Tracy started the morning off getting me and my family prepped for what to expect for a low-intervention induction of labor. At about 5-6 hours of laboring, Tracy started to note changes in fetal heart rate and variability. She immediately made the physician team aware and explained to me and my family her thoughts and what was happening. By 5 pm, my baby was not tolerating labor well, and Tracy made sure the physicians came to see me immediately. Tracy gracefully and delicately conveyed her concerns to the physician team. Additionally, she kept me, my husband, and my mom informed every step of the way. Tracy was extremely empathetic to my birth preference plan and knew many of the interventions my baby would require for a safe delivery were not initially included in that plan. Tracy showed compassion and caring as she explained the situation to me and my family and helped me make an informed decision about what was the safest course of action regarding my plan of care. Tracy did not guide one way or the other but helped me make an informed decision on how to proceed. As the physician team began medical interventions at shift change, it was a very busy time. There were lots of people in the room, lots of different things going on at once, and my husband and I were very scared. Tracy stopped in the middle of all the interventions, came to my side, took my hand, and reassured me that what I was doing was the safest and best for my baby. She then thanked me for letting them proceed with these unforeseen, but now necessary, medical interventions. Tracy stayed over her shift to make sure that my plan of care was transitioned smoothly to the next shift. She prepared my night shift nurse for what to expect by explaining and talking through the processes moving forward for various medical interventions. Tracy then came back and saw me before she left and said she would pray for me that night. She sought my mom out in the waiting room, gave her a hug, and let her know we would be in her prayers.
We ended up delivering a healthy baby girl at 1:53 am via unplanned C-section. Tracy came and saw us the next day on the maternity floor just to make sure all was well, and to come see baby. Throughout my entire experience, I felt supported, encouraged, and blessed by having Tracy as my nurse. While my original intentions of a low-intervention birth wound up not being possible, I truly feel that without Tracy, my experience would not have been the blessing that it was. I'm so thankful Tracy showed up in my room that day for shift report. She made the scariest day of my life the happiest day of my life as well.