Agnes Schaffer
April 2023
Agnes
Schaffer
,
BSN, CLC, RNC-NIC
Women's Services
Southern Hills Hospital & Medical Center
Las Vegas
,
NV
United States
She gave us guidance and support beyond what we have ever experienced and became like family to us.
I went through an intense high-risk pregnancy that was medically compromising. I was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarium and needed a piccline and home health very early in my pregnancy. I was in and out of the hospital throughout my pregnancy for various complications ranging from a DVT to severe Covid. There were many scary times for both the baby and me, and we were not sure what the outcome would be. It felt like every time we started to manage things, another problem arose.
I had the most beautiful birth, but three days later, less than 24 hours after I was released from the hospital, I went into a hypertensive crisis which was one of the most terrifying times of my life. I was admitted to the hospital immediately and stayed for several more days while I underwent treatment.
By this point, I was trying to not only physically heal, but mentally heal from the trauma I had been through. It was here that I met Agnes, who helped me heal in more ways than I can explain. Breastfeeding was extremely important to me. I was exhausted; my body had been through so much, and I was struggling. She stepped in and helped me with breastfeeding and making sure our preemie baby was well-nourished and taken care of. She even came in and saw how sick and exhausted I was and how exhausted my husband, who was my caretaker, doing all of my shots and home health for the entire pregnancy, swaddled and rocked our baby back to sleep. She told us several times that if baby woke up while we were trying to sleep to call her immediately so she could rock him back to sleep so we could sleep. She helped me with pumping and went above and beyond washing all the pump parts and labeling the bags each time.
I was so exhausted from everything, and I felt like I wouldn't be able to breastfeed, but she knew how important it was to me, and MADE SURE I was able to have that. She gave us guidance and support beyond what we have ever experienced and became like family to us. I will never be able to thank her enough. Breastfeeding has helped me heal from such a difficult journey.
I cried writing this because she has made such a difference in my life, and the kindness she showed, and continues to show my family is beyond anything I have ever experienced and I am so grateful to have met her.
I had the most beautiful birth, but three days later, less than 24 hours after I was released from the hospital, I went into a hypertensive crisis which was one of the most terrifying times of my life. I was admitted to the hospital immediately and stayed for several more days while I underwent treatment.
By this point, I was trying to not only physically heal, but mentally heal from the trauma I had been through. It was here that I met Agnes, who helped me heal in more ways than I can explain. Breastfeeding was extremely important to me. I was exhausted; my body had been through so much, and I was struggling. She stepped in and helped me with breastfeeding and making sure our preemie baby was well-nourished and taken care of. She even came in and saw how sick and exhausted I was and how exhausted my husband, who was my caretaker, doing all of my shots and home health for the entire pregnancy, swaddled and rocked our baby back to sleep. She told us several times that if baby woke up while we were trying to sleep to call her immediately so she could rock him back to sleep so we could sleep. She helped me with pumping and went above and beyond washing all the pump parts and labeling the bags each time.
I was so exhausted from everything, and I felt like I wouldn't be able to breastfeed, but she knew how important it was to me, and MADE SURE I was able to have that. She gave us guidance and support beyond what we have ever experienced and became like family to us. I will never be able to thank her enough. Breastfeeding has helped me heal from such a difficult journey.
I cried writing this because she has made such a difference in my life, and the kindness she showed, and continues to show my family is beyond anything I have ever experienced and I am so grateful to have met her.