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141 | Forged in the Storm - Letitia & Brandon Gordon
Manage episode 367281977 series 3488130
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Letitia and Brandon Gordon discovered they were expecting their second child when she was in nursing school. She found herself in a season of busyness and wanted to complete as much schoolwork as possible while managing her own business and their family.
Much to their surprise, Leticia started noticing signs of labor when she was 28 weeks gestation. After informing her doctor of her concerns, her provider assured her that it was not labor and shouldn’t be concerned. Her doctor was dismissive; that’s a common issue when we talk to Black women who have had complications in their pregnancies and labor. Unfortunately, Letitia was right; she was in labor and would report to the hospital the next day. Fear and panic kicked in, and her husband was a steady source of comfort and grounding as they prepared to welcome their second son unexpectedly early.
Due to his premature birth, he would stay at the hospital in the NICU for five weeks. During that time, Letitia focused on making sure she could feed her baby with her breastmilk. He had received his first feeding with donor breastmilk, and it would be his last as Letitia built her supply through pumping. Postpartum was also a time of deep focus on her studies. She would return to the classroom the same week she gave birth.
Letitia’s birth experience altered her career path, as she planned to be a psychiatric nurse. She’s now a labor and delivery nurse, trained birth doula, and a midwifery student. She brings hope, comfort, and support to expectant families with her own lives experiences and skills.
Letitia opened up about a new battle, breast cancer, during our interview. She is undergoing treatment and maintaining her family and professional responsibilities. Many of you know the toll that cancer treatment can take on a family and their finances. We have an ask. If you feel moved to support Letitia and her family, please listen to her birth story, and donate to her GoFundMe account.
Resources:
North Dallas Doula Associates | DFW's first established doula practice that provides customized, boutique-style, experiences to the families that they serve
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