I had a scheduled C-section due to breech presentation. This was my first child and I was extremely nervous, as this was not how I saw my birth plan. I was not as worried about the C-section as I was about how everything following delivery would go. I wanted to have immediate skin-to-skin with my newborn son. I also did not want him to go to the nursery or have any routine assessments done during the first few hours after birth. On our tour of the hospital we were told that C-section babies typically go to the nursery following delivery. I was dreading not being able to spend the first moments following birth with my son. I asked the nurses on the tour if it was possible to do skin-to-skin while in the OR, and was told that in some cases the Dad does skin-to-skin. I was devastated. My OB even gave me a list of conditions. I prayed every night that things would work out in my favor.
Enter Tiffany. I was blessed to have her as a nurse on the day of surgery and I truly believe she was the answer to my prayers. Without her, my birth experience would not have been perfect, and it was! I owe it all to her. Tiffany explained that my plans were not something that Palmetto Health typically did, but she would do everything in her power to make it happen for me. She spoke to anesthesia and got their approval. She held my hand on the table. She reassured me. She rubbed my back. She was there for me when I felt alone. She was my angel that day. I cannot express enough gratitude for her. Because of her, I had the most wonderful birth experience, better than I could have imagined. I held my son on the OR table for 30 minutes, then my husband held him until we reached recovery. Having worked as a nurse, I never imagined I would be the one in the bed needing the caring and compassion nurses give. Tiffany touched my heart when I did need someone to comfort me and tell me everything was going to be OK. When I needed someone to advocate for me she went above and beyond. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Tiffany!