Licking Memorial Health Systems - Measurably different...for your health
Patient Story - Hannah Pellett

As a nurse, Hannah Pellet believes it is important to be informed and actively participate in one’s own health care.  Doing research and having an understanding of health concerns is vital to taking control of personal wellbeing, which she did during her first pregnancy.  She read all she could about the birthing process to find the latest information and techniques utilized in Canada and many European countries that lead to a better maternal and infant experience.  She and her husband, Tom, felt giving birth at a hospital would not be beneficial because some common birthing practices can increase the odds of cesarean section and the need for an epidural.  The couple opted to contact a midwife team to assist in a home water birth – the process of giving birth in a tub of warm water.

When Hannah went into labor with her first baby, everything was going as planned, until the midwives became concerned that the baby was having heartrate decelerations and felt moving to the hospital for constant fetal monitoring would be prudent.  Hannah was rushed to a hospital outside of Licking County where her son’s birth was treated as an emergency.  Without being asked what she wanted, Hannah was instructed to lie on her back and given an episiotomy as staff members yelled at her to push.  “It was a very stressful event and I felt I had no control over what was happening to me,” Hannah said.  Her son, Tetton – now 4 years old, was delivered safely and perfectly healthy within 20 minutes of arriving at the hospital.  However, Hannah felt the traumatic process left her feeling rundown, and she was slow to recover.

Just a few years later, Tom, also a nurse, accepted a position at Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH).  The couple now was expecting their second child.  They heard about the Baby Expo at LMH, an event presented by the LMH Development Council featuring Maternal Child staff and area businesses, offering an opportunity for attendees to learn more about local baby/maternity products and services.  At the event, which is now known as Preparing for Baby – a Resource Fair, Tom and Hannah had the opportunity to tour the Maternity area on the LMH Third Floor.  The couple viewed the technology used during the birthing process including a wireless monitor that allows the mother to move around the room and up and down the hallways, and the specially-designed, fully adjustable beds that allow multiple positions for maximum comfort during and after delivery.  The bed includes a bar that facilitates a squatting position. 

In addition to the tour, Hannah discovered that LMH has certified nurse midwives on staff.  “I made an appointment to see Loretta Long, APRN-CNM.  She was open to doing things differently and giving me the opportunity to kneel when delivering my baby.”  When Hannah labored with Tetton, she discovered she was most comfortable when kneeling.  “Lying on your back compresses the pelvis, so I did not want to deliver like that again,” Hannah said.  Hannah also wanted Tom to be involved in the actual delivery.  “Loretta was supportive and I felt so comfortable with her.”

When Hannah went into labor, she and Tom were taken to their private birthing suite at LMH and were given the freedom to experience the process as they had planned.  Hannah was allowed to wear clothing in which she felt comfortable.  The Maternal Child nurses connected the wireless monitor, placing it under Hannah’s tank top out of the way.  They offered water and other comfort items as needed.  Lauren Baker, D.O., was the attending physician who monitored Hannah’s labor.  Hannah’s birth preferences and goals were discussed and a low-intervention approach to her care was provided.  Family members also were welcomed inside the room to offer support to Hannah and Tom.  “My mother, who is an obstetrics nurse, and my sister-in-law, who is a nurse at LMH, were in the room with us.  My mother was very impressed with the wireless monitor, she had never seen anything like it.”  As labor progressed, Heather began to waiver in her decision not to have an epidural, but after gentle encouragements and assistance in staying focused from her care team, she ultimately decided to labor without it. 

When the time came to deliver the baby, Dr. Baker encouraged Hannah to deliver in the position she felt most comfortable.  Dr. Baker guided Tom’s hands and instructed him on how to gently bring the baby out.  “Tom essentially delivered the baby, then placed our son, Ogden, on my chest.  It was such a different experience than our first son,” Hannah said.  “Dr. Baker was so calm and gentle.”  Hannah also asked the staff about delayed cord clamping – a prolongation of the time between the delivery of the newborn and the clamping of the umbilical cord.  Leaving the umbilical cord intact for a few minutes allows more blood to transfer from the placenta to the baby, sometimes increasing the child’s blood volume by up to a third.  The iron in the blood increases the newborn’s iron storage, which is vital for healthy brain development.  Hannah and Tom learned that delayed cord clamping is performed routinely for all patients at LMH due to these proven benefits, and Tom was given the honor of cutting the cord. 

After giving birth to Ogden, Hannah and Tom were offered plenty of “snuggle time” to bond with him.  LMH encourages Kangaroo Care, a method of skin-to-skin contact that both mother and father can participate in during the baby’s hospital stay.  Skin-to-skin contact assists in keeping the baby’s heart rate steady, breathing regular and reduces pain.  The staff provides support and the one-on-one education including assistance from a certified lactation consultant.  “It was so nice to be taken care of and have the opportunity to ask questions and receive assistance in breastfeeding.  The best gift, though, was the gourmet meal.  It was so delicious and nourishing,” said Hannah.  LMH offers new parents a chef-prepared gourmet dinner for two served by candlelight to allow them to celebrate in the privacy of their room.  “The entire experience, from arrival to discharge, was a stark difference than my first delivery, instead of begging to be released, this time we did not want to leave,” Hannah said.

LMH earned Baby-Friendly designation in 2016 through Baby-Friendly USA, Inc. – the gold standard in care, which encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies.  The criteria are challenging, designed to set the standards for the best possible breastfeeding support for mother and infant in the maternity setting.  LMH was the first community hospital in Central Ohio to earn the designation.

Licking Memorial Women’s Health has five OB/GYN physicians and two certified nurse midwives. The midwives care for low-risk women while the physicians additionally specialize in high-risk pregnancy care. All of LMH’s obstetric providers are dedicated to helping women meet their goals for labor and birth by using evidence based birth techniques that require minimal interventions and have high rates of patient satisfaction.

| Posted On : 7/2/2020 11:37:41 AM