For several years Tiffany Cox, 30, and her husband, Tim, of Core, thought they might never have biological children of their own. For seven years, the couple struggled with fertility challenges and experienced several devastating miscarriages during their early parenting journey.
Today, though, Tiffany and Tim are the proud parents of three young boys: Jaxon, 4; Carson, 2; and Owen, 6 months. They also have a baby girl on the way, who is due in late April 2022.
“We visited reproductive medicine specialists and had gotten to the point where we thought, ‘Maybe we’re not meant to have children,’” says Cox, a former nurse at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital who is now a stay-at-home mom.
“I hope our story can help other families struggling with fertility to never give up,” she adds. “It’ll happen when it’s supposed to happen.”
Compassionate, personalized care
Initially, doctors had trouble identifying a root cause for Tiffany’s pregnancy struggles. Eventually, they determined that a blood clotting disorder, treatable through daily blood thinner injections, was likely why she experienced difficulties carrying a pregnancy to term.
Tiffany and Tim conceived Jaxon naturally. But because of Tiffany’s history of miscarriages, she was immediately referred to specialist care at the WVU Medicine Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic – which treats complicated and high-risk pregnancies – as soon as she learned she was expecting. Under the clinic’s dedicated care, Tiffany delivered Jaxon at the WVU Medicine Children’s Maternal Infant Care Center via C-section at 39 weeks. In that moment, she achieved her longtime dream of becoming a mom.
“I started going there to (Maternal-Fetal Medicine) when I was seven weeks pregnant with Jaxon, and he’s 4 now, so it’s been a long journey,” says Tiffany, a Logan County native who now lives near Morgantown.
The specialists within Maternal-Fetal Medicine also oversaw Tiffany’s successful, full-term vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC) deliveries of Carson and Owen, who were also conceived naturally. And, they are helping care for her during her current pregnancy, which is going well.
Because Tiffany has a uterine septum – a condition in which a tissue membrane divides the uterus into two separate parts – she has required frequent ultrasounds throughout her pregnancies.
“Once I get closer to the third trimester, I’m in twice a week for an ultrasound since they have to make sure that the baby isn’t running out of room and growth isn’t restricted,” she explains.
As such a long-term, frequent patient, Tiffany has come to view the care team, including the sonographers and her lead care providers, Megan Vincent, A.P.R.N., and Casey Street, A.P.R.N., F.N.P.-B.C., like family.
“When you walk in, it’s just a comforting feeling,” Tiffany says. “The staff there take time to talk with you to answer every question and listen to every concern. And, they know and remember you and ask about your life outside of what’s in your chart.”
Blessings, several times over
After years of dreaming of motherhood, Tiffany Cox is now the very busy – but fulfilled – mother of three young boys under 5.
“There is never a dull or boring moment in our house,” she says. “We just keep going and roll with it.”
As Tiffany and Tim look forward to the birth of their baby girl in the spring, they know this new addition to their family will be well-loved – and especially doted on by her big brothers.
“She’s going to have lots of protectors, for sure,” Tiffany says.
