This was our first baby, and we came for a planned induction. Kaitlyn greeted us at the doors to the unit and was a calming, confident presence throughout the whole process! She was very knowledgeable about the different laboring positions and explained everything that was happening very thoroughly. She listened to our requests and made us feel very at ease.

For example, when I felt it was time for the epidural, she answered the call light right away and within minutes came in to get me all set up—no delay, which I was very grateful for! Also, when I dilated quicker than expected, and the baby was coming, she didn’t leave my side and helped me begin the pushing process. That was the scariest part for me, and Kaitlyn helped me feel calm and confident.

When it comes to deciding where to deliver your baby, the staff plays a huge part—and I would highly recommend Kaitlyn to any mom looking for the best labor and delivery nurse!

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I arrived at Riverside, scheduled to be induced, overwhelmed by fear, uncertainty, and vulnerability. This was my first pregnancy, and I was already carrying another heavy diagnosis. I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know how to prepare myself emotionally or physically. All I knew was that the unknown was no longer distant; it was standing directly in front of me.

My induction began with medication under the care of several nurses, including some of Kaitlyn’s colleagues, all of whom played a role in making my experience positive. What set Kaitlyn apart was that she met me at my most fragile, most exposed, and most valuable state as a human being.

As music played softly in the background of the delivery room, it eventually faded beneath the growing intensity of pain. The contractions became stronger as I became weaker, and the weight of it all felt unbearable. In those moments when I felt like I could not go on, God used Kaitlyn’s voice to break through the noise and the fear, “You’ve got this, push through.”

I labored for so many hours. When Kaitlyn’s shift began, I was still only a few centimeters dilated. Instead of accepting stagnation, she believed in progress. She pushed me gently but firmly into positions, encouraged me to walk, and helped me tap into the strength I didn’t even know I had left. Every movement hurt, but every movement mattered.

As the pain intensified, I begged for the epidural. Katelyn never treated my request as weakness or doubt. When the anesthesiologist struggled to place the epidural correctly while I endured contractions that felt relentless, she stood by me. She looked me directly in the eyes and said, “Think about the end goal. You will be okay.” Her presence grounded me. And moments later, a new anesthesiologist stepped in and ensured the epidural was placed correctly. In that moment, Kaitlyn didn’t just earn my trust; she earned my deepest respect.

When my doctor was preparing to leave for an emergency, Kaitlyn noticed something critical. She ran without hesitation to bring him back. I was fully dilated. Because of her urgency and awareness, my baby was delivered safely.

But Kaitlyn’s work was far from finished. Suddenly, I began hemorrhaging blood, pouring from my body at an alarming rate. They warn you about these possibilities early on, but nothing prepares you for the moment when death feels close enough to touch. In an instant, Kaitlyn shifted into action. She gathered the necessary tools, coordinated care, and moved with precision and urgency to save my life so I could live to be here for my baby.

From that moment on, she never left my side. She cleaned me from head to toe, set up suction, wrapped me in warmth, and restored my dignity piece by piece. Kaitlyn calmed me in ways I still struggle to put into words. The gentle head rubs. The quiet check-ins. The simple but powerful question “Are you okay?” Nothing went unnoticed.

I recognize a truly compassionate nurse when I see one. In a world often divided by race and gender, being cared for with such humanity meant everything to me. In that room, there was no division, only people looking out for one another with genuine love and respect.

There is nothing I could ever give that would fully express my gratitude. I cannot imagine having gone through this experience without the nurse I was blessed with. Because of Kaitlyn, I am alive. Because of Kaitlyn, I get to raise my child. Our family and I are doing beautifully, and we owe so much of that to her.