Giving birth via C-section is not how you envisioned it … it wasn’t part of your birth plan. Your doctor has explained the whys – the logical reasons why a vaginal birth isn’t the best approach for you and your baby’s safety. You know it’s the right thing to do, but in your mind there are questions. Will I get to hold my baby first? Am I missing out on an important part of the experience?
Golden Hour for those undergoing C-section
The first hour of your baby’s life – called the Golden Hour – is important for so many reasons; it’s your first glimpse at their tiny face, first touch of their skin and opportunity to establish the bond so important to growth and development. And most importantly a key factor in successful breastfeeding, which is proven to benefit your baby’s health in many ways.
Until recently, these firsts were not always experienced by women who had a C-section.
A program in Labor and Delivery at TMC is changing that for many women with a new type of surgery drape and a new process after you give birth to get your baby in your arms faster.
How we’re making it happen
The new dual-sided surgery drape, with a solid side for the surgical moments and a clear side that allows you to see your baby emerge, means you won’t miss the very first moments of your child’s life. You aren’t separated from the process, “I’ve seen surgeon and patient talking and laughing … it’s so different than with the traditional drape,” said Crystal Gulotta, Labor and Delivery nurse and author of the project .
With a goal of taking your baby’s first vitals and measurements, and putting on a diaper and hat while mom is cleaned up, the next step to this new C-section program ensures that when you leave the OR, your baby is on your chest getting the skin-to-skin contact that is so important.
What moms are saying
One new mom said of the experience with the new drape and the skin-to-skin contact, “It was truly one of the best parts of having my baby. I was very concerned about who would get to hold my baby before me and how long it would be before I got to hold him. This was the answer to all of my worries. I was so thankful! We don’t know why someone wouldn’t want to do this.”
Making clinical improvements that directly impact patients is a foundation element to providing exceptional healthcare. Find out more about maternity services at Tucson Medical Center by taking a tour.
Orthobiologics is a tongue twister, but the science behind regenerative medicine seems so simple. By taking our own healthy cells, extracting the growth factors, platelets or stem cells and then using those cells to heal our chronic pain, doctors are reducing the need for harmful therapies like steroids exponentially.
Selma Marks was an accomplished attorney and community advocate who cofounded the Marks Fund – an endowment to assist TMC employees experiencing financial hardship.
LaJeana Hall never looked into her future and saw “fitness instructor” as a skill she would attain.
Breastfeeding at its best is inexpensive, easy and provides a whole host of health benefits for both mother and child. But 
The TMC for Women Outpatient Breastfeeding Clinic was created to help women and babies with breastfeeding once they have left the hospital or birth center. Lactation consultants can help address latch problems, provide nipple shields and help with supplemental nursing systems (for those babies who are ineffective at nursing, preemies or special needs babies, or for moms who have a low milk supply or whose bodies need encouragement to lactate).
Helping our community right here in Tucson get and stay healthy and keep on dancing is what Tucson Medical Center is all about. We’re showing off some of our fabulous community members in our latest commercials and you get to find out a little more about them here on our blog. Meet TMC dancer, Clayton Green. 
Conscious sedation is a technique that is sometimes used when a patient might need a little extra help relaxing or some additional pain relief for a procedure.
Helping our community right here in Tucson get and stay healthy and keep on dancing is what Tucson Medical Center is all about. We’re showing off some of our fabulous community members in our latest commercials and you get to find out a little more about them here on our blog. Meet TMC dancers, Jeff and Viki Trask.
It’s a difficult balance during summers in Tucson. I don’t want my boys inside all day so we try to get out early in the morning or in the evening, but the 100 degree days seem to start earlier and earlier and last longer. Along with dehydration, I worry about heat exhaustion and, worse still, heatstroke during these hot summer months. While we often think of heatstroke as what happens when children are left in a hot car, it can also happen when they’re just playing outside in the heat.
Pediatric Emergency Notes from Melissa
Meet Me at Maynards thinks our community can take 478 million steps in the coming year to “walk to the moon” in honor of Neil Armstrong’s historic one giant leap for mankind.
When Girl Scouts Jenna Ahrendt and Megan Smith of Troop 475 recently took to Tucson’s streets to leave sticky notes with positive, encouraging messages all over town, their first stop was Tucson’s nonprofit community hospital, Tucson Medical Center.
Meanwhile, 8-year-old Annabella Carpenter and 7-year-old Mary Redding of Troop 908 worked over the summer to tie dye nearly 80 onesies for babies born prematurely and recovering in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit at TMC.
Breastless and beautiful
Tucson Medical Center CEO and President Judy Rich will serve on a panel discussion with leaders across other health systems to discuss viable ways to ensure quality, affordable health care for every American.
Rich said she is supporting the effort because it builds on the commitment TMC has made to the community.
Tucson Medical Center is collaborating with its rural partners in the Southern Arizona Hospital Alliance to provide laundry and linen services. This project, which is launching first at Northern Cochise Community Hospital in Willcox, will provide this service at a lower cost than commercial options.
Tucson Medical Center is fortunate to have the support of passionate volunteers – and many of those volunteers are TMC employees like Heather Burkett, donating their time and effort to build a safer community.
It’s time to hoist the flag and celebrate our independence from the British Empire. And what would Independence Day be without fireworks? But before you break out the sparklers and the Roman candles here are some important considerations to make sure you keep it safe for everyone in your family.
It’s one of our favorite seasons…peach season! Walk into any grocery store right now and you stand a good chance of being overwhelmed with that juicy sweet fragrance enticing you to buy, buy, buy!
Laurie Ledford is our very own Georgia peach, a registered dietitian from Atlanta, Georgia, the land of grits, collard greens and super-sweet iced tea. She now works as a registered dietitian in the Tucson Medical Center Wellness Department. She enjoys helping people improve their health through sustainable dietary changes while still relishing occasional indulgences. In her off hours, Laurie engages in foodie pursuits such as sampling unusual flavor combinations (olive oil and basil ice cream was a good one) as well as hiking and cycling.
We asked 
Amidst the busy TMC surgery reception area, a few sparks flew on Tuesday afternoons between volunteers Paul Kelly and Sharon O’Koren. “We just had so much in common,” said Kelly. “From growing up in smaller towns and raising children to our likes and our dislikes – I felt like I could talk to her about anything.”
Small patients were wowed by the sheer mass of an aircraft carrier – surprised to hear that it would be the equivalent of a floating city with nearly 5,000 crew members on board, sharing space with aircraft and helicopters.
A sleight of hand magician, MacInnis entertained youngsters and handed out certificates that dubbed them an “honorary sailor.”
Struggling to breathe can be terrifying, especially for children – and their parents. Acute and chronic respiratory challenges including asthma need specialized care to keep airways open – enter the pediatric pulmonologist.
What motivated Dr. Galvez to become a pediatric pulmonologist?
Blood transplants can have a significant and permanent effect for individuals facing specific debilitating and severe health challenges, she explained. “By and large, the treatments can cure many diseases or have a significant impact that dramatically improves the quality of life for the recipient.”
For more information about cord blood donations, contact Kristen Wilt at (520) 324-6210 or visit the 
It is often shared that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Kim Loya remembers those first few steps in what would become a weekly Monday tradition and help her find new goals, new friends and a new love for the city she lives in.
“For me, it’s something I look forward to every Monday and it starts my week on a good note,” Loya said, adding that when her husband is able to join her, they turn it into a date night and sample the downtown eateries.
Edmundo Zevallos knows all too well the stress of having a child in the newborn intensive care unit.
“It is important that the family or support unit of the patient take care of their own well-being. The patient will need them to be strong and healthy for the journey ahead. They shouldn’t try to tough it out. We want them to know we understand and support them, and that we are here to help them,” Zevallos said.
Lory Sullivan, a beauty consultant with Mary Kay, remembers how it felt when her granddaughter, now a healthy 15-year-old, was born prematurely. “I know parents have to be stressed and be scared when their child is ill, so if I can help them take that moment to relax and take a deep breath, I’m grateful for that opportunity.”
We don’t have a built-in pool at our home, but we often use a little splash pool which got me to thinking about the safety of above-ground pools — you know, the sort that just go up for the summer, whether rigid sides or inflatable, and come down when school is back in session.
Pediatric Emergency Notes from Melissa
Violence is an ongoing public health and safety challenge throughout the country.
“Hospitals serve as the backbone of healthy communities, supporting victims of violence-related trauma, answering the call in times of tragedy and attempting to prevent violence in the first place by building healthy communities and embracing best practices to keep employees safe,” said Judy Rich, TMC’s president and CEO.
Sarah Barrett has been a nurse for more than six years, specializing in serving new mothers and babies.
Barrett said she pushed down the feelings and resumed her life, only to have them all come crashing in again on his first birthday, when she saw the familiar social media posts that pull photos from a year ago. Seeing him so small and intubated sent her into a tailspin.
What exactly is a “superfood?” Is it a special category of food that is unusually high in nutrients? Does it have the power to cure disease?
Laurie Ledford is a registered dietitian from Atlanta, Georgia, the land of grits, collard greens and super-sweet iced tea. She now works as a registered dietitian in the Tucson Medical Center Wellness Department. She enjoys helping people improve their health through sustainable dietary changes while still relishing occasional indulgences. In her off hours, Laurie engages in foodie pursuits such as sampling unusual flavor combinations (olive oil and basil ice cream was a good one) as well as hiking and cycling.be skeptical of the next “superfood” claim you see or hear!
Master Sgt. Pablo Vasquez may someday be called upon to care for wounded warriors on a faraway battlefield.
As will his counterparts throughout the year, Vasquez spent two days in the Intensive Care Unit, one day at TMC Wound Care Clinic, one day in the medical-surgical units and two days helping to staff the Emergency Department – which alone sees nearly 100,000 patients each year.
“It’s one thing to read a book and be told how to do something. That’s an important part of medical school or nursing school – but it’s absolutely critical to then participate in clinical training to apply what you’ve learned. “
While standing on the sidelines cheering my eldest on at his soccer game is enough to get me reaching for my water bottle, my kindergartener with the flushed face needs a little reminding to hydrate. As temperatures soar it becomes especially important to make sure our children are hydrated – dehydration and heat stroke are all too common in the region and in the emergency department. And children are more prone to dehydration and heat stroke than adults.
Addison Braswell surprised her parents as a kindergartener when she decided to donate to pediatric cancer patients all of the contents from her piggy-bank that she had collected over the year from gifts and holidays.
As a teacher of high school anatomy and physiology, Bethany Thiele will absolutely know you are talking about a bone, and not necessarily something funny, if you mention “humerus.”
“Each blanket takes about four days to make,” said Marlies Terpning, a community advocate who has donated more than 400 hand-crocheted blankets for babies born at Tucson Medical Center.
I’d love to grill and BBQ every day – especially at this time of year – but with our busy lives, it’s just not realistic. On my days off, I always prepare several items that my family can enjoy later in the week, when the prospect of cooking after a long day of work has lost its luster.
When Dan Felix received his high school diploma, he couldn’t have been more pleased to be done with school.
Young patients, their families and invited guests were treated to a visit with some amazing animal ambassadors—including a fennec fox, a ferret, a blue-tongued skink and a snake from 
The generous grant from IMLS has made the channel available on television monitors in every patient room at Tucson Medical Center and in the children’s play area at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona.
“We are so pleased to partner with the San Diego Zoo, Tucson Medical Center and Reid Park Zoo on this entertaining and educational program,” said Kate Jensen, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona.
“We continue to be humbled by the healing properties of San Diego Zoo Kids,” said Debra Erickson, director of communications, San Diego Zoo Global. “Parents and caregivers share that the channel, which has no commercials or inappropriate content, not only calms children but makes them happy.”
By a happy stroke of destiny, there was a computer lab in Paul Lemmons’ high school. It allowed him to play in the environment enough to know he was drawn to that work.
This year two great events came together to support one great cause. 
