When Hannah Verkamp, 26, of Rolla, Mo., gave birth to her first baby nearly seven years ago, it wasn’t exactly the experience she hoped it would be. First, she didn’t have a good connection with her Ob/Gyn. She also developed preeclampsia – a prenatal complication marked by high blood pressure – which forced her to deliver her son early at just 36 weeks. So, when she learned she was expecting her second baby, Verkamp decided to go another route: she wanted to find a new Ob/Gyn and hospital.
“One of my colleagues at work recommended Dr. Roger Rembecki at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital,” said Verkamp. “I was able to get an appointment within a week of calling his office. His office manager was also super friendly and scheduled me in the afternoon, so I didn’t have to miss work. I appreciated how accommodating his office was.”
Verkamp had her first appointment with Dr. Remecki when she was 15 weeks pregnant. During that initial consultation, Dr. Rembecki spent time learning about the challenges Verkamp experienced with her first pregnancy. More importantly, he made sure her concerns and wishes were heard.
“Dr. Rembecki was really thorough, going over everything, answering my questions, and taking his time with me,” said Verkamp. “I appreciated how knowledgeable he was, while being relatable and even funny. He put me at ease, which I needed after experiencing a difficult first pregnancy and delivery.”
Given her prior high-risk pregnancy, Dr. Rembecki monitored Verkamp’s second pregnancy closely, conducting regular ultrasounds and checkups to ensure there were no signs of preeclampsia or other complications. Thankfully, Verkamp had an uneventful second pregnancy and delivery, giving birth to her son, Oliver, at 37.5 weeks at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital.
“Hannah was always attentive during her prenatal appointments, while being particularly receptive to treatment plan recommendations,” said Dr. Rembecki. “She took exceptional interest in her care and was always courteous and complementary to the entire health care team, both in the clinic and in labor and delivery. I was pleased with how smoothly her delivery with Oliver went.”
In 2023, Verkamp returned to Dr. Rembecki when she learned she was expecting again. She was encouraged by how well things went with her second pregnancy and delivery and was hopeful to experience the same with her third. Just as with her prior pregnancy, Dr. Rembecki monitored Verkamp closely to help avoid any complications. She didn’t experience any issues until the end of her pregnancy when she developed high blood pressure. Verkamp was given magnesium to bring down her blood pressure before delivering a healthy baby girl at 38.5 weeks.
“I had another great birthing experience at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital. I really like how their Mother Baby Unit allows you to be in the same room for your labor, delivery, and recovery, and that my baby, Stella, was able to stay in my room with me. It gave me peace-of-mind,” said Verkamp. “Everyone was super helpful and made sure I was comfortable throughout my stay. And I never had a rude nurse or someone who couldn’t answer a question.”
Verkamp was also really pleased with the newborn care Stella received in the Mother Baby Unit from Dr. Ravi Saripalli, a pediatrician on staff at the hospital. She was so pleased that she decided to switch pediatricians, and her daughter now sees Dr. Saripalli for her pediatric needs.
“I’m grateful that I found Dr. Rembecki, Dr. Saripalli, and Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital,” said Verkamp. “Thanks to them, I had much better experiences with my last two pregnancies and deliveries.”
Dr. Rembecki, part of a team of prenatal and childbirth care providers at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital sees patients at the Sullivan Medical Office, offering personalized, compassionate care for expectant moms, understanding their needs and concerns, and collaborating to create birth plans that support their labor and delivery wishes. Well-respected in his field, Dr. Rembecki has been recognized as a ‘Top Doctor for 2023’ by St. Louis Magazine.
Dr. Rembecki is equally grateful to have a patient like Verkamp.
“I’m appreciative of Hannah’s loyalty to our practice as she came from a distance despite having other options that are closer and more convenient,” said Dr. Rembecki. “She’s truly been a wonderful patient, always greeting me and my staff with a smile.”
For more information about Dr. Rembecki or Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital’s Mother Baby Unit, please call (573) 860-6000.