Bonnie Bibeau and Julia
ENHANCING THE MOTHER’S EXPERIENCE Labor and delivery nurse vital in bringing family-centered C-sections to Houston Methodist Hospital
By Kelli Gifford, Magazine Editor
“People wait their whole lives for this day. What could possibly stand in the way of giving that to her?” That question was a driving force for Kristin Thorp, RN III in Labor and Delivery, to help implement the family-centered C-section — or skin-to-skin — at Houston Methodist Hospital. This procedure aims to mimic a vaginal birth as closely as possible by allowing mothers and newborns to have immediate contact instead of the baby being taken to a warmer while surgery is finished on the mother. Last year Thorp partnered with a then-Houston Methodist obstetrician/gynecologist to get the ball rolling. They sent a video to physicians and staff that showed everything about skin-to-skin from start to finish. “The initial reaction was, ‘We could never do that’; it was too out of the ordinary,” said Thorp. “I think people in general look at things and if there are a lot of obstacles they think it’s just not possible.”
Kristin Thorp, RN III
10 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE
The physician Thorp partnered with was approached with presenting the idea at Grand Rounds. She had done the research and wanted Thorp to bring the logistical side. Thorp was quickly on board.