Letter of Gratitude

August 1st, 2010

To: Chief of Staff at Providence Hospital, Southfield, MI

We would like to express our gratitude for the Alternative Birth Care Unit (ABC).  We had originally chosen to have the birth of our first child at the ABC Unit of Providence Hospital in Southfield, MI as we felt they best complemented our wishes and desires for a natural childbirth.  Sadly, when the time arrived, a complication (meconium in the amniotic fluid) automatically disqualified us from staying and birthing in the ABC unit.  We were transferred to the hospital’s Labor & Delivery ward.  Needless to say, we were devastated that we had driven so far to be relegated to a Labor & Delivery unit that we could have attended at any hospital much closer to our home and our wishes for a natural childbirth setting in the ABC unit were diminished.

However, we found that your nursing staff (one upsetting incidents aside) was extremely accommodating and understanding of our situation (Donetta was fantastic and we appreciated her immensely!).  Most took the time to read our birth plan, talk with us and be compassionate to our situation.  Please accept our thanks and pass along our appreciation to your Labor & Delivery nursing staff.  Our CNM (Sarah Sutton) was allowed to continue working with us and made all the difference in our birth experience.  She brought as much of the ABC unit to us as was possible so our experience could be as close to the natural childbirth we had hoped for.  Sarah fought hard for us and our beliefs amongst the pressure she was receiving from certain staffers to go against our wishes.  We owe her a debt of gratitude…she was simply amazing.

On March 17th, 2010, our son was born very healthy with an Apgar score of 9.  He was wide-eyed and alert and we whole-heartedly attribute this to the natural childbirth path.

Due to the policy that once you are transferred out of the ABC, you cannot be transferred back in, we could not return to the ABC unit as hoped.  However, we were transferred to a room that was right next to the ABC unit and the ABC nurses were allowed to take care of us for the duration of our stay.  This was highly appreciated and just one of the things that helped make a positive experience for us.

We cannot provide enough praise for how wonderful the ABC nurses are.  Each and every one of them is an asset to your facility and should be treated as such.  What they do and the services they provide are unequalled.  Just having a place where the staff is of the same mindset that certain patients are is wonderful.  The ABC unit and staff should be commended by Providence Hospital for the tremendous service they provide.

In all, what first appeared to be a discouraging event was turned around by our CNM, the ABC unit staff and almost all of the L&D nurses that assisted us.  Please keep the ABC unit going and we’ll most assuredly return for the birth of our next child.  We will highly recommend the ABC unit to anyone without hesitation.

Sincerely,

Pete & Sarah