Regional Medical Center | Thrive for Life | Spring 2016

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Alyssa arrived at 10:52 p.m. on Jan. 20, 2016, weighing
7 pounds, 5 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches. Here,
she is one week old.
Just minutes after birth,
Alyssa is very alert, thanks
to a natural birth plan.
impressed with everyone we met
and everything we heard.”
The Mongiellos found that at
RMC, Dr. Johannson and the care
team welcomed their birthing plan,
skin-to-skin bonding, breastfeeding
and rooming in. “They embraced
everything,” Andy says. “They were
OK with Mike receiving the baby…
everything.”
That said, when they learned that
the umbilical cord was wrapped
twice around Alyssa’s neck, they
were thankful to be surrounded by
the clinical expertise of the RMC
team and the wonders of modern
medicine. “Things don’t always
go exactly as planned…it’s hard to
anticipate complications,” Andy
says. “We were glad to be among
‘friends and family’ at RMC.”
Throughout the entire experience—
in the months leading up to Alyssa’s
birth, through labor and delivery, in
postpartum, the nursery and even
after discharge—Andy and Mike felt
as if they were part of a
family at RMC, as if they were
the only patient of concern at any
moment in time.
“When friends share their
amazement that we drove two hours
for doctor’s appointments, hospital
tours and finally Alyssa’s birth, I just
say, ‘Believe me, it’s worth it!’” Andy
shares. “You will get the birth you
want.”
The Mongiellos recall the sup-
port of RMC’s certified lactation
consultants, not only in the hospital
but also since they’ve been home.
“They were there whenever I asked
for them,” Andy says. “And they’ve
called to check on us several times
since coming home. I’ve never had
a hospital follow up with me. It’s
incredible that patient care at RMC
doesn’t stop at discharge.”
Both Mike and Andy served in the
U.S. Navy, have medical backgrounds
and several physician relatives,
and currently serve as volunteer
EMTs. So their expectations were
high. Although they came with
tremendous knowledge, they
were becoming new parents—
and for that, they had a lot of
questions. “What we were really
looking for was a partnership, a
relationship, an understanding,”
reflects Andy. “I always knew that
at RMC, our true best interests
were at heart.”
“We could not imagine a
better experience,” Mike says in a
thank-you note to the CEO. “We
traveled two hours to Anniston
countless times during our
pregnancy. Every time we made
the drive, it was worth the joy we
found. Thank you for an amazing
experience!”
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