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John Gallegos had been feeling a bit off for almost two days when his niece, Sarah Padilla, finally convinced him to go to the hospital. Sarah worked in records management for Lovelace Westside Hospital, which was where John found himself driving around 4am.

“I didn’t know it then, but I’ve done a lot of research,” John says. “Now I know you don’t remember anything after a cardiac arrest.”

Vanessa Moreton, RN works in the same unit today that she was hired into as a new nursing graduate 13 years ago. However, don’t assume that means her career at Lovelace has been under the radar in any way. From starting out on the night shift as a staff nurse on the post surgical services unit, Vanessa moved to days then into a role as a clinical educator, and then ultimately the director. “I was asked to do this on an interim basis and ended up taking it on a full-time basis,” she says of accepting her new and current role in 2010.

Most people have heard of postpartum depression (PPD). What about prenatal or perinatal depression (depression during pregnancy)? Women who have perinatal depression may feel ashamed to admit their unhappy feelings when they are in their first few months of pregnancy. Isn’t this supposed to be one the happiest time of a mom’s life? Feelings of agitation, anxiety and stress keep many women from asking for help, or from recognizing they have depression.

Organizing your life for childbirth and your subsequent stay at the hospital can feel overwhelming. Lovelace Labor of Love is here to make it a little easier. We guide you from finding a provider to prenatal education, all the way to pre-registration for delivery. We are there for you every baby step of the way. We also offer a listening ear and advocacy across the spectrum of your needs. If you need parenting classes, home visiting or counseling for an unexpected event, please call so we can connect you with quality resources from our community, many of which are free.