Guest Columnists: L&D Nurses Share a Labor of Love, Loss, and Renewed Hope

There’s a phrase we are told as labor nurses, “When it’s happy here, it’s happy. But when it’s sad, it is really sad”. When you start, it’s so easy to get attached to the families that you work with. You spend 12+ hours of your day with them. You get engulfed in their stories, learn about their likes and dislikes, and try to give them their dream delivery. But with families who have babies born still, you also bear witness that their child actually came earthside. You are forever part of their baby’s short life.

-Jana Castro, L&D Director, Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak

“I met a family in triage a few years ago that forever changed the way I practice nursing and the way I see the world. As first time parents, this couple was so excited to meet their little girl. At full term, mom was in labor and came through triage to be checked into the hospital. I greeted her, and the unthinkable happened when I was unable to find her baby’s heartbeat. Ultrasound confirmed, and the parents were then told that they had to deliver their daughter. Their beautiful girl came earth-side, her eyes open to heaven already. In that instant, I formed a bond with this family as I helped them bathe, dress and take photos with their baby. I cried tears with them and assured them that she only knew love. I watched as they said goodbye to their baby for the final time, hugging them and telling them that this was not the end of their story. I would always tell their daughter’s story of love. Fast forward to last year, mid-pandemic, when the family was going to celebrate their daughter’s first heavenly birthday by collecting donations for our unit at the hospital. The mother reached out, and we decided that a room to honor other families going through infant loss would be the perfect way to celebrate their little girl. Annaleigh’s Room was born. Together with many members of our hospital team, her room slowly came together into a beautiful space to celebrate other babies and their families. Places on the wall hold sacred spaces for names of babies gone too soon. A bassinette sits in the corner to give room for babies to meet their families. I got to be a part of making Annaleigh’s legacy live on forever.”

Families may visit Annaleigh’s Room and memorialize the loss of their baby by writing their name and date of birth on a tag to be permanently displayed.

-Kaylen Bagley, RN, Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak

“It’s true that labor and delivery can be the happiest wing of the hospital. I began my nursing career in this unit right before Covid struck. I had heard the warnings. There are most often beautiful days, but when it storms, it really storms. I experienced this for the first time as a student. Watching a first time mother and supportive father battle with the grief of losing their preterm daughter, all the while struggling through the physical pain of labor. After 3 long days and nights, she delivered their baby girl who was already in Heaven. I watched as my preceptor, Kaylen, cared for this grief-struck family every night. Most times, I had no idea what to say to show my sadness for them or my desire to support them. However, I learned that sometimes not saying anything and just being in the moment with them is more powerful than any sentence I could put together. I shared tears with everyone who got to meet their precious little girl. I will never forget the overwhelming sadness that swelled in me when they dressed their baby girl in the only festive baby hat she would ever wear, and quietly said, “my sweet little pumpkin”. It isn’t always the beautiful days that stick with you forever, but the hardest ones that you cannot forget are forever part of you. It’s these days that can make the unit dark, but there is no where I would rather be than providing support to these parents during the worst day of their lives. I have the honor of being a supportive face for them to help them take everything one step at a time. Labor and delivery is absolutely the best adventure. The families that you touch with your nursing care will be remembered forever. Being able to be a part of honoring Annaleigh with this room solidified that God does do big things through all people. Now each family who goes into this room will know that their baby’s legacy will live on forever.”

-Corinne Schulze, RN, Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak

(L to R) Jana Castro, Director of L&D, Andrew and Rebekah Paltz, Corinne Schulze, RN, Kaylen Bagley, RN, and CEO Jeff Wilson commemorate the opening of Annaleigh’s Room.