News
Schock comes to St. Andrew's
Scott Wagar
01/07/2014
One could say the staff at St. Andrew’s Health Center on Friday afternoon was in shock when Jenifer Schock walked into the hospital and delivered a baby she named Tucker just three days into the New Year, making Tucker the first baby to be born in Bottineau in 2014.
In reality, Tucker being born wasn’t just an everyday occurrence at St. Andrew’s or in Bottineau, especially when one considers that St. Andrew’s Health Center hasn’t had a baby born in its facility in almost two decades.
In the mid-2000s, St. Andrew’s closed its maternity ward, and expecting mothers started to have their babies delivered at Trinity Health Center in Minot.
The last time a baby was delivered at St. Andrew’s was in October 2005.
Since that time, the hospital in Bottineau really hasn’t had to deal with deliveries. So, when Schock came to St. Andrew’s there was a lot of shock and excitement when the hospital staff discovered they would be delivering a baby.
Schock was supposed to go to Trinity Health for her delivery, but with blizzard conditions and no travel advised on the roads between Bottineau and Minot, the staff at St. Andrew’s went into action and delivered Tucker.
Bottineau physicians, Dr. Robert Hamilton and Dr. Jessica Skjolden, both attended to Schock with Skjolden delivering Tucker and assisted by three nurses, Mary Tonneson, Jenifer Lauckner and Brenda Brandt.
Tonneson, who has assisted in delivering many babies over the years in her career, was excited to have the experience once again.
“Our preference is to send them to Minot, but it was simply an emergency situation,” Tonneson said. “However, it was fun and it’s always a feeling of euphoria (to see a baby born). We were able to see a new little light come into the world and we don’t get to see that much.”
For Lauckner, who has been a nurse at St. Andrew’s Health Center for 11 years, the experience for her was a first considering Tucker was the first baby she has ever seen born at the hospital.
Schock came to the medical facility at around 3:30 p.m. and Tucker was born at 4:45 p.m., a mere hour and forty-five minutes.
Schock said that she was glad to have St. Andrew’s to go to in her time of need.
“I guess if I had to go to Minot I would have had my baby either at home, or in a car or an ambulance” Schock said. “They (St. Andrew’s and its staff) took really good care of us and I am sure they were very nervous because I understand it has been a really long time since they delivered a baby. But, they did an awesome job. They just pulled everything together and were great.”
Although it was rather a new experience for the staff at St. Andrew’s, the medical facility is set up to deliver babies if necessary; however, they just don’t have the items needed to care for a new born.
“We have all the equipment for a delivery,” Tonneson said. “But, baby supplies like diapers and stuff like that we just can’t keep them current.”
As Schock was in the midst of her delivery, St. Andrew’s Ladies Auxiliary was at the hospital assisting patients when they heard about what was taking place. To assist, the auxiliary put some items together and created a baby basket, which they gave to Schock and Tucker. In the basket was a blanket, onesies, an outfit and booties.
St. Andrew’s staff also gave Schock a quilt for Tucker.
Schock, who sat on her bed Saturday evening with Tucker in her arms and a smile on her face, stated that her experience in delivering Tucker at St. Andrew’s was perfect.
“I want to thank the hospital, itself, along with the nurses, Dr. Skjolden, Dr. Hamilton and the staff for what they did for me,” Schock said. “They were awesome and I couldn’t have asked for a better and friendlier staff to have my baby with.”
Schock is also pleased to have Tucker born at St. Andrew’s Health Center because her mother, Kim Hulse, was born at St. Andrew’s in 1963.
Tucker Samuel Schock at delivery was six pounds and three ounces and was 19 inches long.
Tucker joins his two brothers and grandfather Samuel Hulse in Bottineau.