A Full Circle Journey: A Nurse’s Heartfelt Connection to Labor & Delivery

Lindsey’s Labor and Delivery Story

From a young age Lindsey Harold knew that she wanted to be a nurse. Her passion for caring for others was evident early on, but it wasn’t until her preceptor rotation at Winchester Hospital during nursing school that she discovered her true calling was working in Labor and Delivery. After graduating, Lindsey didn’t hesitate to apply when a position opened in the Labor and Delivery unit at Winchester Hospital. She knew it was exactly where she was meant to be. 

Eight years later, when Lindsey found out she was pregnant with her first child, there was no question in her mind: she was having her baby at Winchester Hospital. Three babies later, she can't imagine delivering anywhere else. 

“People ask me, ‘Isn't that weird delivering at work?’ But it’s not,” says Lindsey. “They take such great care of everyone, and you feel so special. Everyone was coming in to check on me and cheering me on.”

She wasn’t alone in that regard – at the time, twelve other Winchester Hospital Labor and Delivery nurses were also pregnant and planning to deliver there.

A Full Circle Delivery

Winchester Hospital has always held a special place in Lindsey’s heart. Not only is it her place of work, but it’s also where she and her twin brother were born in 1988.

Lindsey was also in the trusted hands of Dr. Glen Dixon, the very same doctor who had delivered her and her twin brother decades earlier. As she arrived at the hospital for her induction, she felt comfortable and at ease, surrounded by a team of colleagues who felt more like family.

“There was no question where I was going to deliver,” says Lindsey. “Dr. Dixon made every patient feel like the only one in the world. He was right there in the room with me, coaching me through the entire experience.”

On July 2, 2019, Lindsey welcomed her first daughter, Lyla, into the world. The beginning of a new chapter in the very place where her own journey began.

Just over two years later, Lindsey was expecting her second child. Once again, she was supported by colleagues, with her best friend Catey as her nurse and Dr. Dixon by her side. On August 22, 2021, her daughter Korra was born; Dr. Dixon’s final vaginal delivery before his retirement.

Surrounded by a Reassuring Team 

As a Labor and Delivery nurse, Lindsey has seen it all. But even with her experience, she knew that unexpected situations arise during delivery. During her third pregnancy, labor progressed rapidly. At 4:00 am on May 3, 2024, her new obstetrician, Dr. Elena Brown, and her nurse — also one of her best friends — rushed to the hospital for the delivery. They arrived at the same time, ran inside to change and three pushes later, baby William was born.

However, he was delivered stunned, with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. Even with her medical background, Lindsey felt a moment of panic, one that was quickly calmed by the trusted team around her.

“As a Labor and Delivery nurse, I knew what was happening, but it’s still scary,” Lindsey recalls. “I immediately started rubbing his back to stimulate him. My nurse Erica took him, looked at me and said, ‘I have him. Don't worry. He is okay, I promise.’ It probably lasted less than a minute but, in that moment, it felt like forever. I just kept thinking, thank God I’m here.”

Choosing a Community Hospital

During her time at Winchester Hospital, Lindsey has witnessed first-hand the exceptional care and support that is provided to patients and their families. When it was time to welcome her own children into the world, a community hospital like Winchester Hospital was the only choice.

“Because we are a small hospital we can give that specialized care,” says Lindsey. “It is truly one-on-one care; our team makes connections with each patient. I experienced first-hand the comforting feeling that an experienced team is taking extra special care of you.” 

Learn more about trusted pregnancy and birth care at Winchester Hospital here.