Mom of three praises care at Auburn birth center, NICU

Amanda England has a big smile on her face as she’s buzzed into MultiCare Auburn Medical Center’s family birth center and makes her way to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where the tiniest patients receive care.

This day was the last time she’d make the trek to the unit. After nearly a week of worry and anxiety, England felt a sense of relief knowing that baby Ryker England — still a tiny bundle — was coming home.

“Good morning! Are you ready to go home?” the nurse asks as England walks over to check on her little one.

“Yes, we can’t wait!” the young mom says as she coos at baby Ryker. “Are you ready to meet your big brothers and your grandma?”

England is a single mom of three boys: 10-year-old Berkley, 4-year-old Preston and now little Ryker. She says she was actually looking forward to the sleepless nights, the early morning feedings and the years of diaper changes.

When it came to Ryker, nothing went according to plan, she says. But through it all, the nurses and her physician were amazing.

“They were right there, from the time I got to the hospital to now,” she says. “They answered all my questions. They were honest and kind. I’m not having any more children, but if I did, I’d certainly come back here. I tell all my friends who get pregnant to come here.”

Not according to plan

Because this was England’s third child, she thought she knew the drill when it came to having babies. Little Ryker had other ideas.

“Everything with this one was new to me,” she says. “I had to be induced with my other kids, but with this one, my water broke. And he was early.”

Her obstetrician, Alyssa Hamlin, MD, was supportive throughout, she says.

“Dr. Hamlin is amazing. She went the extra mile with Ryker,” England says. “The doctor stood with me for an hour when they were trying to give me an epidural. The doctor is very personable. Not the kind of person who comes in, delivers the baby, then leaves.”

England has Type 2 diabetes, making the pregnancy high risk. She struggled to keep her blood sugar in line and insulin levels where they needed to be. Diabetes raises the risk of birth defects, stillbirth and preterm birth.

Ryker was born at 37 weeks — near the 40-week mark considered full-term. He was 4 pounds, 15 ounces. The scary part: He wasn’t breathing in those first moments.

Everyone jumped into action. Before long, there was a collective sigh of relief as Ryker belted out his first cries.

Auburn experience

England had two of her three children at Auburn Medical Center. Ryker’s delivery didn’t go as planned, but she says everyone was professional and helped her through a difficult time.

“I would not have been able to do it without all the doctors and nurses,” she says. “The nurses here take such good care of the babies and the moms. I wanted to come back.”

She says she didn’t have a good birth experience with her first child at another hospital. She came to Auburn Medical Center to have her second and loved it, though.

“They don’t tell you to be quiet or not to push,” she says of the nurses.

England experiences anxiety and depression, and says her nurses took special care.

“The first day was hard,” she says. “They were here for him and me, especially going through everything alone. The nurses assured me, told me to take care of myself so I can take care of my kids. I was worried about my mental health postpartum, but nurse Amanda [Nemeth] really helped me. She told me to remember to take time for myself. Take things one day at a time.”

England was approved for medical leave from her job and plans to spend part of this time away in counseling. Life hasn’t been easy for her. She has experienced homelessness and domestic violence, and has struggled to care for her children alone. Her mom, Wendy Wilson, has been a big help.

As she talks about her history, England starts to cry. A nurse walks by and hands her a box of tissues.

“I want to thank everybody here, truly,” England says. “We’re blessed to have people like this here. You don’t see that at a lot of places. They are so personable, and that’s huge. I thought I would be alone during this. Not once — from the time I checked in to now — have I felt alone. Other than that little guy, that is the best feeling in the world.”