Advancing Joy’s Health

Keeping it All in the Family

Paoli family welcomes newest addition at IU Health Paoli Hospital

“He is a wonderful big brother,” says Joy Anderson, referring to her son, 2-year-old Jacob.

“They look at each other with a sparkle in their eye and you can just tell that they are brother and sister.”

The other piece of this sparkling set is six-month old Ayla, recently born at IU Health Paoli Hospital - just like her big brother.

For the Anderson family, the personalized care delivered at IU Health Paoli Hospital is a major reason why they chose its women's services when planning for their first child’s birth in 2004. "Why would you drive far away to get the same care, if not better, right here?" says Anderson. "You just don’t get the same one-on-one attention at other places, it’s more personable here."

That personal touch is also what led the Andersons to select one family practice physician, Jose Lopez, M.D., for care of every member of their family. "Dr. Lopez has a true bedside manner," reports Anderson. "Being a first time mom, you want the best doctor. He seems to actually care about all of us."

Anderson went on to say that when she first became pregnant, she expected to have such a routine pregnancy that choosing care close to home was the most important thing. However, "we did have complications arise, and he did a wonderful job," she says.

February 28 was circled on the Anderson’s calendar as the big day to expect Jacob’s arrival, but it came and went and she was still pregnant. By her March 3 check up, Dr. Lopez decided it was time to help get things started. Anderson happily reported to IU Health Paoli Hospital to begin an induction of her labor.

Thirty six long hours later, and Jacob had still not arrived. “I didn’t sleep, and my husband Joe didn’t sleep. I wouldn’t let him leave. He looked worse than I did, I think,” remembers Anderson.

Although she reports that “the nurses did everything they could to make me comfortable,” the lengthy labor was not an enjoyable time for her. With one exception, that is, “We did the Jacuzzi and wow, I didn’t want to get out. I wanted that all to myself, all day,” Anderson sighs.

The whirlpool room is one of the highlights of the New Life Center for many moms. “We keep the lights down low and really work to make the atmosphere peaceful,” says Lisa Eagans, OB nurse manager at IU Health Paoli Hospital.

With no visible progress, it was determined that Jacob would come into the world through a cesarean-section. While Anderson was more than ready, she did feel unprepared for the event.

“When you get pregnant you read all of these books and learn all you can about labor,” she says. “I never looked at c-sections. In fact, I forgot they were even an option. I would have never expected that in a million years.”

Staff at the New Life Center, however, were more than prepared. “A nurse talked to me woman-to-woman to tell me what to expect and that really made a big difference in helping me relax. It was just so much more personal than doctor to patient.”

Once the process began, it seemed only moments until the delivery was complete. A fact that made Anderson’s birth plan for second child, Ayla, an easy one.

She says, “It’s a lot easier the second time around. I knew right from the start I wanted a scheduled c-section. I knew I wanted to deliver at IU Health Paoli Hospital, and I knew I wanted Dr. Lopez.”

All went as planned, and, in June, the Andersons had a host of friends and family to welcome their newest arrival just hours after arriving at the hospital. “Other hospitals are sometimes too far for friends and family to visit and you have to drive while you are in labor, or come home after a c-section. I would not want to have to travel with a newborn all that way. I just don’t understand why anyone would go anywhere else,” she says.

Even though her first pregnancy ended in an unexpected way, Anderson was always comfortable with her initial hospital choice. “I never once thought they wouldn’t have what I needed. I knew they wouldn’t try to do things they weren’t capable of. I knew that they would do what they had to do to help me and my baby.”