In today’s episode, we’ll be hearing from Melissa, a Labor and Delivery nurse who is Active Duty with the navy. As she and her husband were preparing for an overseas PCS, Melissa’s water broke at only 19 weeks pregnant, leading to a 6-week hospital stay, and many heart wrenching conversations about viability and the chances that they would be able to bring home a healthy baby. After 42 days in the hospital, Melissa gave birth to her daughter at 25 weeks via classical c-section. Her daughter spent 5 and a half months in the NICU fighting for her life before she was finally cleared to go home. Melissa shares about what this experience was like, how her and her daughter's care was handled, navigating the competing identities of parent and service member, and the realities of raising a medically complex child while having to go back to work. This episode contains conversation about pregnancy and infant loss, so please take care when listening. Follow along with Military Birth Talk: Instagram: @militarybirthtalk Facebook: Military Birth Resource Network & Postpartum Coalition Submit your birth story! forms.gle/3TT7FyV1QQV3RZGc8