Just had a baby on the unit I work on (my thoughts on this...)

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Specializes in LDRP.

Don't know if i ever shared that I was expecting a baby, and aws going to deliver on the unit I work on.

Delivered on Monday morning, a 10lb 7oz baby, lady partslly-shoulder dystocia, fetal bradycardia, lovely!

This was not my first child, but my first i had while working on labor and delivery, so it was an interesting experience being on the other side. Everyone was very respectful of my wishes and already knew what i wanted-no iv fluids, hep lock only, i ate and drank as i pleased (not that i pleased much), labored without pain meds, etc. I think it helped me be an informed consumer, b/c i knew my options, knew the repercussions, etc. I knew what medicines I wanted (zofran vs phenergan, fentanyl vs stadol, etc) and aws given what i wanted

It was also nice that I came in on night shift, which is when I work, and had a nurse who I really liked. I wasn't uncomfortable at all with having her take care of me.

Though, it wasn't all sunshine and roses-when my pain went off the deep end (after i requested arom at 9cm after being 9cm for a few hours,thinknig it would make my g4p3 self deliver quicker, no epidural) i turned into a raving crazy out of control person. the screaming at the top of my lungs crawling off the bed out of control person. That, in retrospect, is quite embarrassing to totally lose control like that in front of people you have to go back and work with. Heck, they probably all heard me from the nurses station. That was embarrasing.

Then, giving in to the epidural, after continued lack of dilation/descent/inability to push past the last bit of cervix, was also embarrasing b/c i had told everyone i was going unmedicated, and now I wasn't.

Or hearing the baby's heartbeat decel to the 90s and stay there, and getting lower and knowing enough to be scared. or while pushing, with my eyes closed, feeling someone jump up and do suprapubic pressure and knowing enough to be scared. (baby was okay, save for a 1 minute apgar of 2)

So, it turned out well, mostly, and delivering where i worked had its ups and downs, but certainly made it more interesting! i'd do it again.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

Congratulations on your new bundle of joy!!! Nice perspective. I like my coworkers but am still undecided where next baby will be born...something about my coworkers seeing my nether parts...but I'm glad your experience was one you'd like to repeat. GET SOME SLEEP!

:balloons:

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Congratulations!

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Specializes in SICU.

Try not to worry too much about what kind of impression you made upon your coworkers. You went in with a plan, things changed, and you did what you had to do. Period. Working L&D you know that happens ALL the time.

Personally, I can't imagine delivering a baby without an epidural, much less a 10 pounder AND shoulder dystocia!! Holy moly! I think you did awesome going for as long as you did!

Congrats on the new arrival!! :balloons:

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Specializes in OB L&D Mother/Baby.

Congrats on the birth of your baby... even if it didn't go as planned I'm sure that your coworkers still respect the results LOL...:balloons:

I have a history of large babies (10-4 and 9-13) and when I became preggers this last time I was VERY nervous about everything... having nurses take care of me that I work with, things not going as planned, a shoulder, malpresentation, a c/s... But I miscarried after 12 weeks, I realized at that point that if you have a healthy baby nothing else really much matters. I doubt that they will remember or even care that things went as they did. We've had several nurses deliver on our unit and we are all very close as we are a smaller hospital.

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Specializes in postpartum, nursery, high risk L&D.

I delivered on my unit 2 months ago and it was wonderful! I delivered precipitously (also a 10-pound baby!) and one of my dear friends that i work with all the time caught her. I knew there was no time for my doc to get there and I was not worried for even a second, because I knew what good hands I was in!

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Specializes in Mother/Baby.

Hey HappyNurse :) Do you by chance work at CRCH? I think I know you :) If you are the person I think you are, congrats! I never got to see you while you were here but your baby was gorgeous! And don't worry, no one thinks bad of you for screaming your head off. Who wouldn't with over a 10 lb. baby?!?!?

-from a little BRT nurse on nights :) :balloons:

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Specializes in LDRP.

vtbabynurse-

thats me :) and yes, my baby was very cute-his pic is on the online nursery, first name of the baby is Cooper. (he doesn't have my last name, so don't go by that)

now i must think about it and think about which one you are.....

ya know, that big fatty baby of mine has a broken clavicle? found that out today. the ped in teh hospital said he didnt think so, but had an xray today and he does.

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