Ely’s Story

I gave birth to my baby Luna on June 5, 2025, her due date was for October 2, 2025.

Luna was my second baby, it would have been a 7 year gap between her older sister. She was so excited, she even picked out a name for her. The reason why I waited so long to have another child because I wanted to go to school and I had a very traumatic unnecessary c-section with my first daughter. During that time I was on birth control and finally took it out when we finally decided try to have a baby. I received a positive pregnancy on January 2025, and honestly couldn’t believe it. We told friends and family on Easter of that year, we live 4hrs away from family so it was a surprise for them to see me pregnant and the shock on their faces was great. At the time I was 16 weeks pregnant.

My next appointment for an ultrasound was 4 weeks away, when that day came my husband and daughter came in with me. The ultrasound tech took a long time and then she left. We had no idea what was about to happen next. When she came back two doctors came in and told us something is wrong with the baby, I was in SHOCK, it didn’t feel real. She showed us multiple ultrasound photos showing us she had fluid everywhere in her body that shouldn’t be there (head, heart, lungs, etc) and that she had a very big cyst that started from her neck and went down her back. They diagnosed her with Cystic Hygroma and Fetal Hydrops. Doctor said it was rare it just something that happens, she even recommended terminating the pregnancy that she did not see baby going past 30 weeks. We exited the building though a backdoor, I’m so glad we did but at the same time it sad that we had to go out this door… I was 21 weeks at that appointment. I went home researching this condition, I found a Facebook group and remember telling my husband “I feel like I’m preparing for a baby that is not going to make it.”

Our clinic did a referral for a MFM the appointment that was for 2 weeks away. Sadly did not make it to that appointment.

At 22 weeks I had not felt movement for 3 days but was so scared to go in, when we finally did multiple nurses tried to find a heartbeat, then the doctor came in with the ultrasound monitor and she confirmed that there was no heartbeat, next steps was to schedule an induction which was a couple days away, I still went to work knowing my baby was dead inside of me told them when my shift ended. Went to Walmart to get my baby a blanket it was hard because I had no idea what to pack for a stillbirth.

23 weeks now we go to the hospital everything started at 9am there was a cuddle cot (that I did not use) and the lights are dim, its so sad but remain positive to birth our baby. The birth experience was amazing better than the c-section, All the hospital staff was great especially my nurse Jenn. When they hand over my baby I was happy, my nurse took pictures for us, cried with us. I didn’t want to leave, leaving the hospital was painful I left with a box and a phone number to the funeral home thankfully, the nurses did it for us because I could not.

Coming home to our daughter was even harder because she still did not understand why mommy belly gone, where is the baby even though we tried our best to explain.

3 months later I am pregnant again, I was experiencing one sided pain at 7-8 weeks decided to go to the ER, they told us it was a twin pregnancy and one twin did not have a heartbeat and that I had a subchorionic hematoma. I was thinking wow I am losing another baby… I was monitored every week until about 13 weeks the twin that passed got absorbed and subchorionic hematoma resolved. I am currently 31 weeks pregnant with a healthy baby boy, I am still nervous but hopeful, his expected arrival is June 8, 2026 very close to his sister Luna birthday.

I am still very much grieve my daughter Luna everyday, in my home we have two memorials for her in the living room and in our bedroom. Her grandparents house she also has a memorial set up for when we visit. There is hope after pregnancy loss, I am still navigating even when I thought I couldn’t. We love you Luna