I don't even know if I will be able to put into words what my nurse did for me and my new little family.
I am a first-time mom and was scheduled to be induced. I was so nervous and so scared of the unknown. I arrived at the hospital, got checked in, and it was shift change. My nurse came into my room smiling and excited for us to have this baby. She asked me about my birth plan and I told her I wanted a healthy baby and no C-section, if possible. There were a few other aftercare items I told her about as well. She was very encouraging and told me what her goals were for us that day. She helped me labor for 6 hours with no medication or epidural (my choice). During those 6 hours she helped me on the medicine ball, she helped me change positions, she checked on my dilation and kept me laughing. She also kept me comfortable and my husband hydrated. She told me I was pretty, she told me how my baby was doing, and she coached me through each stage. After 6 hours of labor, I was still only 3 cm dilated. I was throwing up from the contractions and she was still right there next to me. She reminded me about my option for the epidural but allowed me to push through it for as long as I wanted. When I couldn't take the pain of throwing up anymore I decided to get the epidural. Since my husband had to sit in a chair across the room, I was on that table by myself and scared. She could tell, so she held me while I cried on her shoulder the whole time. She talked to me and helped me with my breathing. That moment was everything. After the epidural, I went from 3cm to 8cm in an hour and a half. It was time to get ready to push. Over the next hour or so, she came in multiple times to have me rotate positions with the peanut. Then it was time to push! She coached me, she encouraged me, she made me laugh, she told me everything that was happening. She told me I was beautiful and she loved on me. SHE IS THE REASON, THE ONLY REASON (other than God) that we had the amazing experience we did. She made every decision at the exact perfect moment. I only pushed for 20-30 minutes. At 5:27 she told me my daughter would be here at 5:40, AND SHE WAS, on the dot!
After my daughter was born, I couldn't even remember or think of all the aftercare things I wanted for her, but my nurse did! She was able to speak up and advocate for me to the nursery nurse.
Once they put my daughter on my chest they had to take her away. Her breathing sounded off and she had sucked in too much fluid. I was a mess! They were heading into shift change, but my nurse stayed by my side. She wiped my tears and took care of me while I waited to hear about my baby. It had been 45 minutes but felt like hours since I had heard anything, so she went to check on her. She came back to updated me and comfort me more. Finally, I got my little girl back.
Not only is Angie Cook an amazing nurse, but she is an incredible human being. She has the biggest heart and served us with compassion.