Stephanie Dragseth and Corbin McDeed
The first conversations between a new labor and delivery nurse and her preceptor weren’t just about birth plans and medical charting. They were about nibbling saltine crackers and guzzling gallons of water, some of the telltale signs of pregnancy.
When Abby Briggs stepped onto the Labor and Delivery unit at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital for her first day, she was eager to learn everything about caring for mothers and babies from Stephanie Dragseth, a labor delivery nurse.
Their connection was instant: two Colorado natives whose hometowns were just miles apart, sharing not only a profession but Stephanie’s journey into motherhood.
As a preceptor, Stephanie’s role was to prepare Abby to be able to care for moms and their babies through delivery. But Abby came so prepared to become a labor and delivery nurse, Stephanie learned from Abby too.
Their mutual respect and loving bond would later be a vital part of when Stephanie became a mother through the labor and delivery of her son, Corbin.
Bonding through training
From the beginning, Abby appreciated how much confidence Stephanie had in her. Stephanie put Abby’s name on the patient’s board, while she was in the midst of her training. This thoughtful gesture meant the world to Abby.
“She made it really easy. Whether it was holding a patient while they were getting their epidural, adjusting monitors or placing the IV, she was there, behind me. Being a student, people are hesitant to have you do things. Stephanie was the opposite, very supportive. She helped me build my confidence,“ said Abby.
Gender Reveal and More
When Stephanie had her genetic testing done, Abby saw the results first. She was the first one to know the sex of Stephanie’s baby and shared the information to the baker for the gender reveal celebration. She was the first one to know the baby was a boy.
As Stephanie and Abby worked together closely and their relationship grew, Stephanie’s confidence in Abby’s abilities as a nurse did too. “I would let you labor me,” said Stephanie one day.
Abby was “invested in her pregnancy.” Stephanie sent her text updates about her Maternal Fetal Medicine (high-risk pregnancy) appointments at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, how she was measuring and any other details. Abby wanted to know.
The Labor
When Stephanie went into labor at home, she checked the schedule and was happy to see that Abby and Carrie Harper, a fellow labor and delivery nurse, were working the day shift.
“I trusted Abby. I felt comfortable and calm. I knew they were taking care of me,” said Stephanie. Abby even braided my hair while I was laboring.
When Stephanie was checked and she was completely dialated, they determined that the baby was ready to deliver.
When a mom is about to deliver, the labor and delivery nurse uses the call light, so the delivery team is notified to come into the patient’s room.
Stephanie hit her “own” call light and said, “Hi, it’s Stephanie. Get the delivery team.”
“Are you calling for your own delivery team?” said the unit secretary on duty.
“Yes, I am calling for my own delivery,” said Stephanie.
Birth of Corbin
Everyone in the room started to cry. We were all so excited and we knew she was about to be a mom.
Brandon McDeed, Stephanie’s boyfriend gowned up and ‘caught his own baby,’ and there was not one dry eye in the room.
Although, it was an unexpected early delivery at 36 weeks and 4 days, Stephanie delivered a healthy baby boy. Corbin Scott McDeed weighed six pounds and nine ounces and was twenty inches long. He was born after 12 hours of labor, starting with her water breaking in the middle of the night.
Baby Corbin was born on August 27 at 12:38 p.m. with the assistance of labor and delivery nurse, Abby, who was trained by Corbin’s mom.
“This woman I just got to know, I met her when she first got pregnant to now helping her have her baby. It made me tear up. It was an incredible experience that I could be there as her nurse. This woman taught me everything I need to know as far as labor and delivery and then here I am delivering her baby. Now, she is a mom. It was an incredible moment,” said Abby.
Stephanie said that her labor was a “10 out of 10” and it is fair to say that Corbin will be a mama’s boy.