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Health Matters: Providence Mission Hospital | 9 I n early 2021, Brian Thomas, 34, and his wife, Stephanie Spilker, 35, were thrilled to learn that they would be having their first child at the end of the year. In preparation, they moved from Los Angeles to Rancho Mission Viejo and contacted Providence Mission Hospital, concluding it was the right place for them, one that could provide the type of medical care that reflected how they wanted to experience childbirth. "We talked to my wife's friend Allison Molinski, who is a midwife at Providence Mission Hospital, toured the hospital, and reviewed the providers' backgrounds. Mission was able to offer us the ideal experience, and we started making plans to move to Orange County," says Brian, a real estate director for Snapchat. "We had taken a class that gave us options about having a more natural childbirth, and we decided we wanted midwifery to be our primary approach—with no or minimal intervention." Providence Mission Hospital offers safe, flexible birthing options, including an in-hospital midwifery birth center. This unique program offers the freedom of a birth center within the safe confines of a hospital. We recognize that pregnancy and birth is a transformative experience, and we strive to provide the birth experience each family desires. Our midwives work with our physician colleagues to provide a safe and satisfying experience. Our hospital is also connected to CHOC at Mission Hospital, with access to on-site neonatologists for infants who need specialized care. In the months leading up to the birth, the hospital's midwives— who are trained to assist with childbirth—monitored Stephanie's pregnancy. "We felt comfortable that everything had been figured out in advance as much as it can be," Brian says. Yet sometimes plans need to change when things don't go quite as expected. When Stephanie, an operations director for a mental health organization, went into labor on Dec. 28, Brian's birthday, it took a long time for her contractions to progress. When things seemed to be on track the next day, he says, they went to the hospital. But her pain and slow dilation prompted the couple and the medical staff to agree that a labor-and-delivery suite would be the best environment for Stephanie."At first, we were very concerned that interventions like the epidural could lead to a C-section," he says. "But we came to see that in our case, the appropriate use of interventions would support a healthier, more timely birthing process, and it would enhance family bonding and healing." The hospital's flexibility allowed the midwives to stay involved, carefully monitoring the stages of delivery and continuing to guide the couple. "They were very attentive, comforting and empathetic, along with the nurses," says Brian. "We felt very supported." Finally, at 11:17 p.m. on Dec. 29, seven- pound Adeline was born. Two months later, she had reached 10 pounds and was smiling, says the proud papa, who helps with feedings. "We're all doing very well," Brian says. "Steph had her last postpartum midwife checkup six weeks after the birth and has healed very well. Now we just go to the hospital for Addie's checkups with her pediatrician, Dr. Lisa Hoang, who provides excellent care." Brian is eagerly awaiting his first Father 's Day and says he is thankful for fatherhood. "I am looking forward to spending time enjoying the little things as a family after all the excitement (and chaos) of the first few months of being a new parent. A morning walk together on the beach with strong coffee will be a perfect celebration for me." Meet the midwives of Mission Heritage OB/GYN on Thursday, July 28, at 5 p.m. RSVP at providence.org/ missionclasses. Celebrating His First Father's Day A couple's plan for a natural childbirth is modified to provide both medical and midwifery support.

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