In her early twenties, Nievelina was diagnosed with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome, which made the prognosis for her getting pregnant and bearing children highly doubtful, or at the very least, extremely difficult. But she became pregnant anyway and soon discovered she was carrying twins!
At 19 weeks, with no advance warning, she and her husband were faced with an excruciating decision – and it had to be made immediately. What happened next was an unexpected intervention from her family, her friends, and her community.
The emergency birth of her two baby girls was not without complications. But the most memorable and telling were events Nievelina endured in the aftermath of the hospital birth.
Her journey is intuitive and urgent and the lives of these tiny beings rely on her good judgement and her ability to persevere in adverse conditions. What she experiences is almost unbelievable, both joyful and regrettable. Is this the state of birth in Canada?
In honour of National Indigenous Month, here is Nievelina’s birth story.
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