Celebrating Beebe Babies

All of Christian and Julie Hudson’s four children were born at Beebe Healthcare. Between 2009 and 2014, Julie gave birth to three boys and one girl. Locally, we refer to children born at Beebe as “Beebe Babies.” Julie said, “As a mom, I’m a Beebe Baby myself. So, I am proud to have brought my four beautiful children into this world and to have started another generation of Beebe Babies.”

Each pregnancy, from prenatal care, ultrasounds, the “Expecting Parents” class, and the delivery of their children, was a positive experience at Beebe. Julie said, “the staff at the Women’s Health Pavilion were truly exceptional, and always went the extra mile to make her and her husband Chris feel comfortable and at home.”

Beebe Healthcare was the first hospital in Delaware to earn the designation as a Baby-Friendly™ Hospital, reflecting its commitment to the optimal level of care for infant feeding and mother-and-infant bonding. The nursing staff of the Women’s Health Pavilion is highly trained and committed to serving the entire family.

“The nurses were professional and would always introduce themselves with a smile and make sure we understood their role in our delivery. They were warm and friendly and made you feel at home. This was something that was much appreciated during the most exciting, frightening, and yet most intimate experiences women can have. I must say we had a positive experience with all staff members during our stays at Beebe, from the receptionist at the front door to the doctors who delivered our children,” Julie said.

When asked what stood out through the entire experience, Julie gave high remarks to the nursing staff. “The nursing staff’s willingness to make you feel completely comfortable stands out for me. Each of my experiences was very different, from the first delivery jitters to the fourth delivery with confidence. Each time we had completely different staff, yet each time felt special. The nurses really take you under their wings and are fighting through every contraction and enjoying all the elation in welcoming your new addition,” Julie recalled. “They even went so far as to check on us after their shifts and to introduce us to the next shift’s staff before they left.”

Julie was also impressed with the nurses’ treatment of her husband. “They not only cared for me as an expecting mom, but also my husband Chris. They were always keeping him in the loop with my care and were prepared to answer any questions or concerns he had. They made sure he had pillows and blankets so he could stay at my side the whole time. I think Chris even made out with a meal after each delivery.”

When Julie and Chris found out about the “Celebrating Excellent Care” program, they knew they wanted to recognize the Women’s Health Pavilion. Julie added, “We have expressed our thanks to the staff after every delivery, and we have discussed our experience with others in the community; we also wanted to publicly acknowledge the team members of the Women’s Health Pavilion for their contributions to our lives. We couldn’t think of a more positive way to acknowledge them then by making a generous donation to support all of the great work they do in the community.”

Bridget Buckaloo, Executive Director of Women’s Health Services, said, “This is such an honor for our staff to be recognized publicly. Each and every one of them deserves this tribute. We are very proud of the Women’s Health nursing staff members at Beebe Healthcare. They consistently score in the 99th percentile in our Press Ganey survey so statistically we know they are exceptional, but to actually be recognized publicly by a patient is such a gift! We are grateful to Julie and Christian for their generous thanks and support of Beebe Healthcare.”

As a community-owned, not-for-profit healthcare system, Beebe continues to depend on the generous support of individuals, corporations, businesses, and private foundations. All gifts, large or small, to Beebe Healthcare, are tax deductible and are channeled through Beebe Medical Foundation. Tom Protack, Vice President of Development, shared, “it is amazing to see the pride and excitement in our community when someone boldly exclaims ‘I am a Beebe Baby!’ Many families make donations in honor of their children or grandchildren who were born at Beebe.” Please consider making a gift in honor of your Beebe Baby today!

To learn more about how you can Celebrate Excellent Care, contact the Beebe Medical Foundation at (302) 644-2900 or write to [email protected].

Shown in photo are (left to right) Crystal Reynolds, RN; Gretchen Hegwood, RNC; Bridget Buckaloo, MSN, RN, Director; Julie Hudson; Melissa Gaull, RN; and April Phillips, RN.