Maternity care that speaks your language: West Jefferson Medical Center celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Maternity care that speaks your language: West Jefferson Medical Center celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month 

For Karol and Kevin Matute of Marrero, La., West Jefferson Medical Center has been part of their family’s story three pivotal times. 

All three of their children were born at West Jefferson, where Karol, 27, said she received compassionate care and clear communication from her physicians and nurses. 

Kevin Jr., now 3, was born at 36 weeks. Sophia, 2, arrived at 34 weeks and needed care in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Their youngest, Luna, was also born at 36 weeks and is now 7 months old. Today, all three children are growing quickly, keeping Karol and Kevin, 28, busy with their brood. 

Through three pregnancies and three early deliveries, Karol says the care she received gave her confidence during some anxious moments. Just as important was having physicians who understood her concerns, communicated clearly and made her feel comfortable asking questions. 

For Karol, who was born and raised in Honduras and moved to the United States when she was almost 8, that connection also has a cultural dimension. “Celebrating Hispanic heritage is very important to me, and I want to always be honoring my Hispanic heritage,” she said. 

During Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated September 15 through October 15, West Jefferson is recognizing the Hispanic and Latino patients, families, and team members who are part of the Westbank community. For families such as the Matutes, that includes physicians, nurses and other team members who can communicate with Spanish-speaking patients in their preferred language and understand the community they serve. 

Three pregnancies, one trusted care team 

Karol saw several physicians at the clinic during her pregnancies, but she developed a particularly strong relationship with her obstetrician/gynecologist Ilsa Leon, MD, at the Women’s Medical Center at West Jefferson Medical Center. 

Her first premature delivery left Karol anxious and she often had questions about symptoms or was worried that something might be wrong with her second and third child. Karol said Dr. Leon consistently took her concerns seriously and helped calm her nerves. During her pregnancy with Sophia, that responsiveness became especially important. When Karol experienced discomfort or had a concern, she said the medical team responded quickly. 

“Anything and everything I could think of, they were willing to see me or respond to me in MyChart,” she said. “They went above and beyond.” 

A premature delivery and a reassuring presence 

Sophia’s birth in June 2024 brought one of the most frightening moments of Karol’s experience as a mother. Karol arrived at the hospital in active labor at 34 weeks and was already six centimeters dilated. Dr. Leon came to see her and asked the nurses to let her know when Karol was ready to deliver. 

“When I spoke with her, I felt comforted,” Karol said.  

Dr. Leon returned just as Karol was preparing to push. When Sophia was born with a purple appearance and was not breathing, the medical team immediately began caring for the premature newborn as Dr. Leon reassured Karol. Then Karol heard the sound she had been waiting for. 

“When I heard the baby cry, I knew Dr. Leon had done what she had to do,” she said. 

Because she was born at 34 weeks, Sophia needed additional care in West Jefferson’s Level III NICU, which provides specialized care for premature and critically ill newborns. 

Karol said the physicians and nurses caring for Sophia were “awesome” and made sure she was ready before sending her home. “They didn’t discharge her until she was really good to go,” she said. 

Returning to a care team she trusted 

By the time Karol became pregnant with Luna, the trust she had developed with Dr. Leon and the West Jefferson team shaped her decision about where she wanted to receive care. “She is the only doctor I saw with Luna,” Karol said. “My level of comfort with her meant everything. I felt comfortable with her decisions as a doctor.” 

Dr. Leon was not available when Luna arrived at 36 weeks, but Karol said one of Dr. Leon’s colleagues was there and ready to help her welcome her daughter. Karol felt completely comfortable knowing she was in the hands of a team she trusted.  

Karol also credits the other physicians she saw during her pregnancies with helping her through three experiences that required close monitoring and, at times, considerable reassurance. 

The importance of language and cultural connection in maternity care 

Karol’s experience also reinforced the importance of having physicians who understand the cultural and language needs of Hispanic patients and their families. 

She saw Dr. Leon’s commitment not only in her own care but also in the way the physician worked with other Hispanic families. 

“Her passion and dedication to every patient, but when it came to interacting with Hispanic patients, it was unbelievable,” Karol said. “She really wanted to make sure the patients really understood.” 

That willingness to explain medical information in ways patients could understand stood out to Karol. “People want to understand what their providers are saying,” she said. 

West Jefferson has Spanish-speaking OB/GYNs on its medical staff, along with bilingual nurses and other team members who work with Spanish-speaking patients and families. Interpreter and translation services are also available for patients who prefer to receive information in a language other than English. 

Clear communication can be especially important during pregnancy and childbirth, when families may need to understand changes to their birth plan, premature labor, pain management, potential complications or the need for specialized newborn care. 

Comprehensive maternity and newborn care on the Westbank 

The Family Birth Place at West Jefferson provides maternity care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and recovery. Services and amenities include private delivery rooms, hydrotherapy tubs for labor, childbirth and parenting education and lactation support. 

When newborns require additional medical attention, West Jefferson’s Level III NICU provides specialized care for premature and critically ill babies, including babies like Sophia. 

West Jefferson has earned Louisiana’s Birth Ready+ designation, recognizing hospitals working to improve the quality and safety of care for mothers and babies. The Family Birth Place has also received recognition from U.S. News & World Report for maternity care. 

The hospital’s commitment to serving Hispanic and Latino families extends beyond maternity services. West Jefferson offers Centro Hispano de Salud within its Harvey clinic, helping address language barriers and improve access to healthcare for the area’s Hispanic community. 

For Karol, Hispanic Heritage Month is personal. So is the connection she found with the physicians and nurses who helped bring all three of her children into the world. Her experience also reflects a fundamental part of healthcare: Patients need to understand the people caring for them, and they need to know those people understand them. 

At West Jefferson, Karol found both. 

Learn more about The Family Birth Place at West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero, La.