Angela’s story: Determined to have a Beebe Baby

Rehoboth Beach native Angela (Jankowski) Wilson always expected she would have her babies at Beebe. However, after her first child, Aubrey, arrived early and was born at another hospital, she was nervous about the second birth. “I was determined our second daughter, Avery, would be a Beebe baby,” she said, sitting in the sunlight-filled, beach-themed living room of her childhood home between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.

Her mother, Cheryl Jankowski, agreed. “The experience of having Aubrey early, coupled with the less-than-stellar experience at that hospital, made us nervous and eager to have a better experience at Beebe,” said Cheryl, who also volunteers at Beebe. “And Beebe delivered above and beyond what we expected!”

Angela, a seventh-grade teacher at Georgetown Middle School, worked with board-certified OB/GYN physician Dr. Adeline Nukuna of Beebe Women’s Healthcare – Plantations. “I was very open with Dr. Nukuna about how nervous I was about having Avery early, and I told her my goal was to deliver at Beebe,” Angela said. “She was amazing. She listened to me and gave me great advice on how to achieve my goal. We were a team.”

Angela’s concerns were realized when she went into labor at 36 weeks and 1 day. “It was early; however, we arrived at Beebe and were admitted. It was such a different experience,” Angela recalled. “The nurses were with me the whole time. They were supportive and helped me work through my fears and concerns.”

Sally Ruby, a certified nurse midwife, worked closely with Angela, who delivered a healthy Avery – her first Beebe Baby. “We had such a great team around us and felt so cared for ... it was exactly the experience we wanted,” said Angela. Angela’s husband Jon agreed. “It’s always a little nerve-wracking when you are about to have a baby, but the team at Beebe really put us all at ease and made it as comfortable and relaxing as possible,” he said.

The family credits Ruby, along with Nukuna, Jen Rice, RN, and Anna Merrick, RN, with the exceptional experience. “Anna helped fix my hair when it was a mess. All of the CNAs brought me a fresh cup of water each time they came into the room. They even gave Aubrey a big sister bracelet. It was really all the little details that made it a great experience,” Angela said.

“Nurse Jen Rice was really my saving grace. I was so overwhelmed and exhausted, and Jen was right there. She told me to rest and that she would stay and watch the baby while I slept,” Angela recalled. “I closed my eyes and when I woke up, Jen was still right there.”

In addition, Angela and her family said they were grateful for the dedicated, knowledgeable support they received from Nancy Hastings, a certified lactation consultant at Beebe. “Nancy is just a fantastic asset. She helped us try different breastfeeding positions, and she always had words of encouragement,” Angela said. “It was reassuring to know that even when we left the hospital, we could still call Nancy any time. It just opens that door of communication and helps you know that you can succeed.”

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware has recognized Beebe Healthcare with a Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care designation as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated hospitals that show expertise in delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes based on objective measures developed with input from the medical community.

Beebe Women's and Children's Health provides advanced care for babies 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Its neonatal nurse practitioners have advanced education and certification in diagnosing and treating illnesses, and clinical expertise in neonatal and newborn care. Beebe is proud to have earned the designation as a Baby-Friendly Hospital, reflecting its commitment to the optimal level of care for infant feeding and mother-and-infant bonding. Beebe Healthcare is the first organization in Delaware to earn this international designation.

To find out more about Women’s Health at Beebe, go to www.beebehealthcare.org/womens-health. To learn more about how Beebe is creating the next generation of care with plans for expanding its services in Sussex County, go to www.nextgenerationofcare.org.