I arrived at the hospital ready to be in labor and delivery for hours/days, and of course, wondering which nurses I’d see this time – would any from my past experience a year ago be around? So many questions and anxieties swarmed in my mind – would I be taken care of as delicately with a full term baby as I was during a preterm baby situation? Then, I was wheeled into the delivery room where Joanne Daris (Jojo) was standing at the ready. After what I went through the previous year, my husband and I were hoping a specific doctor would be the on-call doctor, but of course, we understood that whichever doctor was available would be the one who would deliver our second daughter. The fear of wondering which doctor would be available disappeared when I met Jojo - the minute I arrived in that room I felt safe, taken care of and most of all, supported. I knew if Jojo was the one to deliver this baby, I would be so happy. 

I dilated so quickly and my contractions were hard and fast – Jojo was present every second to make sure I was okay, offering my options to get through labor, but also just being such a fierce support system for my decisions on how I wanted to deliver my baby. Since I dilated so quickly, I opted for no epidural and was met with support for my decision – not in a way that Jojo was pro or con epidural, but in a way that she reinforced how I wanted to deliver this baby. It made me feel comfortable, and as if I knew her for years. I certainly didn’t make it easy for her when she asked to check my dilation throughout the short time I was contracting, and even through my discomfort she constantly reminded me how great I was doing through the pain and how proud she was of me for getting through those contractions. 

She was a constant cheerleader without being overbearing or pushing her views on me, which is so, so important when you’re in the middle of delivery. When I began pushing, it was her support and guidance, coupled with the doctor that helped me deliver the baby in just eight minutes.  
 
 As if her guidance and support weren’t enough for me to push through labor, her care grew even stronger during post-delivery. She was amazing! She took family pictures for us, helped our baby latch immediately, and most importantly took care of me. I told her that I wasn’t sure if I were to have another baby in the future, but if I did, I would wholeheartedly hope that she was the labor and delivery nurse present to deliver my baby.   

After a whirlwind of an experience with my first baby, Jojo restored all of my anxiety, fear, and worries about delivering a second baby – and she already has my husband and me considering a third! She should be commended for her bedside manner, her ability to make you feel at ease, and her guidance and support throughout the hardest thing women go through. Thank you Jojo for everything.