Welcoming a family’s first child is both exciting and challenging.
For Jamie Muir, SSM Health caregivers provided far more support than she ever anticipated for the birth of her son, Kylar.
Comfort and care in the family birth suites
“I have many questions as a first-time mom, but have never felt judged by my SSM Health team,” Jamie said. “They made me feel uplifted and empowered as I began to navigate this beautiful new journey.”
Jamie was pleasantly surprised by how personalized and comforting her four-day stay was in the Family Birth Suites.
“Everyone was wonderful,” she said. “My nurses went above and beyond, making me feel like the most beautiful person — even during the toughest moments.”
The Muir family had pre-selected Dr. Dan Beardmore as Kylar’s pediatrician, and he visited the same day Kylar was born. His attentiveness made an immediate impact.
“I really appreciated his confidence and the way he also checked in on me,” Jamie said. “He always takes time to make sure that I am doing okay, too.”
Breastfeeding support that made the difference
Jamie received support in achieving her goal of breastfeeding. SSM Health offers education on feeding choices and robust support for breastfeeding mothers.
“Breastfeeding is not easy, and I called several times to make sure I was doing things right,” she said. “You feel vulnerable as you learn to breastfeed, but all of my experiences were incredibly positive.”
Since bringing Kylar home, Jamie and her husband Dillon have embraced the learning curve of being first-time parents. When questions arise, they feel confident reaching out to Dr. Beardmore or other SSM Health team members for guidance.
Swift action in a moment of crisis
“We actually had a really scary moment when Kylar was exposed to a confirmed case of Neisseria meningitis through someone close to us — even though we were doing everything we could to keep him safe,” Jamie recalled. “Kylar wasn’t able to be fully vaccinated yet, but Dr. Krishna Challa was available and stepped in immediately to help.”
Dr. Challa spent hours on the phone to find a pharmacy that could successfully compound a liquid version of a meningitis medicine suitable for an infant – a rare but urgent request.
“He even called us a couple of days later to make sure everything was okay, and didn’t think twice about it. … I was astonished,” Jamie said.
While Jamie has received excellent care for her own health needs, she feels there’s something truly special happening at SSM Health.
“I love that they see me as a whole person and remember what’s important to our family,” she said. “I’ve never felt like just a number and I’m so grateful for everything they’ve done.”
