Childbirth: Saundra's Story

“I had no worries at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital. I could tell that every aspect of labor and delivery had been thought through, and every detail had been taken care of. I felt so comfortable — almost serene.”
- Saundra Bolden

Saundra Bolden's labors with her first two children were short — less than four hours — so when she learned that she was pregnant with her third child, her goal was to have a smooth, chaos-free birth. She wanted her maternity experience to be coordinated, peaceful and predictable, so Saundra committed to finding a hospital with the expertise and compassion to help her achieve that.

“I didn’t want to be a Beltway birth story,” Saundra joked.

After careful research, Saundra chose Holy Cross Germantown Hospital and Jessica Berger-Weiss, MD, obstetrics and gynecology, as her care provider. A few important factors resonated with her: the hospital's nearby location, all-private maternity suites on a beautiful campus and the same reputation for clinical excellence as Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring.

Dr. Berger-Weiss and Saundra decided that the best way to assure a predictable delivery was to schedule an induction of labor. So on a late July morning, Saundra arrived at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital with her family, ready to have her baby.

“They checked me in right away, and the whole process was very calm and relaxing. I could tell that every aspect of labor and delivery had been thought through, and every detail had been taken care of,” Saundra said. “I felt so comfortable — almost serene. I had no worries at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital.”

Dr. Berger-Weiss started the induction process, and certified nurse midwife Alison Ladner, CNM, WHNP, Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, supported Saundra throughout the birth process.

“I cannot say enough wonderful things about Alison,” Saundra said. “She made me feel like her only patient, and took the time to explain everything, not only to me, but to my family as well.”

As expected, four hours after she checked in, Saundra welcomed a healthy, seven-pound baby boy into the world, who joins two older sisters, seven and four.

"The nurses were so friendly and knowledgeable," said Saundra. "They answered all my questions, managed my pain really well and were a big help when I started breastfeeding."

Careful planning and choosing the right partners gave Saundra what she wanted, a routine delivery with no complications. However, when infants do need a little extra help, Holy Cross Germantown Hospital has a Level II Neonatal Unit with private rooms.

For Saundra, a good experience made all the difference in moving forward as a busy mother of three: “The anxiety and emotional upset after a birth that doesn’t go as planned makes it harder to cope afterwards,” she said. “When I brought my son home after giving birth at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, I felt like everything had gone the way it was supposed to go, and I felt calm and ready for life with a newborn. It made those challenging first weeks with my baby much easier.”

To learn more about maternity care at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, visit HolyCrossHealth.org/HCGHmaternity.

To find an OB/GYN or certified nurse midwife with privileges to deliver at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, visit HolyCrossHealth.org/Providers.