Tiffani was the last nurse I had in a long induced labor. I believe she came in at 3am when I had been 9 cm dilated for more than 4 hours. For the next 3 hours, Tiffani helped me try new positions (very much a challenge with an exhausted mama plus an epidural). She was so encouraging and offered so many helpful comfort techniques to help me manage the pain and usher the baby into the world. She offered counter pressure, massage, full-body support as I labored and she coached my husband on how to do the same.
All of this support was in light of COVID-19. My husband and I were hoping to have a doula, but Tiffani was the next best thing, offering the emotional and physical support we both needed.
When I failed to progress, Tiffani never left my side as the doctor discussed a C-section. During the surgery, she held my hand, held the barf bag, and kept me focused and present. Incredibly, she was also able to take some pictures of the baby as we first met. I will treasure those pictures forever.
What is most wild and beautiful about Tiffani's support is that she wore a mask the entire time. I will never know what she looks like...only her encouraging eyes, but that made her feel even more like a guardian angel.
As most deliveries go, this one was not what we expected. But the goodness of our nurses and doctors will be the memories I choose to hold close. The experience would have been so much more traumatic if not for the masked angels.