I was the midwife caring for a patient needing an induction of labor and was so impressed with Jenna’s care, attention, advocacy, and commitment to our patient today. Our patient had hoped for a low-intervention natural birth with her religious practices but experienced complications in her pregnancy that necessitated an induction with many medical interventions for her and her baby's safety. Jenna bent over backward to try to help the patient feel safe and comfortable and cared for.

When the team developed concerns that the patient's partner may have been inappropriately controlling of the patient's medical decisions, Jenna fought hard to advocate for our patient while remaining professional and maintaining rapport with the patient and her partner. When it became apparent that the avoidance of certain interventions was putting the patient and baby at risk, Jenna calmly and professionally said it was her professional opinion that the intervention (which the patient had requested but to which the partner had previously said no) was absolutely necessary and delaying it was no longer safe and was putting mom and baby at risk. Without Jenna’s ability to develop trust and rapport and without her gentle but persistent advocacy, the patient's partner may never have agreed.