Please tell me they are not all like this...

[SwampCat]

I'm a birth fanatic. I love it. I am a major breastfeeding proponent and do plan on being IBCLC eventually. Had two kids of my own; helped out with two home births... this is my passion, no doubt. I was SO PSYCHED to do my OB rotation. Now, half way through the rotation I am feeling completely underwhelmed. 95% of the nurses at my site (Connecticut) sit at the station and watch the fetal monitors. Go in, check on the patient, return to cushy chair in front of monitor. BS with doctors, eat copious amounts of junk food, laugh about someone's hairy nipples. That other 5%? I haven't seen them yet, but I'm truly hoping they exist!

I had visions of educating and empowering patients during their labor. Suggesting positions, rubbing feet, telling her she is the most awesome woman ever and she can do this even if it is hard. And now I'm so disappointed. I have yet to even see one do a vag exam... they let the ob/cnm do them. I have yet to see anyone's second stage in a position that doesn't involve holding a leg and having them sit there. Was I completely naive? Is this L&D? Please tell me it's just this hospital!

I did have one good day of helping a mom go from "I give up, give her a bottle!" to breastfeeding like champ... which was nice since the RNs here regurgitate the breast is best mantra but have a bottle in the kid's mouth before they even finish the sentence.

[JMC1]

I have to laugh at babyktchr 's summation about the experiences being a "ridiculous spectator sport where cheetos and mountain dew are involved." Sad but true in so many cases. I love that she left on a positive note...don't be jaded and DO keep your dreams alive. One nurse DOES make the difference to a patient. After all, you join this profession for the love of the people...

[lovemyjoblandd]

Honestly, no it isn't like that everywhere, as I'm sure you've got on by now by everyone else's comments. I'm fortunate enough to be in a hospital that has a good mix of autonomy and "technology," especially on night shift. We are not a teaching facility and do about 100 deliveries a month. Our docs trust the nurses and usually allow us to labor our patients any way the nurse and patient see fit. Where the problem begins is, as stated before, the voluminous amounts of charting involved. And because the rest of my hospital uses one system to chart in, and we use another, we get the added pleasure of double charting almost everything. Our NM tells us all the time that we should be at the bedside charting and not at the nurses station, but when we have 5 patients and 2 nurses, it is unreasonable to be sitting in one patient's room for an hour documenting and trying to keep an eye on all the other strips. It's a bunch of bologna but it's the nature of the beast. Women have all kinds of different expectations on how they want their birthing experience to go. No matter where you work, you should always advocate for the patient as long as it's safe, within protocol, and reasonable. Also remember- never judge a book by it's cover. What you may see as sitting around looking at the computers in cushy chairs, goofing off, and eating copious amounts of junkfood, maybe in nurses blowing off steam, trying to make sure all the strips look good at all times, and trying to catch up on charting.

[Baubo516, RN]

I am still a student, but I have really enjoyed the few days I got to be on the OB unit for clinicals. The first day, I was a bit shocked at the somewhat "blase" (blah-zay) attitude toward the miracle of life... I guess I thought that everyone would just be in awe of the babies at all times... but I realize that is not realistic! The nurses are there to do a job, after all! But I have seen many different kinds of mothers, babies, doctors and nurses here in a very short time. I guess I just want to reiterate what others have said, it is not like that everywhere, or all the time. If you want to help deliver babies, keep looking for a place where the culture fits what you want to experience.

[TexRN, BSN, RN]

I think if you want to stay in the hospital field you would be an EXCELLENT example and push towards what birth is supposed to be. You could give those women that experience and help them. You could set an example of how every ob nurse should be. OR, you can abandon the hospital and work at a birth center where you know you will fit in with like minded people. I don't think I could handle being an OB nurse for exactly what you described. I think I would feel resentment towards the nurses who don't give a hoot about this important right of passage for women. Keep on keeping on, women need you. Go for that IBCLC credential! I'm starting my journey towards that now before I apply to a BSN program. Good luck to you.

[TexRN, BSN, RN]

Oh, and a good way to scope out if you'd mesh with the hospital is to find out if they are Baby Friendly! (Baby friendly hospital initiative) part of healthy people 2020.