. >> reporter: diana alvord feels lucky. lucky that her daughter was born in september without complication. lucky that she came home just days after she was born. because four years ago, alvord's son was born, prematurely, at just 24 weeks. >> we wondered for weeks and weeks if he would live. >> reporter: alvord, who kept vigil over him in the neonatal intensive care unit for months, also wondered how either of them could have endured the trial if she hadn't worked for an accommodating non-profit in washington, d.c. >> i was given the opportunity to just take a leave of absence, and so i was one of the few, probably, who could return to their jobs at the end of our ordeal. but, i know. >> reporter: unpaid, unpaid leave? >> unpaid leave. but i know that there are many people that isn't a choice that they have. most people have to go back to work. and it's really, an impossible choice that families face: do i stay here and hold my baby's hand? do i go to work and keep the roof over our heads? how do you put a price on whether