Chidera Osuji

Maternal Child Health patient and Highland Hospital volunteer

My youngest baby is Lincoln. I had him here four months ago, and he’s super cute and a big baby. He’s growing very well. My first, Donald, is 3 years old, and Oscar is 21 months. I was born in Nigeria. I had my first son there before I moved over to the US.

I’d never heard of CenteringPregnancy, but I’m open to learning new things. After the first class I was always looking forward to the next month. In the Centering group we were taught a lot of things to expect, what we are going to experience, what to do about it when it happens. I had more confidence. It made me more relaxed and more comfortable.

I have friends now that are still my friends from that Centering group. We talk almost every day. We’re there for each other.

I’m an optometrist. I came into the US and I couldn’t practice. After having my second child here I told my midwife, Laura, that I think I want to be a midwife. That’s what I’m working toward. It’s my dream. I think it’s because of the experience I had here that really channeled me to that career path.

I’m volunteering here in the labor and delivery ward for a year because I need it to get admission into school and do my master’s and midwifery. That was my major reason, but when I started I found out that being a volunteer is not just all about the benefit of what you need it for—you end up helping people. It gives me joy. I go home after four hours happy because I’ve put a smile on a lot of people’s faces.

To all the expectant mothers and families who are looking for places to have their kids, I would say Highland is the place. This is where you get the whole love, the whole care, attention, peace of mind.