My husband and I had the pleasure and privilege of welcoming Sophia Grace into the world on Thursday, July 7, 2022, at 8:34 am.
This was my first pregnancy, and at 37 (advanced maternal age), I had been on pins and needles the whole time. Thankfully, it was an easy pregnancy, she's a healthy baby, and I worked until the day before I went into labor.
Dr. Evans has been incredible. She has been helpful, informative, and a beacon of positivity throughout the entire pregnancy. She's let me know what to expect every step of the way. And as a new mom, I appreciate that so, so much. We were already scheduled to have an induction on July 7 at AdventHealth Winter Park, but babies come at their own time. I started having contractions at 9:30 pm the night before. At 10:45 pm, we decided to go to the hospital. As first-time parents, we had no idea what to expect. We'd heard birth stories of every flavor. From the most beautiful, amazing moment to the most terrifying experience in someone's life, and everything in between.
When we got to AdventHealth Winter Park, everyone was wonderful, patient, kind and gracious. From the nurses in the Emergency Room (don't remember their names) who got me a wheelchair and wheeled me up to Labor and Delivery, to the first nurse we were with after I was admitted, Tisha. Tisha gave me excellent advice, which I took to heart throughout the rest of labor: don't talk during contractions and use that time to breathe. Thank goodness she told me that. I was a nervous wreck by the time I was fully in the hospital gown.
After Tisha, Alessandra stayed with me all night and she was wonderful. She has a calming presence, and made sure I was comfortable, had plenty of ice chips, and moved to different positions as needed. Lauren also assisted Alessandra and was very helpful. So was the anesthesiologist (I forgot her name). I ended up having an epidural to help manage the pain. All of the Labor and Delivery nurses helped me feel supported and as much at ease as they could throughout this process, and I am so grateful for all of them. Dr. Evans got there around 6:00 am, which was when I was originally scheduled for the induction. She was amazing as always. As we got ready for the pushing, Dr. Evans decided to give me Pitocin to keep the contractions coming along. There were moments during the pushing where I wanted to give up, and she and all of the nurses told me to keep going and give it all you've got.
That moment, when the pain is so much more than you could have imagined, but you're SO ready to meet your baby, is a crucial one to have encouragement. And Dr. Evans and the Labor and Delivery nurses surrounded me with positivity to push through. Before I knew it, Sophie was in my arms. I will never forget the hour of skin-to-skin we got after she was born. Seeing her look up at me in those moments made it more than worth it.
Eunice helped me transition from Labor and Delivery to the Postpartum floor, and she was awesome. She was incredibly patient, and had a great bedside manner. As I got to recovery on the Postpartum floor, it showed I had high blood pressure. This was where I met the nurses Tammy and Emily, who were both a crucial part of my recovery. They made sure we were well taken care of, and we had everything we needed, sometimes even before we could ask for it.
The Lactation Consultants, Karen and Angie, were very helpful and patient. They demonstrated the right way to get Sophie to latch, and that has been so useful to remember throughout our breastfeeding journey. Dr. Koss also played a part in the excellent care I received. She came by to check on me a couple times, and let me know what to expect as far as the healing process. I felt completely taken care of, from start to finish.
There are so many great people at this hospital, and they all played an important role in bringing Sophie into the world. If you're thinking about having your birth experience at AdventHealth Winter Park, I would say do it!
