I made an appointment with my OB because I thought I had a simple yeast infection or UTI that would be treated with some meds, and the doctor would send me on my merry way. When the doctor went to check down there, he all of a sudden got eerily quiet. The first thing he mutters was, “I am so sorry ma’am, it looks like you are having a miscarriage right now.” I was in complete shock.

They rushed me upstairs to labor and delivery, hooked me up to an IV and then told me they were planning on sending me in a helicopter to the hospital in the next big town over (Pensacola, FL). I was only 22 weeks & 4 days when I got admitted and they told me I was already 4 cm dilated and currently having contractions.

I was told I could deliver any minute and was put on strict bed rest. I had to get 10 shots total in my thighs to try to stop the contractions on top of being put on magnesium. At this time, I also got diagnosed with an incompetent cervix which I didn’t even know existed.

I managed to keep my baby in 10 more days till we hit 24 weeks exactly! He was born weighing 1 pound 7 ounces and had a rough 165 days in the NICU. He had bilateral grade 4 IVH, a collapsing lung, hydronephrosis, and NEC. Today he is 9 months old (5 months adj) and defying all odds!

I always look back and think to myself, had I been checked sooner, maybe things could have been different for all of us. I hope my story can bring more awareness to IC to hopefully prevent others from enduring the same traumas! - Victoria C.