Stephanie’s story: a joyful ending to a long journey

On the afternoon of her discharge, Stephanie stood beside her newborn daughter, Vivienne, who lay swaddled in a striped blanket with a tiny pink-and-blue cap, sleeping peacefully in her bassinet. She was surrounded by artwork made by her other two children, seven-year-old Freddy and five-year-old Livvy.

The baby, just one day old, shifted ever so slightly, the same gentle movements her mother had felt for months while waiting to meet her.

For Stephanie, the joy of that moment was hard-earned. She had spent the previous six weeks in the Women’s Health Center at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC), carefully monitored through the final stretch of a high-risk pregnancy.

‘A miracle for all of us’

Six weeks before Vivienne’s birth, a routine check-up became a stay she did not expect. Stephanie had already endured both a first- and second-trimester miscarriage. Due to medical concerns, her obstetrician, Dr. William Hall, decided to closely monitor her at the Women’s Health Center until she gave birth.

“It’s hard to find a word that fully describes the emotion behind having a baby after so much loss,” she said. “She’s a miracle for all of us – my kids included.”

At first, she feared the isolation – being away from her husband, Fred, and missing her children’s summers – but her care team quickly transformed her experience. Nurses greeted her by name, learned about her family, and made the Women’s Health Center feel like an extended home.

“I never felt out of place here,” she said. “From day one, I felt safe.”

In reflecting on her time at SNVMC, she shared how her care team included her in every decision, from establishing her daily routine to discussing whether she could safely continue her pregnancy past 34 weeks.

“The standard protocol would have been to induce me at 34 weeks,” she explained. “But I asked if we could go longer if everything looked good. The doctors talked it over – with me involved in those conversations – and we made it to just under 36 weeks.”

Stephanie during her pregnancy.

Welcoming Stephanie’s family

The hospital became part of Stephanie’s family routine, too. Fred brought the kids to visit almost every night. They would eat dinner together, relax in the Women’s Health Center outdoor courtyard, and chat with nurses who knew them all by name. Staff members even made the children feel special, offering them snacks and treats to make their visits fun.

“The nurses cared for my family just as well as they cared for me,” Stephanie said.

The team also looked after Stephanie’s mental health. Nurses encouraged her to keep a daily routine, take breaks in the courtyard, and find moments of joy. One took maternity photos for her; others visited on their days off.

Therapy dog Hope and her handler Paula – valued volunteers at SNVMC and part of the team – would also stop by, providing canine companionship for this dog-loving mom.
“Their job was to take care of me physically, but they also took care of me mentally,” Stephanie said. “That’s what made all the difference.”

When Vivienne arrived – healthy and beautiful – the delivery room was filled with familiar faces.

“Everyone knew me on a personal level,” Stephanie said. “It felt like she was the unit’s baby, and we were all family.”

As Stephanie prepared to leave SNVMC with her family, she reflected on how the Women’s Health Center staff had not just cared for her physically, but had embraced her and her baby with compassion.

“They made this place feel like home,” she said. “I’ll never forget the kindness and encouragement they gave me every single day. I’m happy to be going home, but I’m going to miss everyone here.”

Stephanie poses with her family after Vivienne's birth.

‘Going above and beyond’

Even after she returned home, Stephanie found support from the SNVMC team.

“I ended up developing postpartum preeclampsia,” she explained.

“I was feeling ‘off’ and called one of my antepartum nurses that I’ve become good friends with. She encouraged me to go to the nearest emergency room. She met me at the ER in Stafford close to my home – on her day off – and sat with me so my husband could keep our children out of the ER. My blood pressure ended up being incredibly high. I’m so thankful I called her. If not for her, I would have definitely waited a lot longer to go in. Just another example of Sentara’s exemplary staff going above and beyond.”

A joyful ending

“I’m so thankful to have gotten to experience Sentara for six weeks,” Stephanie added. “If I had gone anywhere else, I would not have gotten the same level of excellent care. If I could choose again, I’d choose to be here every time,” she stressed.

For Stephanie, Vivienne’s birth was the joyful ending to a long and challenging journey – and the beginning of a new one, now surrounded by family, love, and gratitude.