Tender Moment Captured Between Mom and Labor Nurse Goes Viral

By Angelina Gibson 

"The nurse that helped me deliver my daughter was the reason I am a Registered Nurse today. To me, as a nurse, this photo depicts my everyday life - twelve short hours ago we were strangers and by the end of my shift today we will share an experience that you will retell throughout your lifetime. At one of the most vulnerable times in your life physically, emotionally and mentally, I am here for you," remarked L&D Nurse, Taylor Salazar. 

She continued, "the confidence you put in me to care for you is overwhelmingly uplifting. Women supporting women. With all the differences in the world aside, today you are a mother. Whether you're a young first-time mom, haven't had a baby in 7 years or your babies are in heaven, I am here for you. You're important, you're capable, you're strong and I am here to remind you of that."

The Story Behind The Photo

This photo of Registered Nurse Dawn Moravec of Clark Memorial Hospital has inspired mothers and nurses everywhere to talk about that vulnerable time. 

It’s no wonder such an intimate and photo has gone viral. 

 

The author of the post, Jill Krause of the blog, Baby Rabies writes, 

“I’ll never forget the faces of the nurses who followed me into the bathroom after delivering each baby. That moment when I was so vulnerable, so tired, scared, shaky. My swollen belly deflating, and my modesty long gone. They treated me with such kindness and dignity.

For me, these have been moments of empowerment and confirmation that I have a real village to help me, even if just for that little bit of time in a bathroom, on a toilet, while a kind nurse shows me how to put an ice pad on my mesh undies.”

Kraus continued to express gratitude for nurses and stated, “This photo by my friend MommaKT Shoots just takes me right back. Let’s hear it for the nurses and the doulas and anyone else who shows us how to make ice pad underwear (or helps with that first shower post c-section!)”

Photographer Katie Lacer, a mother of three, has spent a lot of time documenting the birth experience for women - she states, “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I looked over, I see her sitting there, the nurse in front of her and I hit the shutter,” Lacer continued, “once I got home, I realized that it could be any Mom, with any nurse, in any hospital – the anonymity of it really resonated with me. It’s another part of her birth story, something that doesn’t get told very often.”

Just An L&D Nurse 

One L&D nurse told us, “In my opinion, this is a really important patient/nurse interaction. This is my chance to reassure my patient that everything will be OK, congratulate her for being a ROCKSTAR - this is true for every mom who gives birth regardless of method of delivery, and remind her that it is OK and necessary to let someone else take care of her.”

We came across another heartfelt Facebook post that highlights the tireless and sometimes unrecognized work that labor and delivery nurses do every day. This powerful post really speaks to the humanity of nursing and how much nurses do to put their patients first. 

I am just a nurse. A Labor and Delivery nurse. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Well…

I am just the nurse who was there during the birth of your child.

I am just the nurse who held your hand, looked you in the eye, and made you feel like the strongest woman in the world.

I am just the nurse who recognized that you had severe preeclampsia and got an order from your physician for magnesium sulfate to prevent you from seizing.

I am just the nurse who carefully monitored your breathing WITH MY STETHOSCOPE because I know the possible complications.

I am just the nurse who vigilantly monitored your baby’s heartbeat and recognized that he was in distress.

I am also just the nurse who had you on the OR table by the time your doctor was in the parking lot to deliver a healthy baby.

I am the nurse who took photos of your baby because you were all alone… Even though I should really be charting and doing about a hundred other things.

I am just the nurse whose family has to experience another day without me because I stayed 3 hours late to see you through a difficult delivery.

I am just the nurse who maintained your dignity and made you feel comfortable when you were at your most vulnerable.

I am just the nurse who convinced your OB to give you more time before performing a cesarean section. 

I am also just the nurse who waited as long as possible to call your OB for delivery so that he wouldn’t cut an episiotomy.

I am just the nurse who held your hand and cried with you when you came through triage… and your baby had no heartbeat.

I am just the nurse who hasn’t had ANYTHING to eat or drink since my cup of coffee I drank this morning when I woke up… at 5 am.

I am just the nurse who will let you leave grip marks on her arm while you are getting your epidural while repeating to you, “You are doing an amazing job. Almost there. You can do it.”

I am just the nurse who reassured a teenage mom that she can be an amazing parent and still get an education.

I am also just the nurse who stood by you while you handed your baby to his adoptive mother. I held you steady. I watched you tremble. My heart ached for you. 

I am just the nurse who knows that preventing the primary cesarean helps prevent future cesareans and all of the associated risks for each future pregnancy and, therefore, will do everything in my experienced power to encourage your baby to position herself correctly in your pelvis. 

I am just the nurse who held your hand and told you, “She is beautiful. I am so so sorry for your loss.” My heart ached for you. I wanted to hold my children and never let them go that night… but they were already sleeping because I stayed late to be with you.

I am also just the nurse who cried the entire drive home and whose husband doesn’t even have to ask how my day was.

He knows. 

Today. 

Everyday.

I felt your joy.

I felt your pain.

I wiped your tears.

I calmed your fears.

I kept your secrets.

I taught you how strong you are.

I saved your life.

I saved your child’s life.

My body aches.

My heart aches.

And I love every minute. 

I am JUST a Labor and Delivery nurse.

~ anonymous

 On behalf of the Nurse.org team, we thank you for all you do and for being you!