We got settled into Labor & Deliver at SMCA and met Claire, the nurse assigned to us. I had experienced a grade IV tear with the delivery of my first child, followed by a very challenging recovery, so going into this pre-term labor, I had a lot of questions and some apprehension. Claire very patiently answered all my questions and was very positive and supportive, which helped me as we kick started the labor with some cytotec.
I began having some regular contractions, but periodically my baby's heart rate would decelerate. Claire would come right into the room and explain to me what was happening, and helped me change positions to help get the baby's heart rate in a good spot. After allowing labor to progress for a bit, my baby's heart rate experience a drop and was not recovering as it should. Clair and the team came and guided me to try different positions again and to monitor the baby, but shortly after determining this wasn't working the doctor decided I needed to have an emergency c-section.
Needless to say the feeling of getting whisked away and knowing baby's safety was a concern was very scary. Due to the urgency of the situation, my husband wasn't allowed to come. I didn't have to say a word, and Claire knew by the look on my face what I was feeling. She acknowledged that it was a scary situation, but their goal was to get the baby out safely. As they put me under general anesthesia, I remember Claire there holding my hand.
When I woke up, Claire was there since my husband was with our newborn baby daughter in the nursery, Claire shared with me that it was all due to a placental abruption, but everything was fine with the baby, that she was doing great! She even helped me with my first feeding and the transition to the mother/baby unit. On early Monday morning before the end of her night shift, she came over to the mother/baby unit to visit me. In fact it was her 2nd attempt to visit as I was asleep the first time she tried to come by and say hello. I felt she wasn't treating me like another patient, but like a friend. We got caught up on things since the delivery, the baby feeding and how my recovery was compared to the grade IV tear, how my son and husband were doing.
She remembered all these details and it was like talking to a close friend. During one of the scariest and significant moments of my life, when I couldn't have my husband by my side, Claire provided me with care which allows me to look back on all that happened with extreme gratitude. I am so happy to have had my baby here at SMCA and to be under Claire's care.