I was admitted for labor and delivery and shortly after Alicia came on shift. She immediately had control of the room and for the first time since water break, I felt comfortable. Alicia spent time by my side ensuring my comfort and safety and also spent time with my family. As things progressed in labor I started to feel ill and before I could tell her, she already knew. She has a way of reading patients and staying ahead of a situation. Alicia took my temperature which was slightly high and took it again just twenty minutes later and it had risen. She reported it to the doctor and got an antibiotic started that as well as Tylenol. As the fever progressed so did the contractions... I asked for an epidural and she got the ball rolling... while waiting for the epidural I was extremely uncomfortable due to pain and fever chills. Alicia used cool damp cloths on my forehead and applied hip pressure to try to take the edge off. Epidural came and began that process and Alicia sat in front of me to ensure comfort and ease of placement. After the epidural settled and the fever was under control I finally felt comfortable... until the construction outside my window. We saw a worker ride up a man lift right outside my window where he was pounding bricks out. Alicia made calls to get them to stop but knew either they couldn't or wouldn't for a little while. Alicia and my mom held up handmade signs asking them to please stop for a little bit and low and behold they did! Shortly after, it was time for the baby to come. We were all laughing and ready to bring her into the world.
Things happened quick with delivery and the baby's cord was wrapped and she appeared to be stunned. I was unable to spend time with my baby before she went down to NICU. Alicia stayed with me and comforted me while I cried out of worry for my baby. She stayed with me while I was stitched and cared for by the others. After things simmered down and I was told the baby was stable, the epidural was removed. Eventually it was nearing time for me to go to mother/baby without the baby. Alicia went with me to my new room and reported to the nurse that I had some bleeding to watch, a fever, and that baby was downstairs and I wanted to see her ASAP. My hair was stuck to my head from the cold cloths and sweating from the fever and Alicia heard me ask my mom to French braid it... my mom didn't know how and neither did I, but Alicia did. She braided my hair and told me the baby was in the best hands and to get some rest. If you had told me a nurse would bring me more comfort than my own family on a day like that I would have thought you were crazy, but you would have been right. Nurses like Alicia are one in a million and deserve all the good that goes their way.