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Carissa's long-term stay
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The heartbeat of her baby was pulsing loudly but reassuringly in her room.
She had the volume control turned up because it was a soothing rhythm---listening
to the baby still developing inside her. Twice a day Carissa Thelander, 27, is
connected to a monitor to make sure all is well “inside” her pregnant tummy.
It’s part of her new routine in her temporary “second home” at Saint Elizabeth.
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This is a repeat visit for Carissa. Her first stay at the Saint Elizabeth “suites”
was two-and-a-half years ago when she was pregnant with twin boys. She was on
bed rest at home for six weeks---very long weeks! But for one full week she was
our “guest” at Saint Elizabeth, “But I knew it was what I had to do so the babies
would be healthy.”
And healthy they were! The longer they could develop inside mom---the closer they were to the “full term” 40 weeks---the better their chances of not needing specialized care, perhaps in our newborn intensive care unit (NICU). “My doctor explains that every day longer I can keep the baby from being born that means two less days for the baby in intensive care.”
This time around Carissa thought she was having a trouble-free pregnancy and wouldn’t need the hospital-bound bed rest. She was wrong. Her water broke and sure enough---she found herself back at Saint Elizabeth. That was about a month ago but she probably has only another week to stay.
One of Carissa's favorite parts of her long-term stay at Saint Elizabeth are
the excellent nurses. Some she already knew! “I remember some of the nurses here
from my last stay! It’s kind of like coming home.”
The specially trained nurses are one the best parts of this care area for high
risk pregnancies. She also likes the free Wi-Fi so she can stay in touch with friends and family. But
of course, that red velvet cake on the daily desert cart probably takes top honors!