William Shakespeare says it quite eloquently in a quote that fits the 5 pound 6 ounce baby girl I gave birth to back in 2010. In utero, she defied the odds and proved doctors and modern medicine wrong. Initially diagnosed as having intra uterine growth restriction when pregnant with her, doctors told me they weren’t sure what was wrong but she wasn’t thriving and I was subjected to non stress tests weekly and in depth ultrasounds complete with bio physical profiles of her bi weekly. The morning of her birth I had just begun my 36th week of pregnancy and had talked to my doctor about an induction that night at 7pm as they said she was lagging behind in growth and would do better outside the womb. Of course, in typical fashion, I went into labor naturally much earlier than 7pm. Her ultrasound that morning showed her weighing just over 4 pounds and I was told that she would go to the nicu after birth…and so I gave birth to my darling girl 3 minutes after midnight in a room which included a nicu nurse and doctor ready and waiting to whisk her away. As always with her, we were in for a surprise as she came out weighing much more than expected and in a moment I will never forget- that would have literally brought me to my knees if not for the epidural that prevented movement of my legs; the nicu doctor came over to me and handed her to me telling me she was perfect and healthy and beautiful.