After 20 miscarriages, mom prepares to celebrate healthy baby’s first birthday
Ranim Haddad struggled with recurrent pregnancy loss for more than a decade. Her son, Emmanuel, turns one on October 1 during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
Chicago, Illinois – October 1, 2026 – Just months after getting married in 2014, Ranim Haddad suffered her first miscarriage. While she and her husband, Fuad, initially remained hopeful, they could never prepare themselves for what would come next – 11 years, 20 miscarriages, a still birth, and a baby who died just hours after being born.
But on October 1, 2025, Ranim and Fuad’s dreams of parenthood finally came true. With the help of maternal-fetal medicine specialists at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, a healthy baby boy named Emmanuel was born.
“We went through 11 years of nonstop heartbreak,” said 36-year-old Ranim. “I was basically pregnant twice a year and wanted to give up so many times. If you have the right support around you, it helps you to keep going and I’m so glad I did.”
Holding out hope
The couple from Alsip, Illinois, was able to conceive both naturally and through in vitro fertilization (IVF), but each one would end in loss. In 2020, just one day after hosting a gender reveal party with family and friends, Ranim’s water broke while she was 18 weeks pregnant. She gave birth at another health system but the baby girl she named Miracle did not survive.
“All of my husband’s siblings got married after us, and they all ended up with babies right away,” said Ranim. “I never felt comfortable. I knew something was wrong, but we just couldn't tell what it was.”
In 2024, Ranim switched her care to Northwestern Medicine and started seeing Susan Gerber, MD, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. During a pregnancy that year, ultrasounds showed no amniotic fluid around the baby which meant no chance of survival outside of the womb. Ranim’s son, Samuel, was born without lungs, and after holding him in her arms, Ranim said goodbye to another baby.
Her luck would finally change in 2025, when she got pregnant again. She was monitored closely by Dr. Gerber’s team and fortunately, experienced no major complications during the pregnancy. After 11 years of waiting, Ranim and Faud’s story finally had a happy ending when Emmanuel was born.
“We evaluated Ranim exhaustively to determine the cause of her losses, and were ultimately unable to find one,” said Dr. Gerber. “We placed a stitch in her cervix during her last pregnancy which may have prevented preterm birth, but that likely has nothing to do with all her first trimester losses. Her success may just be due to her persistence and refusal to give up.”
Life as a new mom
Ranim is embracing life as a mom and rarely leaves Emmanuel’s side. In May 2026, Ranim and Emmanuel wore matching shirts with their photo and the words, “Our First Mother’s Day.”
As Ranim now prepares to celebrate Emmanuel’s first birthday, she’s sharing her story to inspire other women to never give up.
“When I was dealing with each loss, I felt isolated and didn’t want to talk about it with anyone,” said Ranim. “But now I realize, if I had sought support, or heard someone else’s story, it might have helped me. I want other women to know that they’re not alone.”
Common causes of pregnancy loss
About 20 percent of women in the United States now have their first child after age 35. Pregnancy loss happens in about one in four pregnancies, with women over 30 at a higher risk.
Most losses happen in the first trimester and about half are caused by problems with genes or chromosomes. Other factors include:
- Abnormal embryo development
- Existing conditions in the birth parent like high blood pressure, diabetes, or thyroid issues
- Problems in the uterus like scar tissue or fibroids
- Cervical insufficiency
- Infections
- Autoimmune diseases
The obstetrics and gynecology program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital is proud to be the highest-ranked in Illinois and among the top 5 in the U.S., per U.S. News & World Report, 2026 – 2027. For more information, visit nm.org.
Contact
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Jen Delacruz Senior Specialist, Media Relations Northwestern Memorial Hospital Cardiovascular, Women's Health, Endocrinology, Human Longevity Clinic, Osher Center for Integrative Health, Primary Care, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) |