Here's my testimonial. I start out warm and fuzzy and get rabble-rousing at the end. If you think I'm being too ass-kicking and might incite a riot, edit me. That is, if you think a riot would necessarily be bad. :)
(note from un-editor in chief, I didn't leave out a precious word! karen.)
I am throwing myself wholeheartedly into the struggle to save birth at Blue Hill Memorial Hospital. My husband and I have already had one amazing birth at BHMH, and have been hoping to return one day for another. When I read that the unit might close, I cried.
The obstetrics staff at BHMH, from the front desk through to the labor and delivery nurses, is unparalleled. It's clear that they've worked hard to put together a 'dream team' of caring, very skilled professionals.
When we first moved Downeast, a neighbor told me I should go to Blue Hill if we ever decided to have a baby. "But that's an hour away!" I said. "Trust me. it's worth it," she told me. I went to BHMH for my annual exam, and immediately understood why she rave about Henrietta and Dr. Walker. By the time I got to experience their maternity care firsthand, during my son's birth in September 2006, I heard many more glowing stories from friends who traveled an hour or more to BHMH for their deliveries.
People are downright evangelical about obstetrics at Blue Hill. It is truly a destination hospital for birth, and with good reason. No other hospital in the area- and few hospitals in the country-combine the experience, caring, good judgement, and trust in women's ability to give birth with a wonderful small hospital experience, where you feel valued and attended to as a person, not "the primipara in room 12."
I was so moved by my birth experience at Blue Hill that I trained as a doula. I believe that the work that the obstetrics staff at BHMH does is crucial to the functioning of the hospital, and to the health of the community as a whole. As a doula,and now as a mother, I believe that an empowering, positive birth experience, coupled with excellent postpartum support, can make a huge difference in the physical, mental, and emotional health of mother, baby, and family- and by extension, the whole community. Happier, healthier moms, dads, and babies are the foundation of a healthy, safe society.
Pragmatically, it does not make sense to me to close obstetrics to try to save money. Honestly, I can't think of any other service that is such a draw to the hospital. I, myself, was so impressed with the care I received during our son;s birth that I visited their ER a couple years later, confident that I would get great care (which I did). During their deliveries, many parents discover a wonderful small hospital, and return for other care, bringing in more revenue. One friend, who bypasses her local hospital to return to BHMH, recently told me that every time she goes back to Blue Hill for other health care, it reminds her of her 2 wonderful births, and she goes away feeling happy, wanting to return. It would be a terrible mistake to close this important 'door' to the hospital.
Blue Hill Women's Health Care is a model for OB/GYN practice. For those of us who want to be actively involved in our births, but who want the safety of a hospital birth, I believe there is no better place than Blue Hill. Henrietta Clews and Dr. Walker are truly exceptional in their knowledge, wisdom, and professional judgment.
Suzanne Norgang is a wonderful addition to the practice, and I hope she has the opportunity to carry on the tradition of empowered birth at BHMH. All the staff at Blue Hill Women's Health work together to create a wonderful, welcoming, caring environment for patients. Phoebe, Ann, and LeeAnn make every visit a pleasure. To be welcomed as a friend, cared for and understood as an individual, all while receiving top-notch medical care--what else could a patient ask for?
What makes Blue Hill exceptional is that the high standard of care continues right up through delivery and recovery. After the birth of our son, we got such wonderful care, we wished we could stay forever! In fact, we decided to stay an extra day because we were learning so much and getting some much needed rest. We felt we could relax and trust the staff completely; we never felt we needed to advocate for ourselves or our son or fight for anything we wanted--a very rare experience, even in the best hospital. We felt 100% supported.
Every member of the obstetrics nursing staff has her own strength, and together, they are an unrivaled team. Susan gave us amazing labor support. She was on through most of my labor, and always knew just what to say to help keep me moving along. Chris came on at the very end of our delivery, and did an excellent job teaching me to breastfeed. Tanis and Karen took wonderful care of us during the days I was in the hospital, helping us learn everything we'd need to know to get ready to take our son home. They gave us helpful information, all the while making us feel confident, capable, and calm--the greatest gift for exhausted new parents who could so easily become overwhelmed and begin to doubt themselves. Tammy was a calm and down-to-earth presence overnight. Rose was on for our discharge, and helped us prepare to leave the nest with our new baby.
It breaks my heart to think that this little gem of an OB unit, which is a national treasure of empowered birth and should be held up as a model for all obstetrics services, could instead be closed in a matter of weeks. It is unconscionable that the women of Stonington and Deer Isle, and several other out lying peninsula towns, will have to travel over an hour to the nearest hospital. These women will be forced to choose between taking a gamble on making it to the hospital in time. or scheduling c-sections and inductions, which will increase the risk of complications for both mother and baby. It disgusts me to think that in the 21st century , we can't assure such basic heath care access for rural communities.
Don't stand by and let our health care rights be taken away. Raise money. Raise a ruckus. Call the governor's office. Write to the hospital board. Tell them that women's and babies' health care is not expendable. We are not a "frill."
How can Maine stem the tide of young families leaving the state if we can't provide the basic health care those young families need? A community that stops delivering babies is making a strong, and ominous, statement about its future. Don't let birth at Blue Hill become a thing of the past.
Susan Dickson-Smith
