Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda Harrison & Monica Lemcke.
Hi Melinda & Monica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hello! My name is Melinda Harrison, RN & I am the co-founder & co-owner with one of my awesome nurse friends {Monica Lemcke, RN} of the support group The Last Trimester. I am a #boygirlmom. We come alongside women that struggle with issues prenatally, during pregnancy & postpartum. We offer a safe place to feel supported & heard. We realized that Henry Co. has a large population of women that need/want help with these issues. So that’s when we formed The Last Trimester in April of 2022.
We are currently transitioning into connecting with moms virtually through Zoom meetings, FaceTime or simply a phone conversation. We are working towards starting this new aspect of our care for the moms of Henry Co.
I am currently employed PRN at Covenant Care Pediatrics. Monica works at CHOA in the Neurology Department. We both worked @ Piedmont Henry Mother/Baby for a combined total of ten years…me six of those years & her four years.
While working at Piedmont Henry, we found a need in the community. Women were being discharged from the hospital following traumatic deliveries, miscarriages, or simply overwhelmed from how their life had changed with no true resources. Many of our patients were unable to make it to the third trimester, let alone the “fourth” so we decided to create The Last Trimester-An organization aimed at providing resources to this underserved population where we could share coffee, donuts & our struggles with each other, helping each person know they’re not alone.
Our hope/goal this year is to grow larger, meet & support more women, have difficult conversations & offer support and encouragement to women struggling with the following issues:
• infertility
• miscarriage
• pregnant and want support before delivery
• history of postpartum depression/anxiety & currently pregnant
• postpartum depression/anxiety
We decided to add a virtual component this year. My hope is to go “Instagram Live” OR create a Zoom meeting. I’ll share the information and link when it’s available. Along with more info about the 30 min phone conversation/FaceTime or Zoom meeting. We will check in with moms that express a need for some additional information, resources or just a person to speak with regarding their postpartum depression.
We offer a basic 6-meeting format with topics that spark conversation & discussion. We express our opinions/information we’ve learned or experienced. We can share trusted community resources.
We will have multiple guest speakers sprinkled throughout our scheduled meetings. The speakers will include:
▪️ Kristin Mize, Counselor specializing in maternal mental health https://www.kristinmize.com
▪️ Rachel Eden, LMSW, passionate about helping those with grief and loss https://www.tinyplanetcounseling.com
▪️ Local OB/GYN Doctor(s)
▪️ Local Pediatrician(s)
▪️ Local Nurse Practitioner(s)
▪️ Local RN’s from Women’s Services @ Piedmont Henry (NICU, L&D, Mother/Baby Unit)
We hope you will join us or spread the word about this amazing opportunity we have to be a positive influence in other women’s lives.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
We dreamed up the group with another nurse back in the spring of 2022. We shared chips & salsa (along with some house margaritas) and sat there a few hours brainstorming. We decided to dream big with a company outline but start small with a support group for the community. Before the first meeting, our third partner moved to Colorado & we struggled with moving forward with the meetings or letting the dream fizzle out.
We decided to proceed with the first meeting & 2 people showed up. We quickly realized that it is hard to grow a group where the target population (moms focused on caring for others) is being asked to tackle the hardest part of self care-taking an hour of time for yourself. Nevertheless, our group continued to grow through word of mouth and continued outreach.
With each meeting, we celebrated wins as big as weddings and as small as babies’ first Halloween costumes. We found in our conversations that something about sharing your struggles with motherhood & being a woman makes for close connections. Although our first group has graduated, we continue to communicate and will always be there to love & support them.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Melinda: I work PRN for Covenant Care Pediatrics. I specialize in pediatrics right now, but I’ve also worked with postpartum moms & newborns. I am known for my hard work, care for patients & loyalty to the company & community I provide care to.
I’m most proud of the fact that I started my career as an extern on mother/baby at Piedmont Henry & was nervous beyond belief my first year. When I decided to go work for Dr. Pulliam six years later, I was a preceptor & trained many new & old nurses on our unit and allowed students to shadow me. I also ended with being our unit-based educator. That was exciting & rewarding working alongside my colleagues & helping them learn new processes, equipment & policies. I was awarded several Daisy Awards while providing care for my patients & that made me feel like I was making a difference.
I think what sets me apart from others is my desire to provide excellent patient care to each patient I take care of. I pay very close attention to details & strive to leave a positive impression on each family I care for.
Monica: My first job as a nurse was working at Piedmont Henry in their Women’s Health department. I was honored to help women in their most vulnerable moments. I quickly graduated from newbie on the floor to charge nurse and wanted to grow my skills further. I moved on to get my Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and when I came home, dove into the world of pediatric nursing. I now work at at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in their neurology department.
My greatest strength as a nurse is advocating for my patients. I have always been one to speak my mind and when it comes to my patient’s care, I am no different. I find joy in giving those who feel they don’t have a voice a megaphone. I believe I’m in this position to listen and equip and that is what I aim to do with this organization.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Melinda: I think in order to have a healthy relationship with a mentor, you have to find a person that shares your same values & ethics. Once you match with someone on that level, the rest just falls into place. What has worked well for me is seeking out someone that I can trust & I know they have my back.
Monica: I kind of love that Melinda is my partner in crime in this. When I started as a nurse, she was my mentor and from the outside, our lives look nothing alike. She is a happily married mom of two with a house and a plan. I am a single woman always looking to book my next trip, with no idea what comes next. Somehow our combined experiences allow us to meet women exactly where they are. That’s what I think mentorship is-someone meeting you where you are, taking in your story, and creating space to help you grow.
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