March 2023
Anna
Downs
,
RN
Labor and Delivery
University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center
Glen Burnie
,
MD
United States
This made me feel the joy of delivering my baby, and although he had passed and it was a heartbreaking experience, my labor was the most beautiful experience because of Anna.
I cannot speak more highly of Anna and my time in Labor and Delivery at BWMC. Sadly, I found out my son K no longer had a heartbeat and passed, and I was induced soon after. I cannot even emphasize to anyone the heartbreak I felt finding out my son had passed and decided to do a VBAC to deliver my sleeping baby. When I walked into BWMC to deliver K, I did not know what to expect, I had delivered my son J in 2019 at BWMC. However, this felt different to me as K was stillborn and J was living. I did not know how the nurses would treat me; I didn't want to be treated as if people were walking on eggshells to talk to me, but I also did not view this as a happy time.
As soon as I met Anna, she made the room light up. She assured me K dying was not my fault (something I was really struggling with), she provided me with options regarding seeing K immediately, having him cleaned up and handed to me, if I didn't want to see him at all. She told my boyfriend and I how wonderful we were and wonderful parents we were to J and K (which was something we needed to hear, especially then), and even held my hand during the contractions. She advocated for me when my doctor pushed for me to have an epidural, even though I wanted to do it naturally. Anna remembered my wishes and advocated for me, assuring me that this was my experience and reminding me that I did not have to do anything I did not truly want to do.
She was so excited to meet K which really made my experience. I so loved how she talked about K in present tense, she said things like, "I wonder if K will look like dad or you." This made me feel the joy of delivering my baby, and although he had passed and it was a heartbreaking experience, my labor was the most beautiful experience because of Anna.
I cannot speak more highly of Anna and how wonderful she is. This was the hardest situation I have ever had to face, but she made it one of the best experiences. I tell everyone that if I had to go through this heartbreaking situation, I'm so happy my labor went the way it did, and I truly owe that to Anna. I believe that if my labor experience did not go so beautifully, I would not be grieving as peacefully as I am now.
Anna, thank you so much for helping me bring my beautiful K to the world. Thank you for empowering me, caring for me, and truly giving me the best experience in one of the worst experiences of my life. You will always be part of our family's story.
As soon as I met Anna, she made the room light up. She assured me K dying was not my fault (something I was really struggling with), she provided me with options regarding seeing K immediately, having him cleaned up and handed to me, if I didn't want to see him at all. She told my boyfriend and I how wonderful we were and wonderful parents we were to J and K (which was something we needed to hear, especially then), and even held my hand during the contractions. She advocated for me when my doctor pushed for me to have an epidural, even though I wanted to do it naturally. Anna remembered my wishes and advocated for me, assuring me that this was my experience and reminding me that I did not have to do anything I did not truly want to do.
She was so excited to meet K which really made my experience. I so loved how she talked about K in present tense, she said things like, "I wonder if K will look like dad or you." This made me feel the joy of delivering my baby, and although he had passed and it was a heartbreaking experience, my labor was the most beautiful experience because of Anna.
I cannot speak more highly of Anna and how wonderful she is. This was the hardest situation I have ever had to face, but she made it one of the best experiences. I tell everyone that if I had to go through this heartbreaking situation, I'm so happy my labor went the way it did, and I truly owe that to Anna. I believe that if my labor experience did not go so beautifully, I would not be grieving as peacefully as I am now.
Anna, thank you so much for helping me bring my beautiful K to the world. Thank you for empowering me, caring for me, and truly giving me the best experience in one of the worst experiences of my life. You will always be part of our family's story.