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During a recent episode of the Healthful Woman podcast titled, The Blessing of Good Fortune: Grief, Joy, and Faith, podcast host Dr. Nathan Fox and podcast guest and mother of eight, Fortune Faham, discuss her birth story, complications from a short cervix, cerclage, and having twins after experiencing the pain of her baby’s death due to heart disease.

Early Pregnancies and Loss

Fortune began her motherhood journey with two full-term deliveries in 1999 and 2001. However, her third pregnancy in 2003 presented complications due to a short cervix, and her baby was born at 35 weeks. Four years later, she became pregnant with her fourth child, her first daughter, only to receive devastating news at 32 weeks that the baby had a serious heart defect. Her daughter passed away shortly after being born at 37 weeks and two days gestational age.

Struggling to Conceive and Conceiving Twins

The loss left Fortune grieving and struggling to conceive again. “It compounded the pain,” she explained. “Every month that I didn’t conceive, it was like I was reliving the baby that I should have had.” These intense feelings were difficult to have, and trying to conceive caused her to feel overwhelmed with them. After a year and a half of healing emotionally, she became pregnant again, found out she was having twins, and sought out top OBGYNs in New York, finding care with Dr. Rebarber and Dr. Fox at Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates. At around 22 weeks, she experienced pressure and was found to be slightly dilated with a short cervix. A cerclage was placed by Dr. Fox using the Shirodkar technique to help prolong the twin pregnancy.

High-Risk Pregnancy and Twin Birth

At 32 weeks, Fortune went into preterm labor and required emergency care to remove the stitch, a necessary step to prevent cervical tearing during contractions. With the help of a terbutaline pump to manage contractions, she carried the pregnancy to just over 36 weeks and delivered twins vaginally: a 5-pound baby boy and a 6-pound baby boy. Both were healthy, and Fortune and her husband brought each twin baby home within a day and a half of their birth.

Growing Her Family

Two years later, she stopped her birth control and became pregnant within the first month. That baby boy was born just one day past his due date. Three and a half months after that, while on birth control, she discovered she was pregnant again, resulting in the birth of her seventh son.

A Final Pregnancy and a Daughter

Though she and her husband had planned to stop having children, her grandmother encouraged her to try once more, hoping she might have a daughter like many parents hope for. At 36, Fortune removed her IUD and conceived twice, miscarrying both times. A third pregnancy brought hope and anxiety. “After having a pregnancy where your baby has such a big defect, every single time it was like a miracle when things were good,” she shared. At 10 weeks, bloodwork confirmed the news that her baby was healthy and she was having a girl. That pregnancy progressed smoothly, and her daughter, now three and a half, brings joy to their vibrant household among her other children.

Fortune’s Life Today

Today, Fortune works as a life coach, volunteers regularly, and serves as vice president of Sephardic Bikur Holim (SBH), a social services organization supporting individuals facing financial, medical, emotional, and fertility challenges. She often credits her resilience to faith, family, and the unwavering support of healthcare providers along the way.

Learn More

To learn more about Fortune’s story, listen to the full episode of the Healthful Woman podcast today. For OBGYN care, contact Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates in New York.

Maternal Fetal Medicine blogs are intended for educational purposes only and do not replace certified professional care. Medical conditions vary and change frequently. Please ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding your condition to receive a proper diagnosis or risk analysis. Thank you!