Does this really happen?

[srose]

Hi everyone! i'm just a nursing student, so i apologize in advance if this is a stupid question. But last week I was watching the Maternity Ward show on TLC, which I'm addicted to. Anyway, there was a mom who had been pushing for about an hour. Making progress, but slowly. No one seemed too concerned, it was her first baby, etc. But then they showed a few scenes of mom pushing with dad standing at the foot of the bed between her feet, coaching her and counting while she pushed. There didn't seem to be anyone else in the room, no nurses, no doctor, no midwife, because at some point while mom was pushing (alone?) dad freaked out and said, "okay, i'd better go get the nurse!" ran out to call her. the nurses and doctor came in, baby was delivered, everyone was fine.

anyway, it struck me as odd that a mom was who was actively pushing would be left to continue pushing alone. does this ever happen, did i miss something on the show, or what?!

sorry for the dumb question, i'll probably get the responses, "don't believe everything you see on tv! even 'reality shows!' " ...it's just been in the back of mind and i was wondering about it.

~Rose

[RNLaborNurse4U]

I never leave my patient when she's actively pushing. Now, if she has an epidural, and cannot feel much more than that "pressure" feeling, usually indicating we have a head descending nicely, I may go and check her cervix and pop my head out the door to have another nurse give the doc/midwife a call.

We also have protocols that must be followed: fetal assessment every 5-10 minutes while Mom is pushing, closer assessment if she's high risk (not quoting directly from protocols here...in the middle of a very nice 11 days in a row off of work!)

Why on earth would anyone leave a patient - alone or with a partner - while she's pushing??? I'm sure we've all had deliveries that have surprised us...babies that all of a sudden turn & OOOOPS...doc's not even here yet, and suddenly we have to don the sterile gloves and catch.

Just makes sense to me to be in the room while they're pushing, IMHO

[mark_LD_RN]

Originally posted by at your cervix

I agree, I hate those shows too. I think that most ob nurses are smart enough to not leave the pt while she is pushing. I (currently) work with two nurses that leave their pt's all the time if they are primips. They will tell them how to push and go to lunch, check back in 30 min then leave again. It drives me crazy!!!!! Not only are you not there in case she progresses rapidly, but most pt's feel very uneasy if their nurse leaves them while they are pushing. Most people need encouragement.

Oh, by the way did I mention that I just put in my 2 weeks notice at this hospital so I will no longer have to deal with these 2 nurses!!!!!!!

how horrible,unprofessional and unsafe. especially with primps, a lot of times they just waste time with ineffective pushing if you are not there how do you know and how can you be of any help. i never leave a pushing patient. only way i might leave is if another patient or baby crashed then i might consider going and letting a tech or one of our nursery LPN's watch my patient briefly,but even that would be pushing it for me!

[Sleepyeyes]

waaaaaay ot, but i'm curious:

sunny,, is that a Genny? with zambooka? or anisette???