L&D Nurse Jordan Sheppard is an amazingly competent clinician, but her true skills shined during our delivery and postpartum experience at LRMC. We are later-in-life “new” parents whose first baby died during a traumatic labor and delivery experience in 2021. To say that we were anxious is an understatement of the situation. The LRMC team was spectacular at every turn during our prenatal experience. We had never, however, had the opportunity to care for a newborn in the postpartum phase. This is where Jordan was exceptionally supportive, compassionate, and helpful in the application of her expertise with tiny babies. Jordan is an extraordinary NICU-qualified nurse who we were lucky enough to have as our Mother/Baby postpartum nurse during our full inpatient stay. Her dedication and empathy profoundly impacted both us and our new baby. With her sharp mind and years of experience, Jordan brings not only exceptional clinical expertise to the L&D unit but also a deep understanding of the emotional support required for families during challenging times. She had a calming presence, reassuring us as worried (and naive) parents while caring for our precious newborn. Jordan took the time to answer our questions patiently (including some repeated questions!), walking us through what’s normal and ensuring we felt informed and involved in how to care for our new baby.

In addition to her precise medical care for a freshly post-surgical Mom, Jordan shared invaluable tips and insights with both of us, from best practices in soothing and bonding to how to properly apply the modern diaper with blowout protection ruffles. She helped us gain a modicum of confidence in handling S’s needs, offering advice on everything newborn-relevant. Jordan’s support didn’t end when we went home; she conducted Mom’s postpartum preeclampsia rule-out workup, personally, reinforcing the trust and compassion she built with our little family. Her exceptional ability to blend expert neonatal care with empathetic support truly makes her an irreplaceable part of the LRMC L&D team and a beacon of light for the families she supports.