Find your place in our community
We’re all connected through our stories. And whatever experience has led you here—be it a preterm birth, NICU stay, or loss—we have a place for you here. Our online communities provide trusted information and advice, helpful resources, and caring people who want to connect.
Our families' stories inspire us
Families in our community have shared their stories of pregnancy, parenting, and loss to help others know that they’re not alone. Hear stories, including our #UnspokenStories, to see how there’s strength in our collective voice.
Jen Ross feared preterm birth after her sister's experiences. Her son Jesse was born at 26 weeks, weighing 1 pound, 5 ounces, and spent 10 months in the NICU. Now thriving, Jen's family supports March of Dimes to promote healthy pregnancies and babies.
Aleeshia and Serkeith Huguley face pregnancy challenges in a maternity care desert in West Point, Georgia. With long drives for care, they highlight the need for better access and support March of Dimes' ongoing fight for equitable healthcare.
Keisha Grossnickle and her best friend Stephanie Lake faced infertility due to PCOS and turned to fertility treatments. Their journey included a preterm birth, but thanks to March of Dimes, their daughter Royal is now a vibrant four-year-old.
Katie and Kevin Wilton faced preterm labor and complications during pregnancy. With March of Dimes’ support, their daughter Colette received crucial care. Katie now volunteers with March of Dimes, advocating for better maternal health and access to care.
Erika and Kris Young’s baby, Sommer, was stillborn just hours after birth, highlighting the profound impact of such a tragedy. Their experience emphasizes the urgent need for improved maternal and infant healthcare to prevent similar outcomes.
Isamari Castrodad's advocacy during pregnancy saved her baby and led her to inspire others through March of Dimes, promoting self-advocacy and improving maternal care.
In rural Montana, Vania and Ray Biglefthand faced long trips to the hospital and preterm birth due to limited maternity care. March of Dimes support was vital, highlighting the need for better care in remote areas.
After two previous losses, Elizabeth Caulder found out she was pregnant with triplets. But when her water broke at 20 weeks, her pregnancy turned life-threatening. While Victoria and Ronald Jr. sadly passed away, David fought for his life in the NICU.
Emma Lee Greenley is no stranger to tough situations—but when she went into labor at 23 weeks, it was a life-or-death situation that no mom can be ready for. She had an infection in her cervix, and Lois needed to be born immediately via Cesarean birth.
After struggling with infertility for three years, Allison and John Petersburg got pregnant with twins after multiple rounds of IVF. Their babies were born preterm at 24 weeks, and the devastating loss of their baby Lucas stays with them until this day.
After their first round of IVF, Ashley and Mitch Taylor got pregnant. But at 18 weeks, Ashley’s water broke. Julia was born at 26 weeks and spent six months in the NICU, where her family received support from March of Dimes’ NICU Family Support® program.
Ismael's remarkable journey, from premature birth to meeting Obama, illustrates the power of informed choices and advocacy. His story inspires a vision for a healthier future.
From heartbreak to hope: one couple’s search for answers with March of Dimes.
“We have volunteered for a long time and have gone on a journey with March of Dimes. The same way our children were infants in the NICU and are now freshman in college, March of Dimes has evolved during our time together."
Dani Kilgore's journey to motherhood wasn’t picture perfect. In 2010 she experienced her first devastating miscarriage, but she was able to try again. In 2013, in excellent health, she became pregnant with a son, William Jr.
Pregnancy can be challenging at any time. Now imagine giving birth months too soon during the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 24, Alicia was diagnosed with coronavirus while pregnant.
After losing his twin sister, Gabriel was born at 28 weeks. His dad, a filmmaker, documented his life of overcoming obstacles to share their story of preterm birth and bring hope to other families.
What does a dad do when faced with two premature births? This dad steps up to help others and coach them through some of the toughest days of their lives. Discover how Kyle Daddio is turning his experience into advice for NICU parents.
Honors college student Jennifer opens up about her premature birth, and what she's done to combat complications related to it. Read how she's defying the odds and inspiring others to reach for their goals, too.
Learn about having twins, navigating the NICU and raising preschoolers from this mom's and dad's perspective. You'll find out what "she said" and "he said," as you get to know Lisa, Jon, Jill and Rachel.
Under the best of circumstances, pregnancy can be a trying experience. When something goes wrong, it can be even harder. For mom Chelsie, a preterm birth was just the beginning.
Reign’s mom, Ebony, learned first-hand that women can’t simply accept the statement “You’ll be fine” from medical professionals when something doesn’t seem right during pregnancy.
As a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Elizabeth spent more than two decades fundraising for March of Dimes. After her pregnancy with triplets, fighting for healthy moms and strong babies became even more meaningful to her.
What should have been the happiest day of any dad’s life became a nightmare when Charles Johnson lost his wife after giving birth. He used this unimaginable experience to fight for all moms to raise their voices during pregnancy.
While every LGBTQIA+ couples’ journey toward becoming parents is different in details, each begins the same: with love. Kendra and Kelli Wells Williams never thought they’d get pregnant on the first try with in vitro fertilization (IVF) but were excited a
How does a dad tell his children that their mom isn't coming home? When Omari’s partner, Shamony, passed away in 2019 after giving birth, that was the question he was faced with.
Brandi Morris did everything she was supposed to during her pregnancy, from taking folic acid to going to regular prenatal care checkups. But her baby was still born with a birth defect.
Imagine feeling at 40 weeks pregnant unseen and unheard by your doctor when you express your concerns…and then having a stroke a week after giving birth. That’s what happened to Shannel Pearman.
Kelly and Nick Cocco assumed their third pregnancy would be as smooth as their first two. But instead, they were faced with HELLP syndrome, preterm birth and the new chaotic world of the NICU.
Family leave in the U.S. can be tricky when your company doesn't offer maternity leave—which is the last thing Tara Marie Mendoza wanted to deal with as a new mom, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the birth of her first child, who was born preterm, Emily Harriet experienced postpartum preeclampsia, making her second pregnancy high risk. What helped her most during all of this was the solidarity and support she felt in the NICU.
After being diagnosed with a pregnancy condition that prevented her from taking her mental health medication, Jordan understands firsthand the importance of having access to quality care—something that too many new moms lack.
Diane and her husband Aaron’s journey to pregnancy was full of heartbreaks and setbacks—from miscarriage to fertility treatments, to a preterm birth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For two years, Jen Chen and her husband tried to have a baby with no success. But they didn’t give up—and now Jen’s bringing awareness to infertility and letting others struggling with getting pregnant know that they're not alone.
Too many parents like Azeem and Marise experience the heartbreak of pregnancy loss. After their first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage at 11 weeks, Azeem and Marise went on to have two more losses—but they didn’t give up on their dream of having children.
Share Your Story
Share Your Story is a welcoming environment for families to share their story and connect with other moms, dads, and families who understand first-hand the challenges and triumphs that can happen throughout the pregnancy journey.
Social media
Facebook community
Families everywhere join the March of Dimes community group on Facebook to find support, comfort, and friendship. Get advice from a caring group on the challenges you're experiencing and also learn about all the resources available through March of Dimes and local initiatives.