|
One Unforgettable Experience Deserves Another
an article from the Winter 2010 issue of…
Angelique Imbraguglio and family were thrilled with the care they received at Harbor's Women and Infants' Center.
When considering where to deliver her daughter, Melania, in October, Arbutus resident Angelique Imbraguglio's choice was obvious: she would give birth at Harbor Hospital's acclaimed Women and Infants' Center, where she delivered her son Crocifisso (Cross) two years earlier.
Imbraguglio fondly remembered Harbor's facilities from her first wonderful birthing experience at Harbor. She enjoyed the clean, roomy birthing suites. She also appreciated having her labor, delivery and nursery care all in one location. "If I wanted to see the baby in the middle of the night, I just walked a few steps," she explained. This was quite different from the setting where she gave birth to older sons Nicodemus, age 9, and Giovanni, age 6.
The warmth of the staff and the relationship she developed with her OB/GYN, Paul Stern, M.D., made Imbraguglio's decision a natural one. "The nurses in Labor and Delivery were great. They were always available when you needed them," she said. And Dr. Stern was incredibly accommodating, Imbraguglio said. The date of her scheduled Caesarean section, Oct. 20, was special because it was her father's birthday, and he had passed away when she was young. "Dr. Stern wasn't even supposed to be in that day, but he came in extra early to deliver Melania," she said.
The Physician-Patient Relationship
Dr. Stern's commitment to helping women deliver began in medical school. "Once I did my OB/GYN rotation, I was hooked," he said. "Being an OB/GYN is definitely a calling."
Imbraguglio understood Dr. Stern's commitment from the first time they met. "When I saw Dr. Stern, I knew I'd found my physician."
Finding a physician you feel comfortable with is critical to the birth experience. "You have to be able to tell them anything - about fears you have, or who you want or don't want in the room when you give birth," Dr. Stern said. "You have to be able to trust that your physician is going to do everything he or she can to make the experience as positive and easy as possible." That's why Harbor staff also makes every effort to include dads. "Studies show making dad a part of the experience really helps with long-term bonding," Dr. Stern added.
Dr. Stern said relationships among physicians and nurses also have an impact on patient well-being. "At Harbor, the physicians take care of the nurses, and the nurses take care of the physicians. We make sure everyone has the support they need to do their jobs well. It's really a family here, and our patients sense that," he said. Patients also take comfort knowing Harbor has state-of-the-art technology, a level II neonatal care unit and 24-hour pediatrician coverage for premature infants or those born at risk.
A Customized Birth Plan
Harbor physicians help ensure a woman's birth experience meets her needs by communicating the woman's wishes to staff via a written birth plan. The plan details who will be part of the birth experience and other important information. "We cater to what the patient wants the birth to be like. That includes whether she wants to give birth naturally, or prefers an epidural. We even have midwives who deliver here," Dr. Stern said.
Imbraguglio is pleased with the level of control she had in planning her birth experience and would recommend Dr. Stern and Harbor Hospital many times over. "Dr. Stern gave me my girl, and the Harbor staff took care of everything," she said.
Dr. Stern, who has delivered babies at Harbor Hospital since his residency in 1986, will continue in his calling. "People ask me if I ever get tired of it. Never," he said. "Plus, every delivery is different, even multiple deliveries for the same woman. It's such a beautiful experience to be a part of."
Request an appointment with an OB or midwife
Harbor Women's Care
Check out childbirth classes
| 
Print
E-mail
