Amy Aukeman
March 2019
Amy
Aukeman
,
BSN, RN, RNC-OB
Labor & Delivery
Spectrum Health Butterworth
Grand Rapids
,
MI
United States
We are so grateful to Amy, who helped us through the second scariest moment of our lives. The first scariest moment came when we were admitted to 4-Center after the rupture of one of our twin's membranes at 23 weeks. We were prepared to deliver our twins very early and knew the prognosis would not be good. I ended up staying pregnant on bedrest for 8½ more weeks. Something we never expected.
Although this made the prognosis for our twins much better, we still were uncertain how the twin with the ruptured membrane would fair. So when I woke up in the middle of the night with contractions at 31 weeks, we were terrified to be wheeled to labor and delivery. My husband and I both work at the Children's Hospital and my husband had just finished a long shift. We had been told that when I went into labor the doctors would try to stop my labor with magnesium and my C-section would likely be quite emergent.
Immediately upon arriving in labor and delivery, we were greeted by Amy. She was cheerful yet calm and concise, which is just what we needed at the time. She did not make light of the situation but prepared us for everything that would happen.
My husband had developed a migraine so he was unable to be my rock as he typically is. Amy knew we were anxious and could tell my husband needed to sleep. I was feeling ill from the medicine they gave me to stop my labor so Amy rubbed my shoulders, fanned me when I felt warm, brought me ice chips and talked me through everything that was going on. She filled in the role my husband was unable to play. I felt so vulnerable and Amy knew just what to do to help me through such a tough moment. We were able to stop my labor so I could get more medicine to help the twins' lungs, and I delivered our twins three days later. When we went to labor and delivery for the second time, we felt so much more prepared having had Amy has our nurse previously. Walking to the delivery room, we were filled with anticipation and excitement rather than fear and anxiety. This would not have been the case had it not been for Amy. We were even able to say a quick hello to her as I headed to the OR which calmed my nerves even more.
After a stay in the NICU, our boys are both happy and healthy at home. We are so grateful for all the care we received during my 8½ week stay, but Amy's compassion in our time of need really stands out.
Although this made the prognosis for our twins much better, we still were uncertain how the twin with the ruptured membrane would fair. So when I woke up in the middle of the night with contractions at 31 weeks, we were terrified to be wheeled to labor and delivery. My husband and I both work at the Children's Hospital and my husband had just finished a long shift. We had been told that when I went into labor the doctors would try to stop my labor with magnesium and my C-section would likely be quite emergent.
Immediately upon arriving in labor and delivery, we were greeted by Amy. She was cheerful yet calm and concise, which is just what we needed at the time. She did not make light of the situation but prepared us for everything that would happen.
My husband had developed a migraine so he was unable to be my rock as he typically is. Amy knew we were anxious and could tell my husband needed to sleep. I was feeling ill from the medicine they gave me to stop my labor so Amy rubbed my shoulders, fanned me when I felt warm, brought me ice chips and talked me through everything that was going on. She filled in the role my husband was unable to play. I felt so vulnerable and Amy knew just what to do to help me through such a tough moment. We were able to stop my labor so I could get more medicine to help the twins' lungs, and I delivered our twins three days later. When we went to labor and delivery for the second time, we felt so much more prepared having had Amy has our nurse previously. Walking to the delivery room, we were filled with anticipation and excitement rather than fear and anxiety. This would not have been the case had it not been for Amy. We were even able to say a quick hello to her as I headed to the OR which calmed my nerves even more.
After a stay in the NICU, our boys are both happy and healthy at home. We are so grateful for all the care we received during my 8½ week stay, but Amy's compassion in our time of need really stands out.