I was admitted to the hospital because I was having contractions. I was not even 34 weeks pregnant at the time. I had planned on a natural home birth for this baby, this was my fourth child, and I had given birth to my other children at home, so naturally I was thinking this birth would go the same way.

Arriving at the hospital I learned early on that giving birth at home might not be an option and that I actually might need a C-section that very day. When I was taken to the Labor and Delivery Unit, Haley was assigned to me as my nurse. She showed such deep empathy for my situation and my hopes for this baby and the birth. I was scared, nervous, anxious, and not wanting things to go the way they were headed. Haley showed up for me and was able to advocate for what I wanted. She knew I wanted to have my baby at home, and she helped calm my worries by explaining what was going on with my baby and what needed to happen (he had the cord wrapped around his neck which was causing his heart rate to drop every time I had a contraction). She even asked the at-risk OB doctor on call that evening for a second opinion when it was determined that a C-section would be the best route.

Even though I ended up having the C-section that evening and giving birth to my baby boy six weeks early, she was able to walk me through the situation and assure me she would be there every step of the way. I am so grateful that Haley was my nurse that night because she truly helped to make an undesirable situation turn out as smoothly as possible. My C-section went well, and my baby boy was as healthy as could be expected for a baby born six weeks early. He is still in the NICU, but he is doing well and is growing more each day. Haley showed me Amazing compassion; I knew that she really did care. And it was so wonderful to get a card from her about a week after my baby was born! This is an experience that I will never forget, and she will always be a part of my birth story!