A Calm, Supported Birth: Tayla’s Experience at East Jefferson General Hospital

When Tayla and Cole Grieshaber of Kenner, La., exchanged wedding vows in March 2024, they already knew they wanted to start a family right away. The couple had been together since 2012 — when they were just 14 years old — and felt ready for the next chapter of their lives. 

“We had many years just the two of us and we were ready for the next step,” said Tayla, 26. 

That next step, however, began during an unexpectedly stressful season. Just six weeks before their wedding, the couple’s home flooded, forcing them to move in with Tayla’s mother while navigating wedding plans and uncertainty about when they could return home. 

“My stress level was through the roof,” Tayla said. “When I didn’t get pregnant right away, I started worrying that something was wrong.” 

Tayla shared those concerns with Stephen Champlin, MD, her OB/GYN at East Jefferson General Hospital. 

“He explained that most couples need to be trying for at least a year before making assumptions and reminded me how much pressure I was under,” she recalled. “He told me stress really does affect the body and encouraged me to give myself grace.” 

That reassurance proved powerful. Once the couple returned home and life settled down, Tayla became pregnant. 

A healthy pregnancy and an unexpected turn at the finish line 

Tayla’s pregnancy progressed smoothly, allowing her to continue working throughout her pregnancy at her fast-paced sales job with WGNO, the local ABC affiliate. 

“The pregnancy went amazingly well,” she said. “Every appointment brought relief and excitement.” 

The couple chose not to learn their baby’s gender, opting instead for a surprise at delivery. 

“We had names picked out, but we wanted that moment to be special,” Tayla said. 

At a routine appointment at 38 weeks and five days, Dr. Champlin noticed something that required closer monitoring. 

“He explained that the baby’s heart rate wasn’t exactly what he wanted to see and that my amniotic fluid level looked low,” Tayla said. “Suddenly, we were talking about induction the very next day.” 

Tayla immediately called Cole, 27, and her mom and they raced to the hospital. It was “hurry up and wait” time!   

What began as a 9 a.m. appointment turned into nearly 10 hours of observation. Later that evening, Tayla received an epidural, her water was broken, and Pitocin was started to induce labor. 

By the following morning, Sept. 16, 2025, family and friends filled the waiting room as labor progressed. 

“At one point, I was already eight centimeters,” Tayla said. 

At 11 a.m., the couple welcomed their daughter, Leighton Margaret, weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces and measuring 18.5 inches long. 

“She was beautiful and perfect,” Tayla said. 

Nurses who made a powerful impression 

While Tayla’s medical care was seamless, it was the nursing support that left the deepest impression. 

Early in labor, two nurses from the Mother and Baby unit, Peyton and Kayla, introduced themselves and took time to walk Tayla through what to expect from active labor through the moments after delivery. 

“As a first-time mom, the fear of the unknown is overwhelming,” Tayla said. “They explained everything — how labor would progress, what would happen once the baby was born, and how she would be cared for. That alone brought my anxiety way down.” 

Their compassion and clarity stayed with her long after delivery. Tayla later submitted a “Caught You Caring” recognition to formally acknowledge their impact. 

“I wanted them to know how much it meant,” she said. “They were reassuring, thoughtful and completely present.” 

During active labor, the nurses continued to encourage her. 

“They gave me the confidence to keep going,” Tayla said. “Every nurse I encountered at East Jefferson was attentive, compassionate and fully engaged.” 

A birth experience worth sharing 

Tayla says East Jefferson General Hospital provided more than excellent clinical care — it provided peace of mind. 

“I came in anxious and left with a healthy daughter and a really positive experience,” she said. “My recovery went smoothly and I felt supported every step of the way.” 

Today, Tayla doesn’t hesitate to recommend East Jefferson General Hospital to other expectant parents. 
 

“From my doctor to the nursing staff, I felt genuinely cared for,” she said. “I absolutely hope to have my future babies there.” 

For Tayla and Cole, East Jefferson General Hospital helped turn a stressful season into a calm, joyful beginning — the perfect start to life as a family of three. 

For more information on the Labor and Delivery team at East Jefferson General Hospital, visit: https://www.lcmchealth.org/east-jefferson-general-hospital/our-services/womens-health/women-and-newborn-care/.