Feeling Supported From the First Moment: Maycee Hodge’s Birth

When Maycee Hodge arrived at Good Samaritan for her induction, she was filled with a mix of excitement and nerves – ready to meet her baby, but unsure what the day would bring. This would be her and her husband Levi’s first child.

“I had no clue what to expect,” says Maycee, who lives in Robinson, Illinois. “It honestly just felt like another day going to a doctor’s appointment.”

That feeling quickly shifted once she walked through the doors. Nurses were ready and waiting, guiding her to her room, starting her IV and explaining each step along the way. “It all happened so fast, but in a good way,” she says. “I felt like they were prepared for me.”

Throughout the night, Maycee’s care team focused on comfort and communication. Nurses checked in often, brought snacks and drinks and clearly explained what the next day would look like. “They gave me the plan of care from the moment I got there through discharge,” she says. “That gave me so much peace of mind.”

When labor intensified the next morning, Maycee’s nurse, Mackenzi Potts, RN, stayed by her side the entire day. “She was there from six in the morning until my son was born around four,” Maycee recalls. “Knowing she was always on top of everything made me feel so safe.”

As a first-time mom and a nurse herself, Maycee admits her mind raced with worries. “I knew all the what ifs, and they were all running through my head,” she says. “But every question I asked, they answered. And they did not brush it off. They explained why I did not need to be anxious.”

Maycee’s plan was to have a natural birth, but as the pain got worse she appreciated having options. “They explained everything, including the epidural, IV medication, and laughing gas,” she says. Though she was nervous about the epidural, her nurse’s steady presence made all the difference. “I was contracting the whole time and basically bear hugging her,” Maycee laughs. “She was incredible.”

After the epidural, labor progressed quickly, and soon it was time to meet her son.

Several members of Maycee’s care team left a lasting impression, including Amanda Franklin, a pediatric nurse practitioner who helped Maycee understand how to push effectively. “It just was not clicking for me,” Maycee says. “Amanda stepped in, explained it in a way I understood, and became my focus. Once it clicked, everything changed.”

Kolson was delivered by Good Samaritan OB/GYN Dustin Blackwell, DO, with Maycee’s care team supporting her every step of the way.

“Kolson was born at 4:08 p.m.,” Maycee says. “He weighed six pounds, five ounces, and hearing him cry was the biggest relief of my life.”

Instead of being rushed away, Kolson was placed immediately on Maycee’s chest. “I loved that they did not take him right away,” she says. “He latched right there, and I had a full hour just holding him and meeting him. That time meant everything to me.”

After delivery, when Kolson developed jaundice, Maycee once again felt supported. “I had a breakdown. I was scared,” she admits. “But they reassured me, explained everything and showed us exactly how to use the bilirubin lights at home.”

Follow-up visits with lactation consultant Ava Wright were equally impactful. “She sat with me for nearly two hours, helping me latch and showing me different positions,” Maycee says. “That was life changing. Feeding became so much easier, and I could tell Kolson was getting what he needed.”

Looking back, Maycee describes her experience in one word: comfortable.

“Even though this is their job, they made it feel like this was a huge life moment, because it was,” she says. “They made me feel comfortable enough that I am not scared to do it again. That says a lot.”

Her advice to other first-time moms is to be open and trust the team around you.

“I had a plan going in, but once I was educated on my options, I was open to change,” she says. “They never pushed anything. They just gave educated advice. I was smiling when my son was born instead of being in pain, and that made all the difference.”

What stayed with her most was knowing she was not alone, even after going home. “They told me over and over to call anytime,” Maycee says. “Whether it is breastfeeding, postpartum questions, or just reassurance, that peace of mind meant everything.”

For Maycee, her delivery at Good Samaritan was not just about bringing a baby into the world. It was about feeling seen, heard and supported every step of the way.