I went in to get induced. Sarah Hagen started her shift when I had started the Pitocin. Sarah was always there checking in on me but also giving me time to rest. She also explained the progression of the pain medications that I could take as well; I had asked a few different times about them. When I decided to do the epidural, I told Sarah that I was very nervous about it. She allowed me to use her as a brace and hold her hands while I got the epidural. She talked me through it. For the next several hours she was attentive and had me turn sides and change positions appropriately to ensure the baby's heartbeat wouldn't dip. 

Towards the end of the labor portion of my delivery, I was only 5 centimeters and the baby's heart kept dipping with contractions. Ultimately there was a very scary period where I needed to be in a certain position and remain calm to keep the baby's heart rate up. We were waiting for the doctor to arrive and there were several other nurses in the room preparing for a potential c-section. Sarah was very calm in all of the medical decisions that she made and walked me through everything. She prepared me by saying if the baby's heart rate dropped again that she would need to call an emergency and there would be even more people in the room. 

Sarah was focused and deliberate, while also providing emotional support to me. There were a couple of times where I said out loud to the room that I was scared; both in the delivery room and eventually the operating room. And Sarah would reassure me that I was doing great. Sarah stayed past the end of her shift to stay for the delivery/c-section. My husband was not able to be in the operating room because I had to be put under general anesthesia. She was holding my hand the entire time. At the end of the day, Sarah was a medical and emotional support that I absolutely needed during a very critical and scary time for me and my husband. She was kind and caring, and she would take action with confidence. She even came by the next morning while I was in recovery to say hi and check on us. Sarah went above and beyond for my delivery and I'm so thankful for her medical expertise and her caring and supportive nature. Sarah being my nurse made all the difference for my delivery experience. I literally could not have done it without her.