Every new mom arrives at the hospital feeling vulnerable, nervous, anxious, and uncertain regarding the unknown. There is only so much you can plan for prior to going into labor until the baby and your body take over. Although I am a pediatric nurse, I do not have much experience in the field of Labor and Delivery, so I relied heavily on the staff in the Birthing Center to educate, assist, and guide me through the process.

Upon arriving and following triage in the Birthing Center, I was taken to a birthing suite where Amanda was assigned as my nurse. She was kind, polite, professional, and comforting. She introduced herself and set realistic expectations regarding the birthing process and left communication very open regarding questions and concerns. Not only was she knowledgeable, but she explained things in terms that were understandable and not intimidating; my husband and I felt immediately at peace knowing that we were in good hands.

While getting my epidural, Amanda gave me a pillow to bear down during contractions. She looked me in the eyes and was honest about what was actively happening in the process since I couldn’t see and my husband wasn’t able to be in the room. She breathed through the pain, spoke calmly, and helped me through the discomfort to allow for a smooth process. After the first unsuccessful attempt, Amanda was professional and remained supportive and advocated for another staff member from Anesthesia to attempt. I felt like I had known her for years. She was constantly reassuring and positive - never demeaning. Her confidence in me to push through never waivered; this was the support I needed at that moment.

During the labor process when my husband and mother were present, Amanda made frequent rounds, called staff when she felt like they were needed to assist, but remained confident and did not project any uneasy feelings on us when the baby’s heart rate was fluctuating. She joked and laughed with our family like she was our own. The time and effort she spent to make us all feel like we were on track and a pivotal part of the labor process was invaluable. Any nurse could have coached us through labor, but not any nurse would have made our family feel so complete and overjoyed at that moment. She was not only a nurse, but a cheerleader, a teacher and educator, and a genuine, caring human being.

My memory of the birth of our first child will forever be remembered and cherished in a positive light, largely in part of Amanda's kindness and compassion. In a time when nurses feel burnt out, overworked, and tired (especially on the night shift when this took place), Amanda's work ethic was unparalleled. We are forever grateful for this amazing nurse!