Jenn Rom, from the Labor and Delivery Department at Kaiser Permanente (Santa Clara), provided excellent care throughout my overnight birth experience. I came into Labor and Delivery needing to be artificially induced, despite having hoped for a “natural” or medicine-free birth. Jenn explained every medical option I faced at each stage with such clarity that I continued to feel informed and empowered. She was not only an attentive listener but also an effective communicator.

It was incredibly reassuring to see how rigorous she was with hygiene (so many glove changes!) and how conscientious she was about informing me whenever anything was being done to my body. She and her team always sought consent, which added to my sense of control during a very vulnerable experience.

When my pain tolerance turned out to be less than I’d hoped, Jenn showed great compassion and professionalism in helping me explore other options. She struck the perfect balance between professionalism and humanity throughout a very intense night. When I felt like I simply couldn’t continue through the pain of childbirth, Jenn quickly stepped into the role of coach, guiding and encouraging me to (quite literally) push through.

Although I questioned myself at times, I never once questioned the competence of Jenn or the medical team at Kaiser, which was incredibly reassuring. In the end, it was the best night of my life, and as I reflect on it, I especially wish to acknowledge the excellence that Jenn Rom displayed in supporting my childbirth experience.

This is Jennifer's 2nd DAISY Award!