[RealNurseWitch]

Hi all. I don't know if this post really belongs in this forum, but it is a story about nursing (nursing school, particularly) and it's a cute, uplifting story (well okay, I don't know if I should have used the word CUTE ), so here ya go...

On November 18th, 2002, at around 12:30 am, my water broke. So I gathered up my husband and my belongings and headed to the hospital. Needless to say, I was excited. I had been waiting for this moment for what seemed like forever.

Once at the hospital, I was given my antibiotic (I was GBS positive) and then my pitocin was started sometime later because, though my water had broke I still was not in active labor. Soon however I started to have contractions that over time became stronger and stronger, but my baby refused to DROP. As my contractions became stronger and the hours passed, I was still only 3 centimeters dilated. Around 1:30-2pm I finally received an epidural (I had wanted to try to go without one), and at around 3:00, my doctor informed that since my water had broke so long ago, and since it really didn't look like the baby was going to come down the canal... she was going to have to do a c-section.

Well, around that same time... who should begin to arrive on the OB unit.. but my fellow nursing students.

I was going to have my baby in the middle of my OB clinical!! Actually, what was supposed to be my last night of OB clinical. And where was I supposed to be spending that particular evening? You guessed it! Doing my rotation in labor and delivery!

My classmates ALL wanted to be in the C-section room with me, but only two of them would be allowed in. So my friends Jennifer and Beth were able to help with the C-section (Beth was ALREADY an OB tech, so she knew what she was doing!). When it was over and I was wheeled into the recovery room, the two girls got me all cleaned up. So, they got to see a LOT of me! Do you think I cared? No. I was slightly doped up. :hatparty:

Meanwhile, some of my other classmates were helping to care for my new little girl. She was COATED in vernix, so it took them a long time to get her cleaned up! Then once she was cleaned up, my friend Tess put a little bow in her hair and took her picture.

After I was taken to my patient room... the rest of the evening is pretty much a blur, until that night when my little girl cried ALL night long. I tried to breastfeed and had a very hard time getting her to latch on.

I received an A for that clinical night. :Melody: And just think; my classmates were doing careplans based on ME, and my baby. It was a very neat experience and I love sharing it with my friends, and I can't wait to tell my little girl about it, when she gets older.

[VickyRN]

Wow! It was wonderful that your clinical group could share in your experience. Thanks so much for sharing.

[USA987]

What a neat story. Thanks for sharing.

[z's playa]

Sweet

[stevierae]

What a great story!!! I was in tears (happy tears) reading it. You and your classmates will remember every detail for the rest of your lives. Be sure to get lots of pictures of you, them, and the baby together, and show them to your daughter growing up. It would be really cool if you all stay in touch--you've now formed a special bond.

I, too, had a couple of classmates at my second baby's birth, but it was pre-arranged---they knew my due date, but I was a couple of weeks late. I called them the morning I went into labor, and they met my husband, toddler, me and the 2 attending RN midwives at the birth home (popular in those days.) This was in 1980 (my daughter is probably older than you are, LOL!) My classmates and I were doing our OB rotation at the hospital just around the corner, but none of us had ever had experience within a birth home, as we didn't rotate there.

Wish I had remembered to take pictures of my classmates! In those days, we did Lamaze, and they were great coaches.

Thanks for sharing this heartwarming story.

Did any of your clinical group get involved in helping you breastfeed? Was it successful?

[JustaPatient]

that is SO SWEET

[BabyRN2Be]

RealNurseWitch,

That story is so sweet. That's an awesome opportunity to have so much support from people you actually know! Betcha that's a birth that no one in your class will ever forget.

Me, I dunno if I could be so brave. My husband and I are talking about having a baby, and I think that I'm going to go to the hospital that I'm currently a doula at. Mixed feelings on this: this is a great facility, very natural childbirth friendly, but I'm a little afraid about what my response to labor is going to be like. I hope to be well prepared and if I can, I'd like to use 2 doulas: one for myself and one to support my husband, he's gonna need it - a few weeks ago I had to have an IV placed, and I was comforting HIM - he doesn't like to see possible pain inflicted on me so if I can talk a doula friend into it, I think I'll have one just to help out Steve.

Anyhow, I know quite a few of the nurses there and I always go out of my way to help them when they need me. But sometimes I know that when they start talking about people, they can be a bit rough, you know?

Hopefully I'll be well prepared and won't come off the wall in labor. I'd hate to have it going around that one of the doulas had a baby and she couldn't tolerate it. I hope they won't judge me if I decide to have an epidural.

Another aspect in while you are more brave, I'm VERY modest (yes, I know that will go out the window when I'm in labor ) and I don't want all my coworkers see me in all my glory, or lack thereof.

Your story is wonderful, and everything came out wonderful for you. I hope that when the time comes, my birthstory, however it will end, will be as great as yours.

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by RealNurseWitch

Hi all. I don't know if this post really belongs in this forum, but it is a story about nursing (nursing school, particularly) and it's a cute, uplifting story (well okay, I don't know if I should have used the word CUTE ), so here ya go...

On November 18th, 2002, at around 12:30 am, my water broke. So I gathered up my husband and my belongings and headed to the hospital. Needless to say, I was excited. I had been waiting for this moment for what seemed like forever.

Once at the hospital, I was given my antibiotic (I was GBS positive) and then my pitocin was started sometime later because, though my water had broke I still was not in active labor. Soon however I started to have contractions that over time became stronger and stronger, but my baby refused to DROP. As my contractions became stronger and the hours passed, I was still only 3 centimeters dilated. Around 1:30-2pm I finally received an epidural (I had wanted to try to go without one), and at around 3:00, my doctor informed that since my water had broke so long ago, and since it really didn't look like the baby was going to come down the canal... she was going to have to do a c-section.

Well, around that same time... who should begin to arrive on the OB unit.. but my fellow nursing students.

I was going to have my baby in the middle of my OB clinical!! Actually, what was supposed to be my last night of OB clinical. And where was I supposed to be spending that particular evening? You guessed it! Doing my rotation in labor and delivery!

My classmates ALL wanted to be in the C-section room with me, but only two of them would be allowed in. So my friends Jennifer and Beth were able to help with the C-section (Beth was ALREADY an OB tech, so she knew what she was doing!). When it was over and I was wheeled into the recovery room, the two girls got me all cleaned up. So, they got to see a LOT of me! Do you think I cared? No. I was slightly doped up. :hatparty:

Meanwhile, some of my other classmates were helping to care for my new little girl. She was COATED in vernix, so it took them a long time to get her cleaned up! Then once she was cleaned up, my friend Tess put a little bow in her hair and took her picture.

After I was taken to my patient room... the rest of the evening is pretty much a blur, until that night when my little girl cried ALL night long. I tried to breastfeed and had a very hard time getting her to latch on.

I received an A for that clinical night. :Melody: And just think; my classmates were doing careplans based on ME, and my baby. It was a very neat experience and I love sharing it with my friends, and I can't wait to tell my little girl about it, when she gets older.

WOW that is something! Congratulations and what a great story for mother's day!

xo

[SmilingBluEyes]

sweet.

[lifesaverwv]

What is a doula???