Medicaid was there for Susannah During the Important Months of Pregnancy

I’m a life-long Rhode Islander. I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Rhode Island and then went to law school in Boston.  After I graduated from law school, I moved back to Rhode Island.  I didn’t have a career job yet, was 29, and had no health insurance. I found work as a waitress while I searched for work, assuming I would get a job any day with coverage. Then I got pregnant.  I was scared.  I went to Planned Parenthood for the pregnancy test and, because pre-natal care is so expensive, they referred me to Thundermist in Woonsocket where there is a sliding scale.  Thundermist was wonderful. And, once I applied and was approved; Medicaid back-paid for that early pre-natal care.  Even after I was covered I stayed at Thundermist for my full pregnancy. I saw a nurse practitioner midwife the whole time.

My daughter was born very healthy and still is, but when I went into labor I had to have an emergency C-section.  That could have destroyed me financially. I was in the hospital for four days.  After I was released, I developed an infection at the incision. I had to go to the Emergency Room and then to Thundermist for treatment.  I have to say that without the coverage I might have tried to tough it out which could have meant some serious problems. Quality pre and post-natal care is critical to the health of women and children.

Once my daughter was born, Medicaid covered all of her pediatrician visits, which meant I was able to focus on being a new mom and not on worrying how to afford her care.  Even though my daughter was a healthy baby, if I did have a concern, I knew I could call for advice.

I’ve since gotten a career job that I’m passionate about, I’m married, and my daughter is doing great.  Medicaid matters because it was there for me and for my daughter during the important months of my pregnancy and her first months of life. It helped keep us healthy, and I’m thankful.