Community Stories

Find your place in our community.

Multigenerational family gathering around baby

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.

Unspoken Stories

#UnspokenStories is a community where stories of pregnancy, parenting and loss—the ones that often go unshared-are told honestly. There's strength in our collective voice! Hear the stories of others and learn how to host your own Unspoken Conversation.

MEET THE KILGORE FAMILY

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.
Kilgore family

MEET RAZZAK FAMILY

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.
Rzzak family

MEET LASMAR FAMILY

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.
Lasmar family

MEET THE DADDIO FAMILY

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.
Daddio family

MEET JENNIFER

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.
meet jennifer

MEET LISA AND JON

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.
meet lisa and john

MEET CHELSIE

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.
meet chelsie

MEET EBONY

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.
meet ebony

MEET ELIZABETH

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.
meet elizabeth

MEET CHARLES

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.
meet charles

LOVE IS LOVE

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
wells williams family

TOO MANY BLACK MOMS ARE DYING FROM CHILDBIRTH

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.
maynard family

EVEN WHEN YOU DO EVERYTHING RIGHT, THINGS CAN GO WRONG

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.
morris family

RACISM IN HEALTH CARE IS PUTTING BLACK WOMEN AT RISK

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.
meet the pearman

WHEN A PREGNANCY DOESN’T GO ACCORRDING TO PLAN

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.
cocco family

AMERICA NEEDS PAID FAMILY LEAVE

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.
Mendoza family

WHEN A NEW MOM’S BLOOD PRESSURE IS TOO HIGH, SO ARE THE RISKS

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.
meet harriet

MOTHERHOOD, MENTAL HEALTH AND MEDICATION

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.
meet granai

BECOMING PARENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC

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.
meet the dispo klein

THE DEVASTATING REALITY OF STRUGGLING WITH INFERTILITY

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.
meet chen

NO FAMILY SHOULD BE WITHOUT ACCESS TO CARE

Every pregnant person hopes for a healthy pregnancy. But for Vania Biglefthand and her husband Ray—and like too many parents across the country—access to care became a very real problem on their journey to building a family.
meet the bigleftland family

PREGNANCY LOSS: FROM HEARTBREAK TO HEALING

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.
meet the Angibeau-grays
SEE ALL STORIES

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.

EXPLORE SHARE YOUR STORY

Social Media Communities

Levi Ortega brother holding mom dad

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.

JOIN GROUP

BECOMING A MOM

An educational online wellness program that supports mother and infant health and promotes a family-friendly work environment. The program is easy to manage, implement and promote, and provides your company with a wealth of information to support employees before, during and after their pregnancy. Visit becomingamom.marchofdimes.org.

LEARN MORE