by James Coburn, staff writer
Lauren Cronister’s commitment to provide a gratifying and healthy environment for mothers and their newborns shines in her journey as a nurse. Cronister is a pre-op LPN serving mother and baby at the Love Family Women’s Center located on the campus of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City. Cronister is a nursing school graduate of Francis Tuttle who is earning her Associate of Nursing degree within the next six months at Oklahoma City Community College.
Cronister’s first year at Mercy was spent working in long-term acute care during the COVID pandemic. She has been with the Women’s Center going on four years.
She plans to transfer from pre-op nursing to labor and delivery once she becomes a registered nurse. Cronister has been encouraged along the way by labor and delivery nurses that she works with at the hospital.
“I have always enjoyed health. When I was a kid, I wanted to deliver babies whenever I grew-up. The whole process of birth and delivery is fascinating. I knew it was what I wanted to do,” Cronister said. “I feel like it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve experienced. With any delivery I’ve kind of gotten tearful because it’s so beautiful to see life come into this world.”
After the delivery, she cares for the mother and newborn during their recovery with basic care doing vital signs, giving the newborn a bath, and helping the mother learn about motherhood through education.
The Love Family Women’s Center is one of only three childbirth centers statewide listed in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals for Maternity Care for 2025.
Services include:
• Perinatal psychiatrist Dr. Kaylee Woody started at Mercy in August as Oklahoma’s first perinatal psychiatrist, according to Mercy.
• Pelvic floor therapy: The women’s center has a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor therapy. The therapy services clinic has a wide range of services designed for women that includes Oklahoma’s first obstetrics emergency department.
• It also has Oklahoma’s first hospital-based midwifery birthing center.
• A registered dietitian services clinic for women, but also of course for prenatal, postnatal, and pediatric nutritional information.
• The Lactation Club (“TLC”), a weekly and free support group for breastfeeding mothers regularly brings about 10 mothers and babies together for mutual support to help breastfeeding. There are numerous free and low-cost classes and events.
“I feel I had a situation recently that really worked my heart. We had a mother come in who had a drug problem who decided to give the baby up for adoption,” Cronister said. “The baby was going through withdrawal symptoms. That was hard and really sad to see.”
She had abnormal vital signs and was fussy, but completely calmed down when the adoptive family entered the room and took over her care. Cronister began to see a change in the newborn’s demeanor as the baby’s vital signs began to stabilize. It was a night and day experience.
“It was such a sad situation. But the baby was going to go home with people who loved her and obviously that made her feel safe,” Cronister said. “It’s just touching to see a newborn feel love and safety with somebody that really cares about them.”
Being a nurse has made Cronister more grateful for life, she said. She’s gone from dealing with patient mortality while experiencing the COVID pandemic to seeing new life blossom in newborns.
“It has really impacted how we live our lives. Every moment is such a blessing. Every time a baby enters this world and it’s a healthy pregnancy and delivery, it’s a miracle,” she continued.
Her life is balanced when gathering with family and people she lives. Cronister and her daughter take walks every day. She begins her day moving her body with exercise to make sure she’s taking good care of herself. This way, she can take good care of her patients.
She recalled when one of her former patients returned to the women’s center. The woman’s first experience had been an emergency cesarean section.
“I remember we had a bonding experience when she was emotional. It was the middle of the night, and I was helping her,” Cronister said.
Cronister received a report during the woman’s second delivery. She remembered the woman’s name and went to visit her.
“I could just see this relief wash over her face because she knew who I was as well. And she goes, ‘I’m so happy to see you.’ I got to take care of her for about three days. I think it was really cool. I think there are a lot of patients like that. If I was to see them, I would definitely know them.”
