Connect

This is the latest installment in our Connect article series “Hope at Work” — showcasing inspiring stories about how our team members contribute to UVA Health’s 10-year strategic plan: “One Future Together Health and Hope for All.” No matter where you work, you have an opportunity to inspire hope in others. These stories show how:

Cultivating Healthy Communities

Imagine you’re in labor and excruciating pain, your native language may not be spoken by everyone else, and you’re rushed to the closest Emergency Department — only to find out that Labor and Delivery is where you should be — and it’s on the other side of the hospital!

Teresa Baltuano-Post, BSN, RN, IBCLC, RNC-MNN, UVA Health Prince William Medical Center, to the rescue with her mission to educate local expectant mothers. “When they come here for the educational baby shower, we also give them tours. I make sure to walk them from the Emergency Department to where Labor and Delivery is. I also show them the phone to use, if the doors are locked,” she explains. 

This educational baby shower offers two tours — one in English and one in Spanish. “It was so much easier on the tour guides to separate the tours,” Teresa explains. As an added benefit for the attendees — cultural ambassadors, such as interpreter Leticia Arias, volunteer to be a part of the tours. 

Years of Experience

Teresa has worked at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center for about 25 years. She began as a lactation consultant, with a nursing degree from her native Peru, then took the boards and earned her BSN in the United States.

Teresa has been organizing educational baby showers through other organizations in Northern Virginia for 20 years, including all food preparation. Now for the first time, she’s partnering with UVA Health Prince William Medical Center, which provided space and food for the event. “It was a group effort and the first time I didn’t prepare the food, which made a huge difference,” she says gratefully. 

Teresa organized stations to educate attendees about breastfeeding, birth registrars, pediatricians, lactation consultants, infant car seats, interpreters, and baby care. "Basically teaching all the topics of learning when they have a baby," she explains. 

Making Connections

Other medical professionals spoke with parents-to-be. Jagadish “Dr. Jag” Elumalai, MD, FAAP, Medical Director, Neonatology, UVA Health Prince William Medical Center, says many attendees, especially first-timers, may not know what to expect in labor and delivery.

"Events like this give them an overview of the labor and process, what resources are available, and how they can prepare mentally and practically for the arrival of their baby. We help connect parents with support resources, including mother-baby nurses, lactation specialists, interpreters, pediatric clinics, and community services — fostering a network they can rely on after delivery."

The Journey Ahead

Dr. Jag engaged with prospective parents by talking about what they can expect in labor and delivery. He highlighted the round-the-clock availability of an in-house neonatologist to attend high-risk deliveries, assist newborns in their initial transition, and admit babies to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), if needed.

“I explained that babies who appear well can stay with their parents while the neonatologist/pediatrician provides assessments, ensures there are no health concerns, reviews screening tests, and offers anticipatory guidance to prepare parents for the journey ahead.”

He adds that insights can empower parents-to-be to make informed choices and ensure safe practices from day one. “I wanted to make sure they feel supported and reassured about the care available for their newborns at UVA Health Prince William Medical Center,” says Dr. Jag, who hails the educational baby shower as exceptionally well organized, thanks to Teresa and her initiative and to the medical center administration for providing space and refreshments.

Supportive Environment Is a Plus

Teresa says she received a lot of support for this event. Chief Nursing Officer Michelle Strider, RN, MBA, CPHQ, and Devon Richardson, MSN, RN, Center for Nursing Excellence, approved the event and the food. Participants included professionals from UVA Health Pediatrics, Manassas — Priyadarshan Kaur Tulsi, MD, Denyse Bailey, MD, and Nancy Miranda, Office Manager — all there to connect with and answer questions from attendees.  

One of the stations available: a car seat booth, staffed by Claire Smith, Child Passenger Safety Advocate, Joie Baby North America and President, Saving Northern Virginia's Littles. "This event was great! I spoke to caregivers about car seat safety, answered questions, and demonstrated how to use car seats with infants.” She also gave away 15 car seats to attendees!  

Happy Follow-Up  

Teresa shares that a few days after the event, she received a message from one of the participants, who had just delivered her baby. She thanked Teresa for the baby shower, saying it really helped her to feel familiar with the hospital.

“This is why I do what I do!” smiles Teresa.