Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/40778
A Moment to Remember W hen 30-year-old Paula Miller of Englishtown welcomed her beautiful daughter Arabella Marie into the world on December 11, 2010, she and her husband Bjorn were overjoyed. Even before Paula became pregnant, she knew that she wanted to deliver her first child without an epidural or a C-section. So when she became pregnant, she wanted the assurance that her obstetrician at CentraState Medical Center would honor her wishes and encourage her every step of the way. "I have never been an athletic woman, but I believed that delivering naturally would be one of the greatest physical and emotional accomplishments of my life," says Paula. "Despite the challenge, I knew that delivering naturally would be my marathon moment." NURTURING, NATURALLY Before giving birth, Paula practiced prenatal yoga at a private yoga center and received constant encouragement from the staff at CentraState. "We wanted to honor Paula's decision regarding her birthing experience. She maintained normal blood pressure levels and experienced a smooth pregnancy, so she was a perfect candidate for natural delivery," says Casandra Autry, MD, board-certified ob/gyn with Woman to Woman Obstetrics and Gynecology, LLC, and on the medical staff at CentraState. Casandra Autry, MD, board-certified ob/gyn "A vaginal birth with no epidural and no anesthesia means that no medication is administered. Women who deliver naturally are also more alert and have the ability to get up and move around." REMAINING FOCUSED AND STRONG Although Paula was determined to deliver naturally, when she arrived at the hospital a week before her due date, she was 4 centimeters dilated, in pain, and rethinking her decision. CentraState's nursing staff imparted compassion and helped Paula stay www.centrastate.com Thanks to Maternal Child Health services at CentraState, Paula Miller was able to welcome daughter Arabella into the world just the way she wished. focused on her goal of delivering naturally. "I experienced a spontaneous delivery, meaning that Arabella was coming without any aid from medical staff," says Paula. "The spontaneous delivery was actually a blessing because I was rethinking my decision, but I didn't have time." Paula arrived at the hospital at 12:01 a.m. and delivered her 6-pound, 15-ounce bundle of joy by 1:29 a.m. "The entire medical staff at CentraState was kind and understanding and always put my wishes first," says Paula. "I feel so fortunate to have experienced the birth of my child during such a present state of mind, enabling me and my family to bond on such a raw emotional level." Baby Fair in October If you're starting a family—or already on your way—you won't want to miss CentraState's Baby Fair on Tuesday, October 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information or to register online, call (866) CENTRA7 (866-236-8727) or visit www.centrastate.com/babyfair. For more information about Maternal Child Health services and ob/gyns on staff at CentraState, visit www.centrastate/maternity or call (866) CENTRA7 (866-236-8727). On the web page, you can click on a video link to hear more of Paula's story. HD September/October 2011 9