“He was healthy, and I was able to bring him straight onto my chest for bonding.”
The rest of her stay at Lakes Regional Healthcare’s Birth Center was just as comfortable. “I liked how I could deliver and recover in the same room. Plus, the food was good, I got to choose what I wanted, and they give you a lot,” she said. “I loved my experience in Sioux Falls, too, but delivering at Lakes Regional felt more like ‘home.’ I got more care and attention here. I’m so happy I was able to deliver Wyatt here.”
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It was a beautiful day in September when expectant parents Emily and Chad Hansen had their first ultrasound a few weeks into their pregnancy. They were ecstatic to learn they were having a healthy little boy, who they would name Colin. However, after having additional ultrasounds a few weeks later, Emily’s care was transferred to Avera McKennan in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Colin was born at only 26 weeks gestation weighing in at two pounds, five ounces. He was in the NICU for three months until returning home to Estherville, Iowa.
Fast forward two years and thankfully, Colin is now a healthy, happy, busy two-year-old. Emily and Chad love being parents and got pregnant with their second son in October 2021. Concerned they would experience the same situation as they did with Colin, they doctored in Sioux Falls for most of the pregnancy. Once Emily was 36 weeks pregnant and concerns about the baby’s health were alleviated, she wanted to move her care to Lakes Regional Healthcare. Lakes Regional Family Medicine physician Zach Borus, MD, MPH happily accepted her as his patient. Emily said, “Dr. Borus is the best. He’s always so down to earth, I trust him, and I can talk to him about anything. I love his nurses too – they always follow up with me and answer all my questions.”
Emily started having contractions with a bit of bleeding on a Sunday afternoon in July. Once the contractions were about eight minutes apart, she called Lakes Regional Healthcare’s Birth Center and was told to come in when the contractions were five minutes apart. She was greeted at the door by the nurse as soon as she arrived at 11:00 pm. “I was five centimeters dilated and nervous about the blood, but the staff was so calm, they made me calm,” said Emily. “I was their priority – they made sure I was comfortable before doing anything else. The two days I was there I know they were very busy with other patients, too, but the staff didn’t make you feel that way. I felt like I was their only priority.”
Part of making her comfortable included giving her an epidural to ease her pain. Emily said, “I got the epidural just shortly after arriving. It was great – I didn’t have any pain and I even fell asleep after I got it!” As soon as she woke up, it was time to push. “I started pushing around 6:25 am and Wyatt was born at 6:34 am,” she said. “He was healthy, and I was able to bring him straight onto my chest for bonding.”
The rest of her stay at Lakes Regional Healthcare’s Birth Center was just as comfortable. “I liked how I could deliver and recover in the same room. Plus, the food was good, I got to choose what I wanted, and they give you a lot,” she said. “I loved my experience in Sioux Falls, too, but delivering at Lakes Regional felt more like ‘home.’ I got more care and attention here. I’m so happy I was able to deliver Wyatt here.”
VISIT PROVIDER:
Borus, Zachary – MD