My pregnancy was smooth from the very beginning. As a first-time mom carrying twins, I honestly expected more bumps in the road, but everything felt healthy and steady. I enjoyed watching my babies grow, and each appointment reassured me that they were doing well.
That all changed at 36 weeks. Out of nowhere, my doctor started to suspect I had preeclampsia or gestational hypertension. It was overwhelming and scary. I suddenly went from feeling confident to having a million questions about what this meant for me and my babies.
Thankfully, I had been introduced to the CDC Hear Her Campaign through VNPC. That guide became my lifeline. It gave me the words I needed to ask the right questions and helped me understand what was going on with my body. Instead of feeling powerless, I felt like I had a voice.
Because both of my babies were breech, my care team scheduled a cesarean at 37 weeks. That only gave me a week to prepare. It wasn’t what I imagined, but I went in feeling informed and ready to do what was best for us.
When the day came, my twins were born at 37 weeks — one a little over 4 pounds and the other just over 5 pounds. They both needed NICU support, which was hard, but I understood why and I knew they were in good hands.
Looking back, I’m so grateful I had the Hear Her guide. It gave me knowledge, confidence, and understanding in a time when I could have easily felt lost. Because of that, I was able to keep myself and my babies safe.