Happiness in Hard Times
– Along Came Jessica McCormick

We were overjoyed when we found out we were expecting what I’d like to call our second “Adler Center Baby” due early June 2004.  Our first healthy baby girl, Megan, was born on September 15, 2002, and was delivered by The Adler Center’s then midwife, Susan Pierson.

This time around we were just as excited but couldn’t help but feeling a bit like it was all “routine” - when we got the bad news! My husband, Cyrus, a reserve with the NAVY, was called to active duty in March of 2004 and sent to Iraq, where he still is, and therefore hasn’t yet met his youngest daughter. It’s been very tough not having my husband here throughout my last trimester but I found comfort in knowing how much the staff - including the nurses - at The Adler Center truly cares for their patients and I started to really look forward to my prenatal visits.

Most of my visits were with midwife Monica Byrne – who also happened to be on call when I went into labor (lucky me!) - and it was really nice how she would always remember me – even as I called in when my contractions began. I know The Adler Center has so many patients and delivers a bunch of babies but it kind of blew me away how they still manage to keep a somewhat “personal” relationship with each patient. The whole process of pregnancy and giving birth is so personal and miraculous that every woman would want to be treated as if she was the only patient. Amazing, how they make that happen.

My second pregnancy went fairly smoothly, except I developed severe varicosity in my right leg. Everyone at The Adler Center took the problem very seriously and I felt I was in very good hands.   Because of my varicosity I was scheduled to be induced four days before my due date. This was especially great because this way my husband, who had told me just a few days earlier that he’d just realized he may not even know when it would happen, would actually know.

On the night before my scheduled induction, though, I went into labor on my own. I was so cool about it because I knew I was scheduled to be induced in the morning. At first I completely ignored my contractions setting in. After feeling quite cramped and irritated all day, though, I finally “woke up” and realized I might just be in labor. At night I started timing them, still thinking nothing of it, but then found out my contractions were coming less than 5 minutes apart for more than an hour – exactly what you are told to be looking for before calling! I called in and after calmly explaining my situation to Monica, we decided I should come to Potomac Hospital to be checked out. Before I left I sent my hubby an e-mail saying that if he wouldn’t hear from me later that night, the time had come. Well, he didn’t hear from me…

Our second healthy baby girl, Jessica, was born on June 3, 2004, and was delivered by midwife Monica Byrne. It was extra emotional for me this time around because of the fact that my husband couldn’t be present. Thanks to the internet, though, he quickly got all the details and to this day we keep up with lots of photos.

I simply love the way The Adler Center works. For your own benefit you are scheduled to see everyone on staff throughout your pregnancy. I got to see Dr. Adler, Dr. Colon, as well as midwives Rita-Marie, Monica, Sharon, and Pamela throughout my prenatal visits - and I enjoyed them all!

I especially enjoyed my visits with the midwives. A lot of women I know always insist on seeing a “real” doctor, not a midwife. Well, I don’t see it that way and I truly think that every woman should give the midwives a “try” - if nothing else, to see for themselves. The education and knowledge of the midwives at The Adler Center clearly shines through. I think that every woman, if given the opportunity, would come to appreciate midwives a lot more. I have certainly felt in good hands in both of my pregnancies.

We’d like to thank everyone at The Adler Center for all of their support and encouragement throughout this difficult - yet overly joyful - time. Despite the circumstances, it’s been another successful and wonderful experience.

To whomever reads this I’d like to say that if you are looking for a great place for your pregnancy needs or for that matter an OB/GYN who really cares, The Adler Center will provide you with all you need – on both a professional and personal level. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!

In the meantime, this growing family is hanging in there, keeping up the spirit, and looking forward to being reunited in – hopefully no later than – October of this year…

Best wishes & God bless,

Jessica, Megan, Josie & Cyrus McCormick