My name is Destiny Smith, and I gave birth at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital on March 20, 2018 to a baby girl name Lexanne. For me, the experience was great. I think that I was the only one on the unit when I gave birth, so I had more of a one-on-one experience with staff, which was great. I was excited but nervous during my pregnancy because I had heard bad stories about giving birth, but I think I took my contractions very well. My delivery was fine with no complications, and the food at the hospital was great!
My experience with the staff was great as well, and my nurses were awesome. Every time I rang the call bell, a nurse came in very quickly, so I didn’t have any problems.
Debbie [Steger-Cohen] was the lactation consultant that I worked with a lot and she helped me throughout my pregnancy and with breastfeeding. I had so much support when I was in the hospital and while learning about breastfeeding. For me, at first I thought that formula [feeding] would be the way to go, but Debbie taught me that breastfeeding was better for the baby. I tried it, and at first it hurt a lot, but I kept pushing through, and now my baby loves it.
Now, Lexanne is a patient of Dr. Criss’ at St. John’s Beach 20th Street location, and everybody there is amazing. Dr. Criss and the other doctors at the office are great.
My Mom works at the hospital as a nurse in the Pediatrics and Labor and Delivery units, and we only have good things to say at St. John’s! If I had to sum up my experience with the staff at St. John’s in two words, they would be “Friendly” and “Attentive.”
