Finding connection and support in motherhood at Ascension All Saints Family Health Center
For Shirnese, being a mother is one of the greatest joys in her life. Her passion for motherhood and love of family is coupled with her heart’s desire to serve others, and make a meaningful difference in the world.
As a mother of four boys, Shirnese has seen firsthand how having a strong support system and compassionate caregivers makes all the difference during pregnancy, postpartum and beyond.
Each of Shirnese’s sons were born at Ascension St. Joseph Hospital, where she recalls having positive experiences:
“All of my experiences were very good. The staff is not only nice, they are also knowledgeable. Sometimes you get scared because birth can be dangerous, but I felt very comfortable and supported. You can tell the nurses and doctors are passionate about what they do. That’s the main reason I kept going back because I knew I would be receiving some of the best care.”
Discovering community support at Ascension All Saints Family Health Center
Something Shirnese did not realize she was missing during her first three pregnancies was the support and community of fellow mothers.
During her fourth pregnancy, Shirnese and her husband Philip were introduced to a Birth and Babies pregnancy group by Martina Sullivan-Koyn, a registered nurse at Ascension All Saints Family Health Center and facilitator of the group.
Designed to support pregnant and recently pregnant patients and their families, Birth and Babies serves as a safe space for parents to connect with one another, learn from each other’s experiences and discover community resources to help them during each stage of pregnancy and parenthood.
“Our Birth and Babies Group enhances the patient experience by truly creating a medical home,” Martina shared. “The program is a safe place for patients to learn and grow in the community. In a time where people are more scared and isolated than ever, this group can help give hope and calm to patients during a vulnerable time.”
Each Birth and Babies gathering addresses a different topic and invites patients to participate in a related activity. Topics have ranged from mindfulness and prenatal yoga to breastfeeding education to a cooking class with a Women’s, Infants and Children (WIC) nutritionist.
For Shirnese, attending the Birth and Babies group enhanced her perinatal and postpartum experience. Each meeting has taught Shirnese something new. From learning about lactation, to gaining a better understanding of the postpartum experience, to giving and receiving advice from fellow parents, every meeting has had a positive impact on her life.
“The connections and getting to know other people has been most meaningful to me,” Shirnese shared. “Being able to bring a child into the world is very special, and sacred, so having those connections with the moms, being able to share your experience, ask questions and learn about resources, is so important. Sometimes I feel down or tired, but I always leave the group feeling full and strong. It’s a reminder that you have a support system you could always reach out to.”
Not only does the Birth and Babies group help mothers, but it also helps fathers, which Shirnese emphasizes is equally important. The group is a safe space for expectant fathers to ask questions, receive support and gain a better understanding of how to best support their partners throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
While the community Shirnese and Philip have built with fellow parents has made a positive difference in their lives, the support of Martina has been just as impactful:
“When I was pregnant with my fourth son, I made a commitment to see breastfeeding through. It wasn’t easy in the beginning, but during my appointments with Marty, she showed me how the baby should latch and from then on, it was easy. Throughout postpartum Marty would randomly call, ironically, during times when I was feeling down. She always reminded me that I was not going through it alone. This is something I also appreciate about the pregnancy group. With them, I don’t feel like I am going through postpartum alone. They teach me, I teach them and it’s just amazing.”
Today, Shirnese continues to regularly attend Birth and Babies groups and plans to participate in meetings for many more months to come.
“The pregnancy group is amazing,” Shirnese shared. “It's a place to connect people with resources. I would love to see more groups like this. More groups would connect more people to more great things. The resources are there, but people don’t always know where to go and this group solves that problem. I am very grateful to have been a part of it.”
Birth and Babies has shown Shirnese just how important it is for expectant mothers to have a support system, and the group has played a role in her decision to become a certified doula. As a doula, and an active participant in Birth and Babies, Shirnese hopes to continue to support fellow mothers, when they need it most.
