Coming to Term

Debbie McCulliss sadly learned the many tragedies of pregnancy the hard way. Although she ultimately raised two healthy children, creating a family was more challenging than she ever imagined. Unfortunately despite technological advances, today many pregnancies continue to end in heartbreak rather than joy. In a poignant medical narrative, McCulliss chronicles her journey through grief and joy as she worked as a registered nurse in a neonatal ICU and discovered the many things that can go wrong during pregnancy-all while bravely dealing with her own miscarriages and high-risk pregnancies. With the intent of educating, supporting, and inspiring women who have had difficulty conceiving, carrying a baby to term, or who need a dose of hope, McCulliss shares personal anecdotes that reveal how her journey led her to create a pioneering program to care for women struggling with high-risk pregnancy. Included are journal exercises and appendices that offer helpful tips and resources. Coming to Term is a creative expression of grief and joy that offers personal essays and practical advice from a former NICU nurse who battled to create her own family and help others dealing with infertility and high-risk pregnancies.