Melissa Schram
March 2026
Melissa
Schram
,
RN
Birth Center
MultiCare Yakima Memorial Hospital
Yakima
,
WA
United States
Melissa was there with me when I needed her most while also training a new nurse.
I went into the hospital hopeful for a VBAC after a traumatic birth with my firstborn that resulted in a C-Section. My original goal was to go into labor spontaneously as I had to have an induction with my first born that didn't result in a vaginal birth, but I developed high blood pressure and had to be induced this time as well.
To say my nerves were high was an understatement, as I felt my birth was following the last one, and I would once again require an emergency C-Section. Melissa was there with me when I needed her most while also training a new nurse. She respected me and my desires while also explaining everything she was doing along the way to ease my nerves.
I developed pre-eclampsia with severe features, and once again, she talked me through it while also making me laugh. She helped reposition me and was really rooting for me to have a vaginal delivery as well; you could tell she wanted me to get what I wanted.
I didn't have an easy labor, 33 hours, and she was there with me for 16 hours of it. What was supposed to be a 12-hour shift for her turned into 16 hours, and part of the reason I felt she extended it was to be with me.
My baby had some decels, and she helped reposition me through all of them while keeping me calm and comfortable. These were triggering because that is what had happened to my first, which resulted in a C-Section.
When I was ten centimeters dilated, she celebrated with me and seemed honestly as excited as I was, even calling my doctor on speaker phone to give her the good news. Right before I was supposed to push, my baby had a decel down to 70s, but she kept her calm. My doctor wasn't there yet, but she had me start pushing and called in another doctor, along with the NICU team, just in case. I know now she was a little concerned, but I didn't know that then.
When my baby came he needed some help from the NICU team so I was glad she made sure she was there.
Due to complications with my pre-eclampsia, I was in the hospital for 8 nights, and during that time, I had 12 different nurses that I can remember; she was a standout and truly an exceptional nurse. I feel she is a part of the reason I achieved my dream of a VBAC, and she will always be a part of my memories.
To say my nerves were high was an understatement, as I felt my birth was following the last one, and I would once again require an emergency C-Section. Melissa was there with me when I needed her most while also training a new nurse. She respected me and my desires while also explaining everything she was doing along the way to ease my nerves.
I developed pre-eclampsia with severe features, and once again, she talked me through it while also making me laugh. She helped reposition me and was really rooting for me to have a vaginal delivery as well; you could tell she wanted me to get what I wanted.
I didn't have an easy labor, 33 hours, and she was there with me for 16 hours of it. What was supposed to be a 12-hour shift for her turned into 16 hours, and part of the reason I felt she extended it was to be with me.
My baby had some decels, and she helped reposition me through all of them while keeping me calm and comfortable. These were triggering because that is what had happened to my first, which resulted in a C-Section.
When I was ten centimeters dilated, she celebrated with me and seemed honestly as excited as I was, even calling my doctor on speaker phone to give her the good news. Right before I was supposed to push, my baby had a decel down to 70s, but she kept her calm. My doctor wasn't there yet, but she had me start pushing and called in another doctor, along with the NICU team, just in case. I know now she was a little concerned, but I didn't know that then.
When my baby came he needed some help from the NICU team so I was glad she made sure she was there.
Due to complications with my pre-eclampsia, I was in the hospital for 8 nights, and during that time, I had 12 different nurses that I can remember; she was a standout and truly an exceptional nurse. I feel she is a part of the reason I achieved my dream of a VBAC, and she will always be a part of my memories.