I went into active labor, and Heather ended up being my nurse. She was straightforward and to the point. She explained everything before anything happened and talked me through every procedure before it was done.

After my water was broken, I became pretty high-risk, so she felt it was important to explain things ahead of time in case anything went wrong and the team had to rush in and, as she put it, "flip me like a pancake." Her honesty and communication helped me feel prepared and informed throughout the process.

She did everything in her power to help me have as natural a delivery as possible. We tried every position imaginable, and we got so close—9.5 centimeters. At that point, she gently explained that my body simply wasn't opening the way it needed to for my baby to be delivered safely.

When it became clear that plans needed to change, she had me prepped and ready in about five minutes. During that time, I was having a full panic attack, but she remained calm and reassuring. She comforted me, assured me that I had the best of the best caring for me, and repeatedly told me that everything was going to be okay.

Even after she was no longer my nurse following delivery, she continued to check on me. When she was the charge nurse the following night, she made sure both my baby and I were being well cared for. She still checks on me whenever we cross paths in the café.

Heather made a traumatic experience feel much less overwhelming.