Christine and Nick with their newborn. The family thanked Mount Sinai West for their excellent care with a video from the National Tour of “Les Miserables.” The video can be viewed here.
Christine Cartell was understandably concerned when she arrived at Mount Sinai West three weeks early on April 1, 2020, to deliver her first child. She was experiencing a pregnancy complication called a placental abruption, which occurs when the placenta separates from the inner wall of the uterus. Fortunately, this did not affect her baby’s health, but Christine lost a lot of blood. And she had other reasons to feel anxious. The obstetrician who had followed her pregnancy was not on call at the time of her admission. Also, hospitals were in the early throes of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But there was good news too. Though not allowed to stay through recovery, Christine’s husband, Nick, was allowed to be with her during labor and delivery. And Christine felt her care from Mount Sinai West faculty and staff was outstanding. She has only praise and thanks for the Triage, Labor and Delivery and Recovery/Postpartum teams that cared for her.
“The team was incredible, especially Melissa Davis, NP, whose skill at finding the position that helped my labor progress when I was had not done so for over 12 hours was a factor in ensuring that I would not have to deliver via cesarean section,” Christine says. “I also want to thank the angel anesthesiologist who gave me two epidural boosters so I could get some rest. Everyone was kind and lovely, including the receptionist and the kind gentleman who helped me downstairs on discharge day.”
Christine appreciates the communication among the team and with her to explain procedures and the reasons behind them. Important to her, the teams were respectful of continuous conversations she and Nick had with her doula over FaceTime. “I wanted the partnership with a doula for my husband as much as for me,” she says. “It gave me peace of mind that I had another expert to educate us, and to reassure us. It was helpful that my doula’s advice to me was welcomed by the nurses.”
Christine thanked her caregivers with a thoughtful note and an added surprise. Her husband had just concluded a run with the National Tour of Les Miserables, and in partnership with the Clear Day Project, he asked his fellow actors to join in a video dedicated to the front-line health care workers in this pandemic, but especially the Mount Sinai West teams that cared for Christine.
“My husband and I are so grateful to the staff at Mount Sinai West for keeping us safe and healthy. The video is a very small token of gratitude from us and Les Miz cast members,” Christine wrote. “We hope this brings you some joy and a boost to you all on the front lines of this crisis.” The video can be viewed here.