My husband and I were admitted to Family Birthplace after a routine prenatal appointment to be induced due to our baby’s estimated small size from growth scans. We got settled that evening, not really knowing what to expect since it was our first child. That next morning, we were greeted by Valerie Conrad. Right away in her shift, medication was started to kick start my labor. Val did an amazing job of explaining the medication, what I could expect, and all the options I had to keep me comfortable as I progressed. I felt completely at ease in her care, even though I had never gone through anything like that before. A short time into the induction, we had to pause the medication due to the baby not tolerating it well. Each time we had to reposition monitors or adjust med levels, Val reassured me with her calming presence, kind smile, and competent care. When the labor escalated and it was becoming more painful, she was right there doing her best to offer me what relief she could but also diligently monitoring our baby, ensuring he was okay. Delivery came fast but all went well. Val offered to take pictures for us to capture those first precious moments as a family of three. Those pictures and memories we will cherish forever! The next two days, we were lucky to have Val back. Being able to have her start to finish during our stay was amazing, as we had so much trust in her care and always felt like we were her #1 priority. Our confidence in going home with our first baby was directly related to the excellent teaching and guidance Val provided us. Birth can be a very scary thing, and thanks to Val our experience was an amazing one!