The amazing Maria Aybar with baby Isabelle (8 months). Maria had an easy pregnancy with just a little morning sickness and developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy although she was able to manage it with diet alone. Isabelle was born 7 weeks early on her father's birthday. Maria went into labor knowing she wanted an epidural. They tried twice, and neither took, so she ended up delivering naturally and is so grateful that she did. She found the experience very empowering and said she didn't know what her body was capable. Thankfully Isabelle was perfectly healthy with no breathing issues and came home from NICU in two weeks. Maria says that motherhood has taught her more about patience, love, herself and the world than she thought possible.