Soap Suds Enema in L&D - do you still use?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

:angryfire I am very angry! Certain hospital I work in L&D and an OB :devil: insists that ALL patients receive SSE. I have NEVER done this to any OB patient since I have been a nurse (many years) in OB! Any other nurses out their still use SSE prior to labor/induction? I voiced my concern and nurses are "afraid" to say anything to the OB. Whoever heard of an L&D nurse being timid? LOL. What ever happened to advocating for the patient? None of the other OB's in the unit order SSE. What do you think? :uhoh3:

Oh God. This makes me never want to have children:lol2:

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Oh God. This makes me never want to have children:lol2:

Self-Education and advocacy is the key to avoiding unnecessary interventions like this one. When/if the time comes for you to have a baby, make sure you have taken childbirth classes and ask a lot of questions of your care provider about his/her philosophies regarding childbirth. Also, might want to consider midwifery care if you are low risk and healthy! Midwives are the BEST! Don't let "horror" stories scare you---we all have our war stories-----they make good tales. They are just that---our stories.

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Self-Education and advocacy is the key to avoiding unnecessary interventions like this one. When/if the time comes for you to have a baby, make sure you have taken childbirth classes and ask a lot of questions of your care provider about his/her philosophies regarding childbirth. Also, might want to consider midwifery care if you are low risk and healthy! Midwives are the BEST! Don't let "horror" stories scare you---we all have our war stories-----they make good tales. They are just that---our stories.

Thanks! I do want children, but these stories make me...hesitant! It definitely won't be anytime soon. I remember my mom talking about how she had to have an enema when she delivered me almost 24 years ago. Ended up being fruitless since my 10 lb 12 oz self was an emergency C-section. Nothing worse than getting an enema for no reason:lol2:

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

Well it's rare these days. You always have the right to question anything being done to/for you. Remember that. And educate thyself. You will be fine.

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Well it's rare these days. You always have the right to question anything being done to/for you. Remember that. And educate thyself. You will be fine.

Oh believe me, I know the rights of questioning and refusing :idea: No enemas for me. No sirree:nono:

:) Super

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

lol good!!!!

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Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

LOL Super. Notice I prefaced by saying that that was 20 1/2 yrs ago.

I was 17 and not a nurse and minimally educated about what to expect and they DID NOT mention that in the prepared childbirth class I attended.

Think I would submit to ANY of that today? I think not.

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All I can say is that some orfices were meant as exit only.

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Whew! Glad to see I"m not alone :lol2:

Super

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Specializes in Family NP, OB Nursing.

When I first started working in my current hospital, 13 years ago, every doc ordered an enema and shave prep on EVERY pt. Me, being just out of school, started simply asking pts, "Do you want an enema? Do you want a shave?" I never had anyone take me up on the offer, just wrote "refused by pt" on orders.

I got my share of butt chewing by both RNs and docs, but you know what? By the end of that year every doc STOPPED ordering enemas and shaves...they realized that things went just as well without them, even the other RNs were happier about it.

Sometimes things just get done that way because that's the way they always have been done and no one challenged the status quo. So I say challenge the status quo!

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I was so constipated with my pregnancies, I would have welcomed an enema! ;)

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We have one doctor that orders tap water enemas until clear (much more messy than a Fleets) for all his pt's. He also instructs them to take a laxative before they come in for induction. He is getting ready to retire.

We have Fleets enemas ordered PRN on our Order Sets for all pt's if they request them. We have no doctor that orders them, but none of them mind if the pt wants one. The only pt's I have request them are usually Multips who do not want to be embarrased (like it bothers us - really I think it's more so their families or whoever is in there don't see that happen) again while pushing.

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