Baby Birth Date: April 2, 2010
Baby Weight: 10 pounds, 5 ounces
Baby Height: 22 3/4 inches

This was my third C-section. My hopes during this pregnancy was to try for a v-bac, but only if baby came on his own before my due date. No such luck and he was delivered on his due date via C-section weighing 10 pounds 5 ounces."

"This is my third baby delivered at Harrisburg Hospital, and my very best birth experience! I know it is because of the amazing Lexi Ablen RN who was with me for his delivery. From pre-op to holding my precious angel Lexi was there with me and for me and my son. She made me at ease, and made sure I was able to keep Finn with me, as was my wish. After his birth I was quickly stitched up and moved to recovery. With my past deliveries my babies were taken at this point to the nursery and I had to wait to nurse them, hold them, love them. Lexi didn't let that happen! "

"Finn was born with a 9 9 apgar and he stayed with me, from OR to recovery we were together. He was on my breast and nursing like a champ. We did skin to skin which not only kept him warm, but warmed my post op body too. Lexi encouraged me to place Finn directly on my skin where he would warm my body when my temp was a bit low. She gave me strength! She removed my fears! She allowed me to relax and live that moment! We later moved as a family to our room on the maternity floor and still he was with me. I watched Finn have his first bath rather than have him shipped to a cold nursery. He stayed with me until we came home together! It is so important for a breast feeding relationship to be given that early chance to latch to the breast. I can tell you after 3 c-sections, this was my very best."

"It was my best for I had Lexi there to help me. She is an angel sent from above. With my first two babies I had some struggle with breastfeeding initially and I fully blame that we were not able to immediately latch. This time I am happy to report I have had at 3 months (so far) of bliss with not one problem. It's been perfect. In a not perfect birth (surgery) we can still make a perfect entry into the world and your nurse Lexi Ablen allows that to happen. I hope that your hospital finds more "angels" like her to staff your labor and delivery wing. Women need encouragement and compassion rather than being directed to send their baby to the nursery, they should be encouraged and praised and helped to keep them with them."

"The "norm" should be that babies stay with mom from womb to home, and I believe with nurses like Lexi we can change what has become the norm back to nature, back to how things were meant to be. Which.. will lead to happier HEALTHIER babies, children and ultimately adults. Breast milk is best but many women aren't given the early tools, support and encouragement needed. Especially C-section mom's. We are moved quickly from OR to recovery and many times don't see our babies until hours later. This should not be! Unless baby is in distress, they should be in mom's arms, nursing and loving. It's a cold scary world, but nurses like Lexi let our babes enter it just a little bit sweeter. Thank you! "