What we all worry about during pregnancy is that our baby is healthy and doing well in our womb. And if there is something wrong, you hope for a miracle. That's exactly what Marci Barney hoped for when she learned the baby in her belly had Spina Bifida.

Spina Bifida is when the fetus' spinal cord doesn't close all the way during development. It can cause paralysis and learning disabilities, and in severe cases lead to hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid on the brain, which can be fatal.

But there is a radical open-fetal surgery that can be performed while baby is still in the womb -- it used to be only done right after birth. Marcy and her husband Tracy decided on this procedure while the baby in her belly was 24 weeks gestation with hopes to repair the spine. Most pregnant women who undergo open-fetal surgery go into labor 10 weeks later, but Marci didn't make it that far.

Going through labor and delivery only to wind up losing your baby at the end has got to be one of the most devastating experiences a mother can go through, as an English woman named Sara Proud knows all too well.

Sara went into labor and was taken to the hospital by her partner, Steven Yorke, but when they arrived, they were told to move into a waiting room instead of her being admitted into the hospital. They stayed in that room for 80 minutes, when Sara's labor progressed, and Yorke realized she needed help immediately. He went to find someone to assist, and while he was searching, Sara delivered a baby boy right there in the waiting room.

The poor baby was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck, and eventually two midwives did take him away to try and bring him back to life. Sadly, they were unable to revive him, and he passed away -- all while his poor mother was still in the waiting room -- delivering her own placenta.

Every mother's worst nightmare is for her baby to be born with a disability that will prevent him from leading a normal life. And sadly, one mom named Lacey Buchanan was beyond heartbroken when her baby boy, Christian, was born with such a severe cleft palate that it left him unable to close his mouth -- and also blind because his eyes never formed in utero.

Lacey wanted to share Christian's story with the world, and since she was too emotional to talk about him on camera, she instead made a video, lasting a little over seven minutes long, where she's seen holding up flashcards telling all about her journey with her beloved little boy, and how hard the first year of his life has been for them both. They've had to deal with nasty comments, lurking stares from strangers, and Lacey even had one person scold her for not terminating her pregnancy to spare Christian from having to live with a physical deformity. (It's amazing just how cruel people can be.)

A woman named Gina Walker is thanking her lucky stars and counting her blessings after surviving seven days in a coma and going through a whopping 35 gallons of blood after delivering her baby girl. (OMG. Thirty-five gallons?!) People are calling her the "miracle mom," and after reading about the close call she had, I'd say that's a very fitting title.

After initially being told she'd miscarried during her pregnancy, doctors finally realized that she had a very rare condition called placenta percreta. Her placenta had implanted into the lower part of her uterus and could have invaded her bladder. And while she safely delivered her baby girl via C-section, she started hemorrhaging immediately after she was born, and that's when the entire hospital (not to mention the community) sprang into action to save her life.

The news on autism has been sobering lately, with the CDC's recent report that the number of kids on the spectrum has increased by 78 percent compared to a decade ago. One in 88 American children are now estimated to have some form of autism spectrum disorder, and while the jump in numbers is at least partially attributed to better diagnosis, broader diagnosis, and better awareness—the fact remains that no one really knows what causes autism.

While scientists continue to examine whether or not the actual prevalence of autism has increased, new research implies that there's one factor that has an effect on the severity of an autistic child's symptoms. 

I can't imagine how terrifying it must be for a new parent to learn that their baby needs an operation. Newborns seem so incredibly fragile, and the idea of an infant having to endure surgery makes my heart ache for every family that's gone through it.

Any medical condition that requires surgery on a baby is surely a stressful situation—but wrap your head around this if you can: in Bangalore, India recently, a 2-month-old infant had an operation to remove a mass in his lower abdomen ... and it turned out to be a fetus.

A baby. Had a fetus. Inside his body. 

We know that everything we eat, drink, and breathe when we're pregnant can affect our growing baby, but the story of a baby girl who was born with cancer presents even more frightening possibilities. According to AZFamily.com, 9-month-old Addison Cox was born with cancer. Doctors are mystified by her case, but believe that her mother, Briana Cox, passed it on to her during pregnancy.

While Briana, a police officer and military veteran, had fought the disease previously, they thought she had beaten it until she had a seizure about a month after Addison's birth. The doctors found metastasized malignant melanoma that had spread through most of her body. At that point she demanded her daughter be tested. Doctors reassured her that she would be fine.

Having a baby in the back of a New York cab likely isn't in anyone's birth plan, but for Beka Economopoulos, it turned out to be a pretty amazing experience. Her husband captured much of it on film, and it's a beautiful reminder of just how simple the birthing process can be for many women.

The story goes that Beka, two weeks away from her due date, was in her New York apartment hosting an Occupy Wall Street meeting when the labor pains started coming. So she and her husband, Jason Jones, hopped in a cab and headed to the hospital. They only got two blocks before they had the cab stop, as the baby was coming right then!