My name is Miriam and I first met Hope in our Intro to Social Work class
in Spring of 2010. Just from what she shared in class and with me, and
how she lived her life, the things she was passionate about, and the
people she spoke up for, I sensed that I could trust her. I am now a
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and confidently affirm that Hope is a
huge asset to any support team because her heart and soul are all in
no matter what she does. She believes in people and calls out their
strengths even when they can’t see it.
Hope offered to be part of my birth team with my first daughter and I
happily said yes! I was in early labor for 3 days and was scheduled to
be induced on a Saturday (January 12, 2018). I came to the hospital
that day in fear of what induction could mean. Would things just
snowball? Would I need to end up having a C-section?
Contractions/early labor hard started Wednesday and Hope helped
me get through those hard 3 days before my baby arrived.
Contractions would get worse at night, and became so unbearable
that I could not sleep. I was going on 3 days of little to no sleep and
Hope would stay up with me, coach me through contractions, coach
me on what to do - get on the ball, take a warm bath, breathe.
During the hardest time for me mentally she was there coaching me
through it. On the day of delivery my water was supposed to be
broken, but it broke on its own as I was getting on the bed for my OB to
do it. I labored all day and Pitocin was introduced later in the evening
when I was not advancing. I was tired and we said yes. At this point I
had been laboring for 4 days and I wanted her to come. Hope knew
what to do. She helped create a calm atmosphere in our room. We
had calming essential oils going, music that meant something to me,
she was there coaching me through breaths, applying pressure on my
back that was the best relief I could ask for with back labor, rubbed my
arms through the contractions and at times sensed what I needed
without me having to ask mid contraction.
At one point I started trembling when lying on the bed with a peanut
ball between my legs. Hope stayed close and spoke calmly to me. It
helped me stay calm and focus on contractions even though my body
was shaking uncontrollably. My baby arrived later on, but Hope stayed
through all of it. She was the support person I needed in that room.
When our baby came out she even snapped photos which I treasure
dearly. Hope went above and beyond to make me feel at peace and
empowered to have my baby on my own terms.
Our second daughter Camila was born during the pandemic (August
22, 2020). Hope had volunteered her time to be there again with my
second baby as the faithful friend she is. Then COVID restrictions came
and we could have no one in our room. My mind was feeling
overwhelmed. The day I knew she was coming because my
contractions started feeling painful while nursing my toddler. I was
getting aggravated just nursing her and knew something was going to
happen today. We went to the hospital with the intention of staying
there and having the baby. I was not going to do multiple days of labor
again. Camila came that day 6 hours after I went to the hospital.
During those 6 hours and before, Hope had given us her care package
with affirmations, her birth ball and all the necessities that helped me
last time. I birthed with my husband and he was the best support
person, but it didn’t feel the same this time. I didn’t have my mom. I
didn’t have Hope. Hope added such a calming and supportive
presence the previous time. She advocated for what I needed and I
was missing that. She anticipated what I needed and it was a relief to
not have to think and ask for those things during contractions. This time
it was different.
Hope couldn’t be in the room and I was feeling that. Contractions felt
harder. I felt tense. I felt like I couldn’t concentrate. I had this mental
block because my other support people I felt I really needed weren’t
here. I would tense my body and anticipate each contraction with fear.
Previously I was in my zone because I knew all my people had my back. I
needed all of them and not having them physically there made me feel
less than peaceful.
Towards the end I had my husband Richard call Hope and she talked
me through contractions and lifted my spirit. She gave me a pep talk
and I don’t know what she said, but it helped me get in the mindset to
have this baby. I went from fear to determination after talking to Hope.
Our baby was born less than an hour later, and I give so much credit to
Hope for mentally helping me through a really hard experience.
Although my labor was way shorter, it felt more painful and my mindset
made all the difference. While I was stuck in fear it felt more painful. After
talking to Hope, I knew what I needed to do and something shifted. I will
forever be grateful for her and the peace she brings to a delivery room
in person and virtually. My girls are here and we’re all healthy, and
Hope had lots to do with that.
Miriam Hernandez, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Miriam H.
