> At a Glance
> – Gina Gotthilf, 39, lost her daughter three days before a scheduled C-section after the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s ankles and cut off circulation
> – Doctors called it a “complete freak accident” they had never seen before; every prenatal test had come back normal
> – Gotthilf, co-founder of Outsmart and former Duolingo VP, now speaks openly about stillbirth trauma and plans to try again
> – Why it matters: Her story highlights how even low-risk pregnancies can end in sudden loss and the isolation parents face afterward
A “perfect” third-trimester check-up turned into every expectant parent’s nightmare for São Paulo tech executive Gina Gotthilf, who walked into an emergency center for reassurance and left without her daughter’s heartbeat.
A Routine Check Turns Tragic
Gotthilf, 39, noticed reduced fetal movement three days before her planned C-section. She stopped by an emergency clinic between work meetings. Staff made her wait 50 minutes before searching for a heartbeat.
> Gotthilf recalls:
> > “The doctor was cold and wouldn’t give me an update. When I pressed, she said, ‘No, I’m sorry,’ in a monotone.”
An ultrasound confirmed the worst: the umbilical cord had looped multiple times around the baby’s feet, strangling its own lifeline. Doctors later told the couple they had never seen such a presentation.
From Tech Leadership to Unimaginable Grief
The former Duolingo vice president and current Outsmart CMO had spent years unsure about motherhood. Meeting her now-husband shifted her perspective, and after a first-trimester miscarriage, she celebrated reaching the second trimester with odds of loss below 1 percent.
- Every test returned “A+” results
- Baby’s heartbeat stayed strong at the 50th percentile
- Gotthilf sang “Hey Jude” while walking around Manhattan
> She says:
> > “I did everything you’re supposed to do. This was the most prepared I’d ever been for anything.”
Life After Loss
Gotthilf delivered her daughter still, then navigated a flood of well-meant but painful comments:
- “It was meant to be”
- “God knows what He’s doing”
She found community on Reddit, asked ChatGPT insomnia-fueled questions, and posted on social media to preempt birthday congratulations. The post went viral; 700+ people reached out.
Coping Strategies
- Scheduled visitor calendar to avoid isolation
- New antidepressants and regular exercise
- Writing about the experience publicly
> Gotthilf explains:
> > “Those things won’t bring my daughter back, but they help bring me back to life.”
Looking Ahead
Despite terror at a repeat experience, Gotthilf-who turns 40 next year-says she still wants to be a mom and will start trying again soon.
Key Takeaways
- Stillbirth can happen even when every medical metric is normal
- Parents often face isolating clichés instead of nuanced support
- Online communities and honest posts can break silence around pregnancy loss
- Grieving mothers question everything from faith to medical oversight
Her message: “There’s no lesson in this. There’s nothing fair about it.” Yet she moves forward, honoring her daughter by refusing to stay quiet.
