Having a baby is a miracle. For Kyle and Alice Pittman from Brookings, getting Elinor Katharine to 37 and a half weeks took a medical intervention. On May 1st Alice noticed a little bleeding and cramping, when the cramps got worse she went to the doctor. She she was in pre-term labor.

Alice says, "It all went fast, as far as the day when I felt cramping to when we went in and had everything happen and got the surprise news, 'Yeah, your baby is on the way.'"

Her OB jumped in the ambulance and rode with her to Avera McKennan. Once there she and Kyle had to decide if they would take emergency measures to keep baby Elinor inside.

Dr. Les Heddleston says, "and in her case, she was so far dilated you could actually see the head trying to go through the cervix into the vagina."

The Pittman's decided to go with the cervical cerclage. A stitch is placed around the cervix in a purse string fashion to stop labor. In Alice's case it was tricky because she was further along in the pregnancy then when they normally do the procedure, but they knew without it, the baby would come out in a day or two and weigh a pound at best..

Dr. Heddleston says, "Most of these patients have so few symptoms, a little cramping, pelvic pressure, little discharge when they come in they are so surprised. They say this isn't supposed to be happening."

After 6 weeks in the hospital, 2 weeks in a Sioux Falls hotel, and one month at home, their reward was 6 pounds, 6 ounces of love. They credit Dr. Heddleston.

"Yeah. Feel very lucky. Very fortunate," said Alice.

Dr. Heddleston says it's crucial for expecting moms to get a complete ultra sound at 20-22 weeks because the results are so much more conclusive.