Erin LeMonnier
January 2024
Erin
LeMonnier
,
RN, C-EFM
2 Center Labor & Delivery
Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital
Grand Rapids
,
MI
United States
She kept us safe and maintained a calming presence.
For the last three weeks, I have pondered how to express my gratitude to Erin. I, myself, am a pediatric nurse. The hidden world of nursing is sacred. Nurses see the most vulnerable moments of a person's life. Being a first-time mom, labor was a new experience, and being a nurse meant I knew perhaps too much about what was happening.
Erin was our nurse during active labor and the birth of our son. As a nurse, one would expect me to be very comfortable in the hospital setting. However, as a patient, the tables were turned, and I felt like a fish out of water. Erin was the reassuring presence I needed. She seamlessly helped with pain relief, position changes, and close monitoring of our son. She encouraged me with positive affirmations. She kept my husband involved with my labor and guided him in comforting me.
Our pregnancy wasn’t the roughest, but it came with difficulties, and being induced for impending preeclampsia was not our ideal situation. We rolled with the punches, but I must say, having Erin was a light during a very challenging time.
Erin reacted quickly when I vomited, needed to change positions, or my epidural stopped working. She ensured our midwife was updated and present. She ensured the supplies were ready and adjusted my medications accordingly.
As I progressed, it was clear that my son was starting to have distress. This is when being a nurse was my disadvantage; I knew too much about the risks and potential outcomes. My fear was immense in these moments. Each time his heart rate plummeted to the 50s, Erin responded with reassurance and skillfully intervened to improve his heart rate. She called NICU to the bedside, to be prepared. She worked seamlessly with our midwife. Erin was always one step ahead. She remained calm as I cried in fear when our son was born with his cord around his neck. She kept us safe and maintained a calming presence.
Writing a DAISY nomination is a small gesture of gratitude, and I hope Erin knows that such a small gesture cannot express our thankfulness or describe the wonderful work she does. Thank you, Erin! We have no doubt that many families will continue to benefit from your skills, compassion, and reassurance.
Erin was our nurse during active labor and the birth of our son. As a nurse, one would expect me to be very comfortable in the hospital setting. However, as a patient, the tables were turned, and I felt like a fish out of water. Erin was the reassuring presence I needed. She seamlessly helped with pain relief, position changes, and close monitoring of our son. She encouraged me with positive affirmations. She kept my husband involved with my labor and guided him in comforting me.
Our pregnancy wasn’t the roughest, but it came with difficulties, and being induced for impending preeclampsia was not our ideal situation. We rolled with the punches, but I must say, having Erin was a light during a very challenging time.
Erin reacted quickly when I vomited, needed to change positions, or my epidural stopped working. She ensured our midwife was updated and present. She ensured the supplies were ready and adjusted my medications accordingly.
As I progressed, it was clear that my son was starting to have distress. This is when being a nurse was my disadvantage; I knew too much about the risks and potential outcomes. My fear was immense in these moments. Each time his heart rate plummeted to the 50s, Erin responded with reassurance and skillfully intervened to improve his heart rate. She called NICU to the bedside, to be prepared. She worked seamlessly with our midwife. Erin was always one step ahead. She remained calm as I cried in fear when our son was born with his cord around his neck. She kept us safe and maintained a calming presence.
Writing a DAISY nomination is a small gesture of gratitude, and I hope Erin knows that such a small gesture cannot express our thankfulness or describe the wonderful work she does. Thank you, Erin! We have no doubt that many families will continue to benefit from your skills, compassion, and reassurance.