A Question for all the Moms out there...

Omg!!! I would have to say it was my nurse that kept bringing me those Lorna Doones cookies!!! J/k really all of the nurses I encountered in delivering four of my children were angels. They held my legs when I needed to push!!! They cleaned the poop up from me pushing so hard. They were patient with my screams and moans and they never left my side. Last but not least was the encouragement they gave me! I was also treated with dignity and respect!!

Not me personally (although I can update in about four months) but I was present for a lot of the labor of one of my closest friends.

She had a lot of family (all her in-laws) that wanted to be in the room during the labor. My friend wasn't comfortable asking the family to leave, but I could tell she wanted to be alone. So could the nurse.

The nurse asked everyone to step out so she could do a cervical check. She asked that we go down to the cafeteria for some coffee. She said, "If the door is closed when you come back, it means that mom and dad need some time alone. If it's open, you can come back in." Then she was able to ask my friend in private if she really wanted all the visitors.

I, and my friend, were super appreciative that the nurse came up with a polite way to get my friend the privacy that she needed without making her feel awkward around her family.

I have two kids and had wondrful experiences. My nurses were what made it so great too. My 1st what made her so great is really she just was so calm, encouraging, and checked on me a lot. I delivered so quickly my actual doctor couldn't make it there and so this otehr guy came and he was all crazy and he was worried about my sons size and it scared me but my nurse was calm and comforted me just seeing how calm she was and he was born very quickly and easy although he was a big guy at an ounce shy of nine pounds. My second was pretty much the same he was very quick, I had him after being at the hospital for less then 2 hours but I'ld say the smae that helped. She was an older woman and her calm presence (sp?) just made the whole room calm and peaceful. The only negative I had was that it really bothered me that tehy wouldn't let me outta bed and I didnt have an eipidural, so I really don't know why. I wasn't being induced or on pit either. Laying in bed for me made my contractions a lot worse. This is a little thing, but with my second I knew I felt different and I kept teling them I think you need to check me, over and over and they were trying to do other things and then finally they did and it was "Oh my God, okay his heads right tehre and I pushed twice and he was born" hahahha so try to believe your patients especially if they're a mulit-p.

It's funny, the nurses I had when I gave birth to my daughter are one of the reasons I am going into nursing (starting nursing school in the fall). I've had good nurses before for surgeries, and I've had not-so-good nurses. The nurses I had in L&D were outright amazing. I was sort of terrified. I was a high-risk due to my age (36 at the time) and was admitted the day of my 40wk ultrasound because my amniotic fluid was low. So, I went for my happy 40 week check, and instead was sent to the hospital to be induced the next morning.

The nurses I had...ALL of them, were awesome. They told me exactly what they were doing, answered each and every question I had, and showed sympathy and understanding to the fact that I was seriously having "second thoughts about this whole baby thing". lol They also got.....or at least tried to get, my odd sense of humor.

The day I had my daughter, they were there for me, and for her. They showed love for her like she was their own (I have pictures of them snuggling her). They seemed to know when I needed a break from visitors and were kind and gentle, but got everyone out so I could shower and collect myself. The second night I was so exhausted because my darling daughter, contrary to everything I'd read, was born hungry and didn't sleep well.........and seemed to be attached to my poor breast constantly. The nurse I had that night was so wonderful. She saw how loopy and weepy and tired I was getting and offered to take her to the nursery for a little while so I could nap. She said it was quiet and she was bored and would love to snuggle my baby for a little while. I highly doubt that she had "nothing else to do", but she took my baby and I got a glorious 2 hour nap...bless her for it. The nurse brought her back to me when she woke up and was hungry.

So in short, it felt like they were there for me every step of the way. No question was stupid, they were supportive and educational and loved my baby.

......and, after over 24 hours of no food or liquids (not even an ice cube), one of them brought me a popsicle. And it was glorious. I could have kissed that woman. But really, it wasn't just the popsicle! :)