Patient Stories
Sutter Women's Services

Katie - New Baby & New Friends, Too

For Katie, Sutter did more than just help her through delivering her daughter. They also provided support during one of the most demanding stages of motherhood. “I joined the Sutter Mom’s Group, and that’s been a huge outlet for me,” says Katie. “It’s helped me cope with being a new mom and all the challenges that come with that.”

Katie’s doctor James Maher, M.D., suggested they induce labor to avoid possible complications from a severe case of pregnancy-induced rash. But when Katie and her husband arrived at Sutter Roseville, they had no idea their scheduled induction would end up being a two-day affair. “We went in on Friday night, and 24 hours later almost nothing had happened. I was tired and the nurses were ready to send me home, but then my water broke,” says Katie. “By Sunday morning, I still had only dilated to one centimeter. Then I went from two to nine centimeters in three hours. It was nothing, nothing, nothing, then boom.”

Aside from a slight fever Katie developed in the last few hours, the delivery went smoothly and daughter Kaylee was born naturally at a healthy seven pounds, 11 ounces. Throughout the extended labor and after delivery, Katie was impressed with the level of care and attention she received. “The nurses were amazing; the postpartum and delivery nurses, especially,” Katie says. “Without them I don’t know how I would have made it!”

After Kaylee’s birth, Katie decided to join the Sutter Mom’s Group to meet other new mothers with newborns. The group is mediated by a childbirth educator and is designed to help women like Katie get their questions answered and make friends with other mothers who are also dealing with the changes early motherhood brings. “It’s really nice to have people to talk to who are in the same situation and understand where I’m coming from,” says Katie. “We were so new to the area that I hadn’t made friends here yet, so having the support has been huge to me.”

In spite of a slow start to her labor, Katie was able to have the natural birth she was hoping for and go home with some wonderful memories. “Two days of being in labor was tough, so I really credit the staff for making what could have been a really hard experience a really great one,” says Katie. “I can’t wait to do it again. Honestly!”

 

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