From Patient to Mother: Two Generations of Care
8.19.2024 | Alice Thavis
Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic offers medical, dental, behavioral health, nutrition, lactation and other types of care in one location.
Miracle Davis remembers the first weeks of her son Samir’s life as a blur. In addition to the steep learning curve of caring for an infant and the exhaustion that often plagues new parents, Miracle faced extra stressors about her son’s health.
Samir was premature – born at 35 weeks – and weighed just 4 pounds when he left the hospital. He was jaundiced and struggled to latch to his mother’s breast, which made building his weight very difficult. Samir needed medical appointments every three days to track his weight and ensure his jaundice was under control.
“Everything was new to me; I was overwhelmed and so sleep-deprived,” Miracle says. “I couldn’t make sense of any of it.”
Support throughout a challenging time
Miracle turned to Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (OBCC) for the care she and Samir needed. “I have a sister who takes her three kids to OBCC, and I also went to the Central District location throughout my childhood,” Miracle says. “I’ve always felt like a priority there.”
Miracle was quickly connected to OBCC’s lactation services for breastfeeding care. She got support during Samir’s clinic visits and stayed in touch with a specialist via text. Because he was premature, it took a couple of months of patiently pumping and feeding Samir via bottle to nourish him, which added to Miracle’s strain and extreme tiredness.
“Then when he was 2 or 3 months old, he started to solidly latch and became exclusively breastfed,” Miracle says. “It finally happened, and we’re still doing it at 15 months.” Samir also eats solids – his favorites are squash, green grapes and turkey sausage – but both mother and son remain committed to breastfeeding.
“The recommendation for breastfeeding/chestfeeding is up to two years, but I meet with parents and support whatever works for them and their individual situation,” says OBCC Lactation Consultant Phuong Truong. “In this case, I love seeing how supporting Miracle with latching and feeding helped her and Samir continue this journey.”
"We help parents take care of themselves – they might need rest or extra food to be healthy, and we do whatever we can.”
– Phuong Truong, Lactation Consultant
Caring for the whole family
In addition to the medical care Samir receives at OBCC, Miracle now realizes how much the team helped her cope with being a first-time mom.
“They were really attentive to me and taught me how to articulate my needs and regulate my emotions about everything that was going on,” Miracle says. “I have family members with kids and felt like I should be able to do this, but instead I kept thinking, ‘What am I doing wrong?’”
“Being a mom is not a walk in the park, and everyone at OBCC made me realize that – and feel better about it,” she adds.
The OBCC team even offered Miracle short breaks, so she could rest alone in a clinic room while they played with Samir. “We help parents take care of themselves – they might need rest or extra food to be healthy, and we do whatever we can,” says Phuong Truong, who is also a registered dietitian.
By the Numbers
- 83% of OBCC families surveyed were breastfeeding/chestfeeding at six months compared to the
national average of 58%. - 52% of families shared that they were exclusively breastfeeding/chestfeeding through nine
months.
‘We can all be a part of somebody’s childhood’
Today, 15-month-old Samir is a toddler on the move; he recently learned to walk and loves to explore his surroundings. “He’s always happy and has a fun personality,” Miracle says. “He really likes to gasp and then laugh at himself – I’ve never seen a baby like him.”
Miracle is grateful to OBCC for the care they gave Samir, as well as the support the team has offered her. From lactation assistance to self-care breaks to a listening ear, she has fully experienced the type of “wraparound” care for which OBCC is celebrated in the community.
That care gives Miracle confidence that Samir will grow up in good hands – the same ones that contributed to her own healthy childhood. “The interactions my son has at OBCC are meaningful, and those are things he’s going to remember for the rest of his life,” Miracle says. “I like to see the memories that are being made for Samir; it shows how we can all be a part of somebody’s childhood.”
From the front door to the exam rooms, OBCC creates a vibrant, welcoming environment for families.
Invest in Quality Care With Dignity
Giving to Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (OBCC) helps families like Samir’s get the hope, care and cures they need in the heart of our community. With support from people like you, OBCC can continue providing quality care with dignity to children and families for another 50 years. Make a gift today.