Alana Warshaw
March 2021
Alana
Warshaw
,
RN
Family Birth Center
Novant Health UVA Culpeper Medical Center
Culpeper
,
VA
United States
Alana's shift was almost over, and she asked if she could stay with us if it was past her shift, we both didn't hesitate and said yes!
Let me start off by saying that 4 years ago, we had a beautiful baby boy. He was perfect and entered the world wide-eyed and ready to tackle all the things little boys do. Our journey to bring him to the world was terrible and a disaster; so much so, that we thought about not having any more children. I had zero complications during my pregnancy and my water broke prior to arriving at the hospital.
I couldn’t do anything that wasn't bedridden, mind you, we were laboring medication-free, and laboring on your back is tough! We rolled with the punches and had our baby vowing never to go through that again.
Fast forward to our perfect pandemic baby. We were going to have our baby at our local hospital. The practice we were connected to had an amazing midwife and we were happy, until reality set in; they had one doctor on call and the potential for risk outweighed my love for my midwife. My partner was not comfortable with this and asked that I reconsider finding a different hospital and practice. Thankfully, a friend of ours had transferred to Culpepper Hospital and asked around and suggested the OBGYN office in Culpeper.
I was used to my midwife and given my previous history with my son, I was skeptical about everything. But through visits, I found a doctor that I really loved. Things started lining up and I started feeling a sense of relief. Time had come and while I was completely against induction, we were one day away from our due date, I wanted the doctor to deliver our sweet baby and the third baby was heavy, contracting and I was in pain. I chose induction. Had no idea what that meant, but we were so excited.
Check-in - we arrived at labor and delivery and got settled right into our room. There was no sitting in a booth laboring filling out paperwork prior to. The lady came to us! We didn't know what to do with ourselves! Alana the wonderful! Alana met us at the front desk and walked us to our room. She talked us through what to expect and asked us what our birth plan was! We told her our plan and she committed to helping us keep that unless there were unforeseen issues that would prevent it. She explained the baby's heart/contraction monitor along with the other equipment and how to read it. She and another nurse helped talk me through the IV, I don't like needles. She explained how the penicillin needed to be in my system for 4 hours before the baby comes and helped us get settled in. I obtained my Covid test, and we were off to the races. It was flawless and so warm. Complete opposite so far from our nightmare experience. She made us feel empowered and strong in this journey! There was no question that this was our adventure, and they were going to help us along the way.
We saw the doctor and got connected to the Pitocin. Contractions started and Alana was there to talk my partner through how to apply counter pressure correctly. Contractions started to get heavier, and it was time for the doctor to break our water. From there, things got intense and progressed quickly. Alana stayed with me the entire time (I went from 5cm to 10cm in 45min/1hr). Her shift was almost over, and she asked if she could stay with us if it was past her shift, we both didn't hesitate and said yes! I thought my body was tricking me as I felt the need to push come on, but the baby was coming fast! She adjusted the bed and let me get comfortable my way. The doctor came in and I birthed a beautiful little baby girl, on my hands and knees, and it was all so perfect! It didn't matter that it was messy, it didn't matter that I wasn't on my back, all that mattered was that I was comfortable (as comfortable as you can be) and that baby came out healthy and perfect. They let me push on my time. They let me birth my way. As a result, my body kicked into gear, and she came in only a few pushes.
Alana never left our side, the cord was not cut immediately, the baby stayed with us for a while. We got to enjoy our vernix-covered bundle of perfect! This birthing experience was the most beautiful, intimate, love-filled, amazing birth I have ever experienced. I can't stop gushing over the experience. Everyone I know can’t believe that that was the experience that I had - from going through a Pitocin labor unmedicated to the people that helped us and guided us along the way. These are the births that everyone wishes they had! If we end up going ahead and having number 4, it will be through Culpeper Hospital! My nurse was important to every part of my experience, and I could not be more grateful for her! The experience that was provided was not only unexpected but a million prayers answered. We love Alana and will always have her with us, in our little girl. Thank you so much for having her as a part of your team.
I couldn’t do anything that wasn't bedridden, mind you, we were laboring medication-free, and laboring on your back is tough! We rolled with the punches and had our baby vowing never to go through that again.
Fast forward to our perfect pandemic baby. We were going to have our baby at our local hospital. The practice we were connected to had an amazing midwife and we were happy, until reality set in; they had one doctor on call and the potential for risk outweighed my love for my midwife. My partner was not comfortable with this and asked that I reconsider finding a different hospital and practice. Thankfully, a friend of ours had transferred to Culpepper Hospital and asked around and suggested the OBGYN office in Culpeper.
I was used to my midwife and given my previous history with my son, I was skeptical about everything. But through visits, I found a doctor that I really loved. Things started lining up and I started feeling a sense of relief. Time had come and while I was completely against induction, we were one day away from our due date, I wanted the doctor to deliver our sweet baby and the third baby was heavy, contracting and I was in pain. I chose induction. Had no idea what that meant, but we were so excited.
Check-in - we arrived at labor and delivery and got settled right into our room. There was no sitting in a booth laboring filling out paperwork prior to. The lady came to us! We didn't know what to do with ourselves! Alana the wonderful! Alana met us at the front desk and walked us to our room. She talked us through what to expect and asked us what our birth plan was! We told her our plan and she committed to helping us keep that unless there were unforeseen issues that would prevent it. She explained the baby's heart/contraction monitor along with the other equipment and how to read it. She and another nurse helped talk me through the IV, I don't like needles. She explained how the penicillin needed to be in my system for 4 hours before the baby comes and helped us get settled in. I obtained my Covid test, and we were off to the races. It was flawless and so warm. Complete opposite so far from our nightmare experience. She made us feel empowered and strong in this journey! There was no question that this was our adventure, and they were going to help us along the way.
We saw the doctor and got connected to the Pitocin. Contractions started and Alana was there to talk my partner through how to apply counter pressure correctly. Contractions started to get heavier, and it was time for the doctor to break our water. From there, things got intense and progressed quickly. Alana stayed with me the entire time (I went from 5cm to 10cm in 45min/1hr). Her shift was almost over, and she asked if she could stay with us if it was past her shift, we both didn't hesitate and said yes! I thought my body was tricking me as I felt the need to push come on, but the baby was coming fast! She adjusted the bed and let me get comfortable my way. The doctor came in and I birthed a beautiful little baby girl, on my hands and knees, and it was all so perfect! It didn't matter that it was messy, it didn't matter that I wasn't on my back, all that mattered was that I was comfortable (as comfortable as you can be) and that baby came out healthy and perfect. They let me push on my time. They let me birth my way. As a result, my body kicked into gear, and she came in only a few pushes.
Alana never left our side, the cord was not cut immediately, the baby stayed with us for a while. We got to enjoy our vernix-covered bundle of perfect! This birthing experience was the most beautiful, intimate, love-filled, amazing birth I have ever experienced. I can't stop gushing over the experience. Everyone I know can’t believe that that was the experience that I had - from going through a Pitocin labor unmedicated to the people that helped us and guided us along the way. These are the births that everyone wishes they had! If we end up going ahead and having number 4, it will be through Culpeper Hospital! My nurse was important to every part of my experience, and I could not be more grateful for her! The experience that was provided was not only unexpected but a million prayers answered. We love Alana and will always have her with us, in our little girl. Thank you so much for having her as a part of your team.