ONE PHYSICIAN'S JOURNEY TO MOTHERHOOD • Nonahood News

I am a mother to four amazing kids. I am also a physician. Like the patients I care for, my journey to motherhood was not easy. Of my three pregnancies, two were considered “high-risk” because of my advanced maternal age — 35 years or older at the time of my baby’s due date.

As a doctor, I knew that in otherwise healthy women of advanced maternal age, most have great outcomes, so I wasn’t overly concerned. However, everything changed with my third pregnancy when I learned I was also expecting twins — which added another layer of complexity and risk to my pregnancy. Finding out I was pregnant with twins was both exciting and filled with worry.

Looking back, I wish that I had enjoyed my third pregnancy more and allowed myself to be a patient, not my own physician. I was grateful; my twins were both born healthy. I remember being upset when I went into preterm labor and delivered at 34 weeks. This wasn’t part of my plan. I had wanted to carry my babies to the expected term of 37—38 weeks to ensure they were as strong and healthy as possible.

The twins stayed 10 and 11 days respectively in the neonatal intensive care unit before coming home. They were considered “feeders and growers” and seemed to reach milestones earlier than their older brothers. I attribute this to there being two of them. I think that twins are very special. They rely on one another in a different way compared to their siblings.

I’d like to think that my pregnancy journeys have helped me to be a better, more empathetic doctor. Having been the patient, I understand the importance of creating a safe space for my patient families. A space where feelings can be safely shared, where fears are validated and where trust is built.

As a physician specializing in maternal-fetal medicine at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, I care for expectant parents with high-risk, pre-existing conditions and their unborn babies. As both a woman and a physician, I understand the negative connotation of the term advanced maternal age and why someone might be reluctant to see a specialist. That is why I pay close attention to the emotional state of my expectant mothers and families — by listening to their concerns, reassuring them and answering questions every step of the way.

My role as a physician extends beyond the identification of advanced maternal age in pregnant women. My team and I diligently work to determine all risk factors that may affect the pregnancy or health of the mother. Some expectant mothers may be unaware of a specific risk factor they have, whether it is a high body mass index, family medical history, or personal health history of a chronic condition such as diabetes. I regularly evaluate the health of the mother and her developing fetus to ensure they have the appropriate support for optimal results — whether it involves fetal surveillance or the recommendation for taking an aspirin to decrease the risk of developing preeclampsia. Many of my patients, who are otherwise healthy, have great outcomes.

It’s important for me and my team to be available and accessible when expectant families need us. Everyone at the Nemours Children’s Center for Fetal Care and our extended Nemours Children’s Health colleagues are dedicated to helping and partnering with our patients and their families. Together, we make a powerful team.