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Health Matters: Providence St. Mary Medical Center | 5 G race Kamffer had planned to give birth at a birthing center with a midwife. She and her husband, William, had opted for the less traditional delivery option after Grace's sister endured an unpleasant experience at a different hospital. A complication with the 39-year-old Phelan resident's pregnancy changed those plans. Kamffer was transferred from the birthing center to Providence St. Mary Medical Center while in labor, and she couldn't help but worry about the level of care she and her family would receive. "My fear was that I would be treated poorly because I had been transferred from a midwife," she explains. "I worried they may not prioritize me and my baby." FROM FEAR TO GRATITUDE Kamffer 's water broke in early November. As planned, she headed to the birthing center, but after 24 hours her labor had not progressed, due to a cervical lip that prevented the baby 's head from properly descending. Kamffer 's midwife recommended the transfer to a higher level of care. At Providence St. Mary, caregivers rushed an exhausted Kamffer to her room and helped her get comfortable. "From the moment I was brought in, I felt very cared for, respected and listened to," she recalls. "They asked me about my opinions and preferences. I'd hoped to have my baby on my chest immediately after the birth. I wanted that bonding experience, and they told me they would do everything they could to make that happen." Meanwhile, doctors evaluating Kamffer were concerned. The baby 's head kept retracting and a cesarean section was discussed, but the lead doctor told her that she really wanted to give her the best possible chance of having a vaginal delivery. "I really appreciated that they didn't go right to major surgery," Kamffer recalls. Meeting the needs and desires of patients with compassion and dignity is achieved via the Providence Promise: "Know me, care for me, ease my way." Crystal Rose Ashton, a registered nurse who works in Providence St. Mary 's Labor and Delivery department, sees it this way: "The health and well-being of the mother is always our priority." This approach is among the reasons why U.S. News & World Report continues to recognize Providence St. Mary for quality care. The 90-year-old news organization, which began rating hospitals based on their maternal and neonatal care in 2021, recently honored the Apple Valley– based medical center with its second consecutive "High Performing" rating in Maternity Care for 2024. U.S. News's methodology is based on objective measures of quality, such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, newborn complications, birthing-friendly practices, and transparency on racial and ethnic disparities, among other data. Just 46% of all hospitals that participated in the 2024 maternity survey received a "High Performing" designation. Ultimately, Kamffer's care team determined that a C-section wasn't necessary. She gave birth to her daughter, Elsie, after 35 hours in labor. HIGH PRAISE FOR CAREGIVERS A relieved Kamffer soon learned, however, that her seven-pound, eight-ounce daughter was struggling to breathe. Caregivers immediately started clearing Elsie's lungs of the meconium she had ingested. Eventually the decision was made to move Elsie to Providence St. Mary 's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). There, she received care for the next four weeks. While the complication was enough to frighten any first-time mother, Kamffer felt comforted by the loving and attentive environment of the hospital. "What struck me the most was everyone's compassion. It was an emotional experience, and there were times when my husband and I were overwhelmed. The NICU caregivers were very aware that—for us—this was clearly not an everyday experience," she says. Providence St. Mary operates the only NICU in the High Desert. "Our caregivers are highly specialized and trained to handle high-risk situations," Ashton says. "While we're proud of our knowledge and experience, we always remain focused on keeping compassion at the forefront of our care." THE NICU OFFERS COMFORT The NICU eventually began to feel like a second home for the Kamffers. They also learned that, in the High Desert, strangers are often connected: Grace's mother has been a teacher in the area for 30 years, and it turned out that she had taught two children of one of the NICU nurses. This helped ease the new mother 's mind. "The familiarity made it feel so comfortable," she says. "It was easier to leave my daughter when we had to go home." Caregivers also encouraged the Kamffers to parent Elsie as they would at home. They changed her diapers, soothed her and fed her. Each day, her father also quietly read J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings to her, which was important to William, a high school English teacher, and to Grace, a librarian. Those intimate moments allow the Kamffers to reflect fondly on an uncertain time. When the couple finally took a healthy Elsie home, Grace remembers one of the nurses saying, "Take care of our girl for us!" as they left. The comment served as a comforting reminder that she and her daughter had been treated like family, which is always the goal at Providence St. Mary. To learn more about Providence St. Mary Medical Center's Labor and Delivery department, visit providence.org/ locations/socal/st-mary-medical-center/ labor-and-delivery.

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