The Bauers’ road to parenthood was rocky at times. When Nicole began experiencing complications late in her first pregnancy, the team at Washington Health System provided reassurance.
SETTING MINDS AT EASE
During the 30th week of her pregnancy with their first son, Jonathan, Nicole received scary news. The Richeyville nurse had developed preeclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy. If left untreated, preeclampsia can be dangerous and cause complications, including seizures and stroke. The only way to treat preeclampsia is to deliver the baby. Nicole visited the hospital three times a week for laboratory tests that helped assess the severity of her condition.
Five weeks before her due date, doctors decided it was time for Jonathan to make his appearance. Malay C. Sheth, MD, OB-GYN at WHS, was on call when the Bauers arrived at the hospital. Dr. Sheth delivered Jonathan on Feb. 24, 2014.
“During the delivery, Dr. Sheth did an amazing job,” Nicole says. “He and the WHS delivery team kept me calm and made me feel comfortable even though the situation was scary.”
Despite his early birth, Jonathan thrived. Five days after he was born, the healthy 4-pound baby boy went home. He didn’t even need to spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
A STEADFAST PARTNER
The Bauers decided to have more children, but Nicole’s second pregnancy took an unexpected turn. On Feb. 24, 2015, a routine ultrasound revealed Nicole had lost the baby.
“The doctors and nurses were very helpful and comforting after the miscarriage,” Nicole says. “The next year, I found out I was pregnant again. I was worried, but they started me on
aspirin at 12 weeks to prevent preeclampsia. They were really on top of things.”
Two years after Jonathan’s debut, Dr. Sheth happened to be on call once again when Nicole’s water broke. He delivered the Bauers’ second son, a healthy baby boy named Grayson, on Feb. 24, 2016.
“Each of my pregnancies was different,” Nicole says. “I experienced a range of situations—from the bad to the very good—and I couldn’t have asked for better medical care.”