Labor and Delivery Can Give Birth to a Bond Between Mom and Nurse

At the birth of her first child, Linda Craig made an unexpected friend.

During a painful, 24-hour labor, Craig became close to her labor and delivery nurse, Ann Flood.

“The day my son was born was the most important day of my life, and Ann was a big part of the experience,” said Craig, 35, whose son was born May 9 at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange. “I feel like I created a special bond with her.”

The birth of a child is an intense experience for all involved, and it is often the labor nurse who brings a sense of calm and focus to the event.

“During labor, a woman is incredibly emotional and vulnerable,” said Peg McMillan, a registered nurse and the manager of Women’s Services at St. Joseph Hospital. McMillan is in charge of the hospital’s labor and delivery department, where more than 5,000 babies are born each year.

“Labor is a time when a woman needs more support than ever before,” McMillan said. “Many women are amazed at their vulnerability and strong feelings and often see their nurse as a lifeline.”

Sharla Leander of Anaheim also took Ann Flood’s childbirth preparation class. During 17 hours of labor at St. Joseph, Leander found her labor and delivery nurses to be invaluable.

“The nurses were supportive and comforting, and I’m grateful they were there,” says Leander, 20, who had her first child, Nathaniel Dietrich, on June 24. “The nurses told me what to expect, and I really appreciated that.”

Experiencing labor without a nurse could be frightening, McMillan said. “A nurse provides critical support, encouragement and guidance.”

Craig says her labor nurse gave her immeasurable comfort and reassurance. “Ann was like a guardian angel,” Craig said. “Even though I was in a lot of pain, my husband, Bill, and I knew she would help me get through it.”

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Flood, a registered nurse, thrives on the comfort and reassurance she is able to give moms such as Craig.

“Even though I’m only with mothers in labor for a short period of time, it’s the most exhilarating experience and is unlike any other area of nursing,” Flood said. “In labor and delivery you get really close to the patients, and a lot of bonding goes on. Often it is their first baby, and they look to you for answers, help and comfort.

“The other nurses will laugh at how much I get to know about my patients,” she said. “During the early stages of labor when a woman isn’t too uncomfortable, I put her at ease by letting her talk about herself.”

Getting close to patients is beneficial for everyone, said supervisor McMillan.

“There is nothing wrong with a nurse putting an arm around a patient, or even shedding a tear,” she said.

Flood finds herself being a supporter, cheerleader, protector, confidante, sometimes even a social worker. “Besides providing comfort, I am a teacher,” she said. “Before any procedures, I let the patients know what I’m doing so that it’s less intimidating and confusing.”

In addition to her work at the hospital, Flood teaches childbirth-preparation classes, which is where she originally met Craig and her husband.

“I get close to people when teaching my class, and it’s very special for me when I can be there for the birth of their babies,” she said. “I talked to Linda [Craig] and her husband during class breaks on several occasions. When I found out she was in labor, I asked to be assigned to her case.”

A couple of hours after Craig’s son was born, Flood wheeled her up to the postpartum floor and they reluctantly parted.

“After such an emotional experience, it’s hard to say goodby to some patients,” Flood said. “The women are often surprised when they learn that I’m leaving them, but I give them a great big hug and let them know how proud I am of what they did. I also thank them for the experience and tell them it meant a lot to me.”

In Craig’s case, Flood visited the new mom and her baby after work.

“She didn’t have to do that, but she did. My husband and I feel like we’ve made a real friend with her, and we hope to include her in our son’s life,” Craig said. “We also hope that she will be there for the birth of our second child, if we’re lucky enough for that to happen.”