrie’s pregnancy, Carrie worked alongside a doula and took hypnobirthing classes with the hope of having an all-natural birth. However once at the hospital, it was discovered that Hattie was breech and Carrie was leaking fluid, and an emergency c-section was ordered.

5 hours after Hattie was born, Hattie was transferred to the NICU for additional breathing support. After a handful of unsuccessful attempts at trialing room air in the NICU, Hattie’s care team ordered additional testing at 2 weeks old and she was diagnosed with a coarctation of the aorta, aortic and mitral valve stenosis, and left ventricular hypertrabeculation/ non-compaction.

For Hattie, this diagnosis means she is continually monitored by cardiology and will likely require a few repairs to her aortic arch to continue living a healthy life. Hattie turns 3 in July and despite her diagnosis is a thriving, active, and wildly fun toddler and big sister!

Our hope is that full-term NICU mamas in our sisterhood feel validated and are reminded that your story is significant and worthy of recognition. And to the NICU mothers who are wrestling with what their bodies could or couldn’t do in birth, we hope this episode reminds you that your body did not fail.

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