A Patient’s Story:
Having babies at Holland Hospital is a family tradition for the Bosch family, dating back to the 1930s. Jenna Bosch’s parents, Kirk (1958), and mother-in-law, Lynn (1955), were born at Holland Hospital as well as her maternal grandfather, Bob (1938).
Birth tag for Jenna’s dad, Kirk, circa 1958.
Jenna and her husband, Mitch, were also born at the hospital. When they found out they were pregnant with their first child in 2014, the Boschs knew they wanted to have their children at Holland Hospital as well. Jenna birthed both of their sons, Levi (2014) and Isaac (2016), at the Boven Birth Center.
Unfortunately, Jenna was not able to share stories with her grandparents, but when comparing birthing experiences with her mother, Jenna was shocked at the differences. Her mom, Sandy, explained how the delivery room and recovery room used to be separate. She shared a recovery room with several other mothers and there was little privacy. Their husbands were not allowed to stay overnight and they spent very little time with their babies. Other than feeding time, they were mostly cared for by nurses in another location.
Her mother-in-law had quite a different experience, since she had a Cesarean section. Lynn was given a private room but there was no cable television at the time. She recalled not being too pleased because the only available show was Pee-wee Herman while she recovered!
Jenna with son, Levi, in Boven Birth Center, 2014.
In the 2010s, Jenna’s birthing experiences looked very different from
that of her parents’ generation. The biggest difference was privacy and the attention to personal care. All of her nurses were helpful and made her feel confident about the delivery. She loved how many options there were during labor. From a big tub to soak in to a yoga ball to bounce on to a soft bed to rest in, Holland Hospital had everything she needed. Jenna said, “You don’t feel like you have to just lie in bed and suffer.” She also remembered one nurse who quietly sat with her for an hour or so while she was in labor. The nurse didn’t say anything, but she was supportive and comforting while they waited for the baby.
Post-delivery was also much different. Once the baby was born, Jenna described nurses coming in and out of the room giving her all kinds of information. There was always someone present to answer her questions or provide assistance. She didn’t have to move to another room and today, they encourage mothers to be with their babies as much as possible. They also have reclining chairs in the rooms for husbands to be able to stay comfortably overnight.
Jenna works at Holland Hospital in Human Resources. She has been the NESG-Compensation & Benefits Coordinator for the last four years. Originally from Holland, she attended Holland Christian Schools and received her bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University and master’s from Cornerstone University. Now she resides in Hudsonville with her husband, Mitch, who is a Hamilton native. Jenna and her family have deep roots in the area.
As an employee, Jenna knows that the Boven Birth Center is clinically excellent, but now she has experienced it firsthand!