Devon Gordon

Devon Gordon had a healthy and relatively easy first pregnancy, and she’s proud to report she even managed to continue CrossFit classes throughout: “Up until the day before I gave birth. I think this really helped me mentally and physically for birth and postpartum.”

She’s grateful for her healthy pregnancy, and especially for the good health of her newborn son. “I was induced three weeks early because they were looking at my son’s heart and something was going on with it,” she explains. “They thought he needed to come early.”

Devon was anxious as her induction approached, but she was determined to focus on the positive — a mindset she believes can foster gratitude even in difficult times. Ultimately, all went smoothly during labor and delivery at Baptist Health, where she gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

“From the start at check in to when we checked out, every single person we came across was so wonderful, so helpful. Every nurse that we dealt with, I felt like we were their only patient,” says Devon. She’s grateful for wonderful care throughout her pregnancy journey — from the first appointment with her obstetrician, Lynne Simms, MD, to her postpartum visits to Baptist Health’s free lactation clinic, where caregivers helped her overcome breastfeeding challenges.

“This does not happen everywhere, and we could have had a very different experience, so I just wanted to really acknowledge those people who went above and beyond for us,” she says. “I can’t imagine doing their job — that’s an intense job in labor and delivery and postpartum — and I want them to know how impactful they are every day.”

Focusing on the positives rather than the negatives can foster gratitude and promote healing.