Latifah's Woman Warrior Story: Triumph through Type 2 Diabetes and Triplet Births

For Latifah Dixon, motherhood has always been a profound joy. Already a proud mom to a beautiful girl, she was happy at the thought of bringing another baby into their family. However, in a delightful twist of fate, she discovered in October 2023 that she was expecting not just one, but three little bundles of joy — triplets! Given her preexisting chronic condition, the thought of welcoming three new lives into her family was both exciting and scary. 

"I was definitely surprised when I found out. I hadn't used any fertility options. I naturally became pregnant with triplets and found out about a month into the pregnancy when I went to the WakeMed Raleigh Campus Emergency Department feeling unwell."

Triple the "Fun" with Type 2 Diabetes

Latifah's pregnancy was difficult from the start. Already a Type 2 diabetic, she was considered high risk. She faced a heightened risk of her triplets being born with birth defects due to her Type 2 diabetes, particularly if her condition wasn't well-managed. This also put her at risk for cardiometabolic issues, which are common among pregnant women with diabetes and can lead to serious complications for both her and her babies. Additionally, she struggled with excessive weight gain, raising concerns that her babies might be born prematurely and potentially larger than average for their gestational age.

"My pregnancy was tough," shares Latifah. "My whole body was out of whack with high blood pressure and high blood sugars. It was hard for me to enjoy food, and I could not sleep well at night."

High-Risk Pregnancy Care to Safeguard Mom and Babies

Thankfully, Latifah had a winning WakeMed Obstetrics and Gynecology team to closely monitor her progress and ensure she and her babies would survive.

Latifah offers, "I received special care from Rebecca White, MPH, PA-C at Obstetrics & Gynecology - High Risk - New Bern Avenue." 

 Along with tracking the progress of her babies, they also closely monitored her symptoms for pre-eclampsia, including visual changes, headaches and upper abdominal pain. They worked collaboratively with other specialists to ensure her blood sugar was well controlled. 

Close monitoring and tight glucose control with an appropriate insulin regimen are paramount for reducing maternal and fetal risks associated with Type 2 diabetes. Triplet pregnancies carry a significantly higher risk of pre-eclampsia and other adverse outcomes.

With excellent care, Latifah couldn't help but imagine the laughter, chaos and love that would soon fill her home, as she prepared to embrace the beautiful challenge of raising three babies at once. 

The Battle for Healthy Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Levels

On May 5, 2024, at 27 weeks pregnant, with increasing challenges, she returned to the Raleigh Campus Emergency Department. She had a headache and felt very dizzy. Her blood pressure and blood sugar were in the danger zone. 

To safeguard her life and the lives of her children, Michael Armstrong, MD, FACOG, and team delivered her baby the next morning, May 6 via an emergency cesarean section (c-section).

Remembering that time, Latifah shares, "Dr. Armstrong talked to me before the c-section as a father. I was refusing everything the team kept offering me prior to the delivery. I was scared and just didn't feel safe until he talked to me. He gave me a look like, 'These babies need to come out' though he did not say that. I trusted his judgment and that he had my health and the welfare of my children at heart. I am so thankful for him and his assistant coming in my room, sitting with me and talking to me. I trusted them and went along with the process of an emergency delivery."

Three Sweet Babies Arrive and Mom's Body Settles Down

To her great delight, the babies came in quick succession. They were born one minute apart at 6:30 am, 6:31 am and the last at 6:32 am. She gave birth to two boys and one girl, each weighing just one pound, and whom she named Kehlani Grace Dixon, Knowledge Graceion Dixon and Khalil Dixon. 

Immediately following delivery, Latifah's vitals settled. Both her blood pressure and blood sugar returned to normal levels. She felt relief.

"It was definitely a surreal experience. Yet, my joy was short-lived. My babies were at risk, so I was scared all over again."

Special Care for Special Babies

Born prematurely and yet so fragile, the WakeMed neonatal intensive care unit team stepped into action. They whisked her babies away to save their lives. The babies had challenges with feeding and breathing due to their underdeveloped bodies. They received gastrostomy tubes, commonly referred to as a G tube. The devices were surgically inserted to provide direct access to each babies' stomachs. This allowed for supplemental feeding, hydration and medication. They also each had a nasal cannula device to deliver extra oxygen. It branched into two prongs with a tube in each nostril and taped down, so the babies could not remove them. 

Her babies received care from WakeMed neonatologist Jonathan Siegel, MD.

Dr. Siegel says, "Caring for Kehlani, Knowledge, and Graceion and their family during their stay in the NICU was extremely rewarding. The neonatal team not only provides direct medical care to the premature infants, but we also work together to provide support and care for the family. Facilitating and directing the care of the babies and their families brings great joy to the team in the NICU."

Pediatric surgeon, Colin Muncie, MD performed operative repairs. Baby Khalil received both his g-tube surgery and a repair of his inguinal hernias. Knowledge developed hernias after leaving the NICU and those were repaired at WakeMed at a later time.  

The babies were closely monitored in the special infant care nursery, especially by Lacee, RN and in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) by Donna, RN.

Reflections on Labor and Delivery Care Over the Years

Latifah reflects, "Lacee had been involved in this similar process with my oldest child, and she always kept in touch and loved my babies at every doctor's appointment. Donna was their main nurse in the NICU. Donna was honest and supported me through the births. The entire team who cared for my children was just amazing."

A Happy, Healthy, Hopping Home

Within a month, Latifah's daughter was well enough to go home. Her two sons remained in the hospital for three months and were then discharged to bring the entire family together in one joyous home.

"I learned to trust the care teams at WakeMed. In fact, they became my family. Everyone at WakeMed rocked, and today my children are all growing and glowing because of the care we each received at WakeMed."

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WakeMed Women's

Our multidisciplinary team of maternal fetal physicians, genetic counselors, sonographers and nurses provides a wide range of specialized services for women who have a high-risk pregnancy. You can rely on the expertise and experience of our team — which includes 9 board-certified Fetal Echocardiography sonographers — to provide you the best quality care. This includes women who are at increased risk for genetic disorders due to advanced maternal age or family history, women who are experiencing or have a history of pregnancy complications and women with preexisting medical conditions that might adversely affect a pregnancy outcome.

In pregnancy and childbirth, we care for you and your baby in an environment designed for the needs of pregnant women. Our around-the-clock specialty trained care teams are here to walk alongside you each step of the way.

We offer exceptional quality in all three of our birthing centers.

About WakeMed Level IV NICU

WakeMed’s highly specialized Level IV Regional NICU offers:

• 48 patient beds, including 27 single private rooms and eight rooms that accommodate multiples (twins and triplets)
• Full-time neonatologists – Specialists in the care of critically ill babies
• Full-time perinatologists – Specialists in treating high-risk pregnancies
• A team of neonatal, pediatric and family practice nurse practitioners
• Highly skilled neonatology staff, including pediatric psychologists, child development specialists, speech-language pathologists, registered nurses and PhD-level physical therapists
• Lactation consultants
• WakeMed Mother’s Milk Bank – Direct access to one of the few human milk donation programs in the country and the only one in the southeast
• Special Infant Care Program for outpatient follow-up
• Special neonatal delivery team
• Dedicated neonatal respiratory therapists