A Team that Felt like Family

Lauren Blomenkamp was 33 weeks into a relatively normal pregnancy when, during a routine check-up, she was told her blood pressure was elevated. When she checked her blood pressure later, she was shocked to see the alarming numbers staring back at her. A co-worker confirmed that her blood pressure cuff was reading correctly, and Lauren headed to Regional West’s Birth and Infant Care Center (BICC).

Lauren was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a blood pressure condition that can develop during pregnancy. She was told to take a few days off from work and continue to monitor at home to see if her numbers would drop. Two days later, her blood pressure remained high, so she returned to the hospital.

Because pre-eclampsia can turn serious quickly, she was immediately admitted to the BICC. Upon arrival, Lauren and her husband, Tanner, were greeted by a team of nurses, a nurse practitioner, and a physician ready to provide treatment. The Blomenkamps felt a whirlwind of emotions, but they were comforted by the calm and collected response from their medical team.

“Everyone was phenomenal,” Lauren said. “They walked us through the steps and said, ‘this is what we’re going to do, and this is what you can anticipate.’ We got the hint that this was a stressful scenario, but our care team said, ‘We got you, and we’re going to get through it.’”

Lauren spent the next week on bed rest in the BICC with the goal of making it to 34 weeks before a labor induction. During that time, she was put on magnesium to help control her blood pressure and was given steroid shots to help develop her baby’s lungs. She also had the opportunity to visit with her nurses about her care options and what to expect during labor. Lauren remembers the attentiveness of her team and how they made her feel like she was their sole patient.

On Oct. 4, 2023, Baker Blomenkamp made his debut at exactly 34 weeks gestation, and the new family embarked on a 36-day experience in Regional West’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). As Lauren’s team tended to her postpartum needs, the NICU group stepped in to care for Baker with Tanner at his side. Tanner remembers being overwhelmed by the monitors, sensors, and tubes connected to his son, but he embraced the opportunity to lean on the support of their nurses.

“A big blessing of having my baby in the NICU were the nurses caring for my son. One of our nurses, Robin, was the best; she would make sure his blankets were nice and warm after he got out of a bath,” he said. “They just went the extra mile.”

The nurses celebrated Lauren and Tanner’s special occasions, too.

“It was our second wedding anniversary, so I was bringing my wife some flowers and mentioned it to them. All the nurses came in, surprised us with a cookie cake, and helped us celebrate our anniversary,” Tanner said. “They didn’t have to do that, but they did it anyway because they care.”

Each day, Baker grew stronger and reached important milestones. There were difficult days when the Blomenkamps felt guilty that they could not be at his side 24/7, but their providers assured them that Baker was in good hands. Another nurse practitioner, Erin, made daily report cards to track Baker’s progress and show his parents what he accomplished each day.

“She always wrote something positive, even if it was something as simple as saying, ‘Bring some clothes. Let’s put him in some of the clothes you guys bought for him,” said Lauren. “She was very reassuring, very supportive, and had a comforting demeanor.”

On Nov. 7, the day had come for Baker to be discharged. As the Blomenkamps prepared to return home to Alliance as a family of three, they felt bittersweet leaving the NICU and all the people who had become like family.

“All of a sudden, we’re going home, and we say, ‘What if I need your help? What if I have a question?’ and they said, ‘You know our number; call us. We’re here for you,” Lauren said. “They gave us a sense of confidence.”