Feb 15, 2022 Reporting from Niles, MI
An empowered experience - Kimberly Cramer
https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/medical-services/womens-health-services/pregnancy-care/our-patients-say-it-best/Detail/an-empowered-experience/?utm_source=An_empowered_experience&utm_medium=PatientStory_Landing&utm_campaign=InternalPages
Feb 15, 2022
Feb 15, 2022
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
Kimberly Cramer is a nurse technician, a wife, and a mother of two young children. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Kimberly decided to pursue a career in the health care field because she enjoys the personal connections she makes with her patien
An empowered experience - Kimberly Cramer
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/ResourcePackages/SpectrumHealth/assets/img/sh_white_logo.png
An empowered experience - Kimberly Cramer
Feb, 2022
Physicians: Benjamin Wood, DO; Mendon Kelrick, CNM
Kimberly Cramer is a nurse technician, a wife, and a mother of two young children. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Kimberly decided to pursue a career in the health care field because she enjoys the personal connections she makes with her patients.
When Kimberly found out she was pregnant with her second child, she and her husband were overjoyed. The newly expectant parents decided to receive maternal care through BellaNova Women’s Health, an affiliate of Spectrum Health Lakeland which specializes in midwifery and obstetric and gynecologic care.
Patients of BellaNova are seen by several different midwives and doctors throughout their prenatal visits. This is so that when it comes time to give birth, patients feel comfortable with any team member who helps deliver their baby.
“As an expectant mom, it was important for me to have people on my care team who were both compassionate and professional,” said Kimberly. “I truly believe Spectrum Health Lakeland cares about patient outcomes.”
In 2017, Kimberly had undergone a cesarean section with her first child. Planning for her second delivery, she knew she wanted to have a vaginal birth after c-section, also known as a VBAC.
“There are certain risks associated with VBACs but it was important for me to deliver my second child vaginally,” said Kimberly. “I had discussed my birth plan with my care team at BellaNova and felt comfortable with the decision. My midwives and doctors were prepared with a plan that would keep both myself and my baby safe.”
The night before giving birth, Kimberly's cervix was mechanically dilated which would start to induce labor.
In preparation for the VBAC, three nurses, Sunday Taylor, RN; Angela Strong, RN; and Kathryn Williams, RN; asked Kimberly what her number one priority or concern was for her delivery. This was a question Kimberly was familiar with asking patients herself.
“I told them three things: safe delivery, safe mom, and safe baby,” said Kimberly.
On the day of delivery, obstetrician and gynecologist, Benjamin Wood, DO, and certified nurse midwife, Mendon Kelrick, CNM, were on duty and would oversee Kimberly’s delivery.
“Both Dr. Wood and Mendon were very attentive and kept me in the loop with what was going on,” said Kimberly. “They asked me if I needed anything for pain control, but I wanted to see how far I could make it without medicine or an epidural. The nitrous oxide gas helped me breathe and decreased the intensity of contractions because I was able to recenter my focus.
Nitrous oxide is one option offered to mothers for managing pain during labor. Traditionally known as “laughing gas,” the nitrous gas is self administered by the laboring woman and inhaled through a mask. Nitrous is the only pain relief method used for labor that is cleared from the body through the lungs.
Once Kimberly was dilated to six centimeters, she asked for an epidural which took effect right before she began pushing.
“I did not feel a thing—I knew what I had to do to get my baby out and I knew I needed to be in a good position,” said Kimberly.
Kimberly’s birthing experience was exactly what she had hoped for. Her care team provided the positive reinforcement she needed and guided her through a safe delivery.
“They were all vibrant, joking, and laughing, which created a very positive environment for me,” said Kimberly. “One thing I really appreciated was how Dr. Wood empowered me to take control and encouraged me to let him know what position I needed to be in to feel comfortable.”
On September 24, 2021, Kimberly gave birth to her daughter, Chloe.
“The whole journey was beautiful and the staff truly made me feel like my baby and I were their center of attention,” said Kimberly. “We don’t give enough credit to those who understand and make birthing an easy experience for women. I appreciate everything the staff at Lakeland did for my family that day.”
Watch more of Kimberly's story in the video below: