After a long journey, this "Spicy Noodle" was delivered with lots of extra hope and joy
[5 min read]
In this article:
- In trying to start their family, Rachel and Chris Butler experienced difficult and frightening pregnancy loss.
- Rachel was 32 weeks pregnant when a scan revealed vasa previa, a rare complication that can lead to blood loss and stillbirth. She was admitted to Swedish's antepartum unit, where she recieved care from our maternal and fetal medicine experts.
- After a month-long stay, Rachel gave birth to daughter Emily, whose fiesty personality has earned her the nickname Spicy Noodle.
- Rachel and her husband Chris credit Swedish Foundation-supported programs for Rachel's excellent care and Emily's successful delivery.
After experiencing multiple miscarriages, Rachel Butler was understandably concerned when, at 32 weeks pregnant, she was admitted to Swedish’s maternal and fetal specialty center in September 2023.
A routine scan showed that Butler had vasa previa, a rare pregnancy complication that can lead to severe blood loss for the fetus if it’s not carefully managed and can, in some cases, result in stillbirth.
“We were wondering if we’re ever going to catch a break,” Butler says. “But having gone through pregnancy loss and some scary ultrasounds, I knew the hospital was the best place for me to be.”
As it turns out, Butler was in very good hands during her month-long stay with Swedish’s antepartum unit, which specializes in high-risk pregnancies.
Butler was not put on full bedrest, so she was able to walk around the hospital, becoming intimately familiar with the Starbucks in the lobby. She was buoyed by the fact that with careful treatment and a scheduled cesarean birth, the survival rate for her baby was over 98 percent.
“If I had a question, there was someone I could always ask. It was never a bother to anyone,” Butler says. “My stay was wonderful. I’m not a super talkative person all the time, and it seemed like a lot of nurses picked up on that. But as I stayed there longer and longer, I ended up talking to a lot of people.”
Butler’s husband, Chris, brought in a card table. He would also bring dinner to his wife’s room. Butler spent her free time cross-stitching for the baby’s nursery.
Finally, exactly one month after Butler was admitted, she gave birth to daughter Emily at 36 weeks.
“Rachel was a favorite patient of the antepartum team,” says Katy Davis, RN, who has been part of the antepartum team at Swedish since 2004. “She was a joy to care for, always positive, engaged, and interested.”
Baby Emily turned one on October 18 of this year. There hasn’t been a dull moment in the Butler’s West Seattle home since. Emily has even earned the nickname, "Spicy Noodle” from her daycare provider.
“She’s insane,” Butler laughs. “Looking back, I should have known this. The first time they used the Doppler to find her, they told me they don’t get too worried when a baby is too active. She absolutely won’t sit still.
“And at daycare, they give us reports throughout the day and tell us that she’s very reasonable, as long as you meet her needs.”
Today, Butler bursts with gratitude for the care that she received during her month-long stay at Swedish.
“They completely changed everything for me,” Butler says.
Learn more and find physician or advanced practice clincian (APC)
Swedish has three birth centers — First Hill, Issaquah and Edmonds — making it convenient for people who live or work in the Seattle, Eastside and North End areas. Swedish patients can take classes, meet other families, get help with lactation and go for new parents and well-baby checkups at The Lytle Center for Pregnancy & Newborns at our First Hill birth center. You can also get expert advice there and help with wellness. Visit our website to learn more about midwives at Swedish and how they can partner with you to create the most personalized birthing experience possible.
If you need a gynecologist, women's health specialist or primary care doctor, Swedish is here for you. Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. Swedish Virtual Care connects you face-to-face with a nurse practitioner who can review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. If you need to find a doctor, you can use our provider directory.
About the Swedish Foundation
Your generous gift helps support a healthy tomorrow for everyone in every communty we serve. Learn about more ways to give to the Swedish Foundation or make a direct donation online at swedishfoundation.org. You can also contact the Foundation at 206-368-2738 or email foundation@swedish.org. Thank you for helping us shape the future of healthcare. We can’t do it without you.
Information for patients and visitors
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This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your health care professional’s instructions.
