anxiety, medical knowledge, things going grrossly wrong and the trauma....

Specialties Ob/Gyn

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I've just had my first grandchild... I've worked in NICU, SICU, MICU, CCU, Home Health and Corrections. I feel extremely knowledgeable. I was an LPN for 6 years and an RN since 1986.

I've been traumatized and shocked to disbelief at the scene of my grandsons birth. My son's wife is also a nurse. We have all had blood, sweat,tears and a couple of years overtime for us all to get her there. She is the perfect woman for my son.

Had I not been educated, when I saw the decelerations 80's, my daughter-in-laws BP 65/17 and knew that she needed a bolus at 999 of Normal Saline and needed a med to increase the BP stat, we would lose her. This continued for several minutes... Knowing that protocoll was not being followed.

The CNM asked the RN 3 times to administer the drug.... She was obsessed with not getting any urine out of the foley that she had inserted...She didn't seem to be aware that she had just straight cathed her.... She became even more hypoxic. I went to the door and yelled for the doc to get in there stat and then I became the nurse that I swore I would not be when I went in there. I started advocating... Having had prior knowledge of the hospital and it's staffing... I may have thought that was usual as a lay person...They immediately took her to do a C-section.....

All is well....

8lbs, 4.4 oz 21 1/2 iches. His name is Dagon Riley Olson born... healthy 09-02-2004

Do ya think are all over worked and are losing our focus... Or the standards are being lowered... HELLO.... This has happened to my family TODAY. 09-02-04... Please help me to feel better about our future....I may need a nurse...

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

OMG what a course!!! congratulations on your new Grandbaby and I am sorry for all you went through. I can only say, this is NOT the norm in a labor/delivery course. Sounds like the ball was dropped someplace. Did Mom have epidural anesthesia? This reminds me of an episode of hypotension related to anesthesia....one that can be predicted and treated rapidly. What "drug" did the midwife ask for? Was it ephedrine?? Just curious. There are a few thing missing here......and I know you are upset. But I am really thinking this was an anesthesia-related episode, low b/p and falling fetal heart rates can happen in this case and VERY quickly.

I am just glad all are safe. HUGS and CONGRATS to you.

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yes the CNM had asked for ephedrine... The nurses were just taking their time... She had an epidural with lidocaine with epi and marcaine. She was to 'numb' to push and kept falling asleep.

In the end the baby was just too darn big and they seemd surprised at that. The OB/GYN came in and spoke with the CNM and they waited for a bit... things were getting worse as the nurses were not listening and the inaction drove me crazy... afraid that the placenta would detach and that she would hemmorhage I marched out and demanded that something be done... NOW :angryfire

Thank you for your quick response... I do feel much better now...

But what about the next patient that doesn't have a nurse in the family.???

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I would write up EXACTLY what you told me here to the hospital administration and unit manager, but in GREAT detail, times, dates, specifics, etc. There was a lot going on here I think needs their attention and to be addressed. Sounds like poor training on the nurses' parts, really. I am so sorry for all you went through........and I am just really glad things turned okay in the end. Again, congratulations to you!!!

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Sounds to me like an inexperienced nurse, she wasn't paying close attention to the events going on around her. :o How sad. Even the CNM recognized she didn't have a clue if she had to ask her 3 times to administer the Ephedrine. :uhoh3: If there is anything that I have learned working in L & D it is that things can happen very fast, can go downhill even faster.

I'm happy that your grandbaby and DIL are doing fine. Congratulations!

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No. Definitely NOT the norm!

As stated before, write it up as detailed as possible and report it.

I am stunned to hear a nurse would focus on urine when an obvious hypo-crash was occuring. In our facility, we often push eph immed post-epi becuase so many women bottom out. With one doc we have it hanging on the bag before he even enters the room :uhoh3: . Some anesth docs are really good and we don't need to, but most women end up getting the eph. My point is, this is so common a problem with epis that I am surprised to hear an L&D nurse would drop the ball on it.

I am sorry for your experience. I am so glad you were there.

Congratulations on your grandson!!!

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At my place ephedrine would (and could) ONLY be administered by the anesthesiologist Sounds like a lot went on here and was a nightmare. That's an UNUSUAL scenario in OB. In all my years, I have only seen blood pressure go down low on occasion. Her epidural sounds like it was way TOO strong. Also, usually if there is going to be a drop in B/P after an epidural, it happens right away. That's why anesthesia hangs around after a procedure. I question why a CNM had anything at all to do with Ephedrine.None of our OB's even mess with that. Ephedrine is left to the anesthesiologist. I am sorry for your scary experience. That's unusual.

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I have an update:

The nurse in question was not a 'new' nurse. This, after the investigation, was not the first time that this nurse had ignored the CNM.

The CNM threatened to quit, the Nurse manager of the unit fired the nurse... New BP monitoring equipment was bought for the unit. (I'd forgotten to tell you all that they had to change BP equipment 3 times during this nightmare.)

They are all concerned about how well my D-I-L and baby are doing and the call her several times a day. The CNM even called everyday on her vacation.

There is a 'whole lotta changes taking place there....Squeaky Wheel Gets The Grease!!! No adverse affects to Mom or baby...

Thanx to you all for being here for me.

UnchainedFever

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I am not too sure why the CNM was alone in this case. If there was a question of needing Ephedrine, there should have been an anesthesiologist as well as an OB present. Glad all went well.

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Either epidural or hemorrhage...Sounds like a scary scene for you but glad tohear your baby and the mom and dad are ok ( and the gramma)..Sounds anesthesia related to me and an increase in fluids ( not necessarily normal saline and not necessarily that fast) along with the head down, feet up and then perhaps ephedrine ( some nurses aren't alowed to administer it depending on the protocols of certain facilities)...Low BP ( not that low) is not unusual in delivery. Glad to hear all went well...

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Well you have my suggestion already. I hope you choose to follow through on it. I am sorry this happened to you and your daughter.

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congrats to all on your little one...look at it this way...you probably saved the life of others down the road by getting attention to the horrible situation that occured..glad that yhour gs was one of them

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