When Suzy Mack was told while just 17 weeks pregnant that her baby had no amniotic fluid because of a preterm premature rupture of membranes, doctors offered two options: inducing labor and terminating the pregnancy or going home and waiting for labor to begin.
It was a grim and heartbreaking diagnosis, but the mom in Santa Barbara, California, chose to wait, and against all odds, her baby continued to grow without the life-sustaining fluid. Two years later, her son Ozzy is thriving.
Mack, 41, told Newsweek that the absence of amniotic fluid is a serious condition that severely compromises a baby's lung development.
"Typically, labor begins within hours or days after water breaks," she said. "In our case, remarkably, our baby continued to grow despite the lack of fluid. However, this growth didn't guarantee proper lung development, leaving us uncertain if he would be able to breathe at birth. It was an unusual and worrying situation, as babies rarely continue developing without amniotic fluid."
To mark Ozzy's amazing story, Mack posted a reel on Instagram on her account @yourstrulysuzy, which documents the moments she was told her pregnancy was nonviable to Ozzy's surprising growth and development over two years.
In one of the photos in the reel, Mack's older son, Finn, is seen smiling and holding an ultrasound image at 17 weeks—an image taken just two days before her water unexpectedly broke.
"This moment of joy quickly turned into a crisis, as we were told, 'This pregnancy is over,' highlighting how quickly things can change in pregnancy," Mack told Newsweek.
The decision not to terminate was not easy for Mack. Initially, she thought the pregnancy would end naturally.
"However, when we returned to the ob-gyn after two days, we saw our smiling baby on the screen with a strong heartbeat," she said. "This powerful moment changed everything. Seeing him alive and seemingly well, we couldn't bring ourselves to terminate, regardless of the lack of amniotic fluid."
The choice to continue the pregnancy was one she had to make repeatedly, weighing the risks at every ultrasound and checkup, which occurred every two days. Each time, the option to terminate was presented, but she chose to "let nature take its course."
The night Ozzy was born was filled with tension and vindication. Mack awoke at 3 a.m. with a strong intuition that something was wrong. Despite her pain and pleas, the medical staff dismissed her concerns, insisting she wasn't in labor.
"As a woman of color, I was acutely aware that my experience reflected a broader, systemic issue," she said. "Studies have shown that Black women are more likely to have their pain and health concerns dismissed or undertreated by medical professionals. This knowledge added another layer of fear and frustration to an already intense situation."
Finally, the medical staff found that she was 5 centimeters dilated. "This experience underscored the critical importance of listening to expectant mothers, particularly women of color, and trusting their instincts," Mack said.
When Ozzy was born via an emergency cesarean section at 29 weeks and one day, he was immediately placed on oxygen. Doctors warned it might take years before he could breathe independently, but Ozzy defied expectations once again.
He thrived at home and steadily grew stronger, exceeding developmental milestones.
"I call Ozzy my warrior baby because he has truly fought against all odds at every stage," Mack said. "Ozzy's journey, from a precarious pregnancy to his current thriving state, embodies the spirit of a true warrior. His ability to overcome challenges that many thought insurmountable is a constant reminder of his incredible fighting spirit."
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