Everyone tells you that your first child is going to come late. On top of that, everyone told me that I was so small still and that my child was going to come late. Needless to say, we were a bit surprised when our daughter decided to arrive a day early. I walked into the hospital, dilated and in the worst pain I've ever experienced. I was struggling until I was admitted to a room with Stephanie Aviles.
Immediately, I felt better. She was so kind, calm, reassuring, and personable. It did not feel like we just met for the first time. She took away the fear of the unknown with clear instructions, concern for my well-being, and the best bedside manner I could have asked for. She paid attention to the details. She noticed my IV from the previous room was causing discomfort, and she took it out and redid it (I have a nice bruise from the first IV but nothing from the second!).
My husband suffers from anxiety, and you would not have known because she made both of us feel at ease. She knew when to make small talk and how to support both of us. She was the most encouraging person we could have asked for. She stayed with us throughout it all, and I could not be more grateful for her during that experience. It did not feel like I was about to go through one of the biggest experiences of my life because she provided such a calm aura to the room. Stephanie is truly a gift to that hospital, and I can only hope to be so lucky to see her again for our second child.
Thank you for your care and kindness. You made our first delivery an amazing experience.