I gave birth to my first baby, but my stay started long before then! Since becoming pregnant, I very early on had complications throughout my entire pregnancy and began weekly NST appointments at the Clough Birthing Center at Emerson Hospital. Every now and then, I would have Connie take care of me; she was also so wonderful and uplifting. I always felt like I was talking with a friend I had known for years. I was then scheduled for an induction.

I was extremely anxious since this was my first time ever having a baby, and Connie was my nurse for a short period of time that day and gave me a very detailed breakdown of what was going to happen. Connie was on the day shift, but before she left, she came and checked in on me and promised she would be taking care of me the next day and hopefully having a baby! Unfortunately, my first method to induce me did not work, so we began a different route, and my baby's position was head down but sunny side up. Connie was with me all day doing different positions to get my baby in the best position for birth and let me tell you, we have never laughed so hard. If you have never seen some of these positions you get put into, I will tell you it makes for a good laugh, especially when you are getting discouraged that your labor is not progressing the way you hoped it would.

Later that day, Connie really advocated for me to have my water broken. Thankfully, the doctor did, and labor really started to kick in, and the pain was nothing like I had ever experienced. Connie stayed with me through the epidural and coached me through it; sadly, it was time for her to leave, but she reassured me that I was going to do great. The night and the next day go on, and I am still nowhere close to having this baby. I was highly discouraged and exhausted due to my epidural not properly working on my left side, which led me to feel the worst back labor pain.

Connie was back on Thursday. She came into my room, looked at me, and said, "We are having this baby today." We both truly could not believe I was still in labor after 4 days, and my fear of a possible C-section was growing faster and faster. Connie advocated for my epidural to be replaced, and it brought me so much more relief, and I was able to get rest. Connie came to check on me, and by some miracle, I was at 10cm and was ready to push. Connie coached me through everything while closely watching my baby's heart rate on the monitor, and 45 minutes later, my baby boy entered the world!

It did not stop there, though; my son's cord was wrapped so tightly around his neck that they immediately called a code white, and all I see is my son's almost lifeless body being taken out of me and passed over to the pediatric team of what felt like 30 people entering the room. I was hysterical and terrified of what was happening. Connie came over to me and stayed with me, reassuring me that he was going to be okay and that she had so much confidence in the team. I never felt that he was not in good hands and was shortly going to be placed in mine. I heard him officially cry, and Connie just hugged me, saying, "We did it!" I couldn't believe it and I will say even being in the hospital for 6 days total I have nothing but positive things about my birth experience. I am so thankful to all the staff at Emerson, and I wish all of them a DAISY Award.