Advice needed on live birth and c-section

classicdame, MSN, EdD · May 28, 2013

If you will read your own post you will see that you are exhibiting fear over something that has not even happened yet. What is it that you fear about this situation? Is the sight of blood offensive or do you fear you will not be able to handle an emergent situation? I recommend you find a professional to help you deal with anxiety as there is a lot of it in nursing. As for the clinical part - tell one of the staff members how you feel. Keep your eyes on the patient. I totally dreaded trach care. My first attempt was on a patient who had mutliple issues and somehow, this seemed minor. I got busy with the task and forgot myself for a while and accomplished what needed to be done. Would not seek out this task, but now I know it is not to be feared either.

BrooklynRN11201 · May 30, 2013

I experienced something during my first semester of clinicals that shook me so hard, I got dizzy and nauseous and had to excuse myself and go to the bathroom to cry. It was just so sad and it hit me in a very personal way.

Anyway, I can understand your fear, but you set yourself up for failure by thinking it's automatically going to happen. If you focus more on the patient and less on yourself, you might be surprised.

It's like the first time we clean someone's @ss - it's awful and you feel a terrible combination of nausea and invading someone's privacy, but you know what? that's what the job calls for, and once you get over the first experience, you're like a pro.

The first time is always nerve wracking, that's for sure, but maybe you can find comfort in knowing that it WILL get better?

By the way, I would suggest you tell your Prof. beforehand so that he/she knows what to expect should anything like that happen. I would think that's MUCH better than freaking out or passing out without any warning, right? You think you're the first nursing student they've seen with this type of issue? They'll know exactly how to handle it, and you will NOT fail, you will earn that Prof's respect for trying to work through a tough issue for you. Just make it perfectly clear that you are doing all you can to ensure you don't have a problem and you get as much as possible from the experience

good luck!

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · May 31, 2013

What is it about the situation that you think would send you into a panic attack? In general, it's a very controlled situation. And you're the student. You aren't going to be expected to hold a retractor or suction during a c-section or deliver the baby. You'll be standing and watching. If you start to feel nauseous or dizzy then look at the monitor. In the OR, look at the mother's vital signs, heart rate, SpO2, etc. If you're watching a lady partsl birth, look at the fetal heart tracing and try to identify decels, accelerations, variability, etc. Time the length of the contractions on the monitor. Give your mind something clinical to think about instead of focusing on the body fluid or whatever it is about the situation that's bothering you.

And if you need to, PLEASE quietly excuse yourself, exit the room and sit down on the floor or a chair (if close by). It's much, much better to leave the room and take care of yourself then to pass out or throw up in the patient's room. That's the last thing the nurse, doctor, or patient wants to have happen.

RN9742 · Jun 1, 2013

Depending on your clinical situation for OB, you may not even get the opportunity to see a birth natural or c-section. I know the mothers were given a choice at our site, and many times they would decline having students in the room. My entire 8 week rotation, I did not see a single birth. I did get to assess newborns in the nursery and was able to see other things, but not a birth. Your anxiety about your anxiety will only make the issue worse. Unfortunately nursing school is full of the things we may never want to deal with, but to be a week rounded nurse we still need the experience.

Twinmom06, ASN, APN · Jun 1, 2013

Depending on your clinical situation for OB, you may not even get the opportunity to see a birth natural or c-section. I know the mothers were given a choice at our site, and many times they would decline having students in the room. My entire 8 week rotation, I did not see a single birth. I did get to assess newborns in the nursery and was able to see other things, but not a birth. Your anxiety about your anxiety will only make the issue worse. Unfortunately nursing school is full of the things we may never want to deal with, but to be a week rounded nurse we still need the experience.

This - I also did not see a live birth during my clinical - I did do a full 8 week externship in OB as that is where I want to work...

a lot of times the moms don't want students -

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2013

I understand moms not wanting students in the room, but what a shame for the student - my very, very first day on my OB rotation I was by the side of a mom in natural childbirth (and the OB attending was an old school, hands-on guy who encouraged my participation as much as possible), saw a scheduled c-section the next day (and held the baby I'd helped with the day before - his mom took our picture and told me it was going in his baby book!), sat with a teen mom in labor with a midwife - this girl had a BIIIIIIGGGGG baby for her little pelvis and she ended up in an unplanned section - the next week, and then a few days later saw a scheduled section with a tubal ligation.

And all this was at a county hospital!

I've not yet been blessed with kids, and had all sorts of worries about the whole experience - but as soon as I saw that brand new baby (and I cried right along with the mom!!) on my first day I knew I'd be okay. The fact that there was a great doc in there and very friendly RNs certainly helped me, and I knew that.

I'd heard all the horror stories - blood, gore, poo, fluid, the whole shebang - and yep, it freaked me out a bit up front.

The instructors know this isn't for everyone. Let him/her know that you're nervous and explain the situation to them UP FRONT and my guess is they'll work with you as much as they can.

MommaTy · Jun 9, 2013

I love watching child birth :) It is amazing to me. At my school they have a simulation lab and one of the dummies gives birth. That's right. They can control the breathing, blinking of the eyes, what they say and everything. Its really amazing. I say now is a good time to look up live videos so you can see what you will see. I will admit it isn't the same as being in the room but you get the feel of whats going on. Good luck. I have a severe panic disorder but I am on medication for it.

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Jun 9, 2013

Hello,
So I start my next semester with ob/peds and the thought of actually going in and watching a live birth and C-section is terrifying!!! I didn't watch one bit when my child was born and I certainly don't want to watch someone else's. It's no secret that I get panic attacks and I deal with them the best that I can. One thing that has bothered me is being at clinical and in a small hospital room when it's crowded. When I start to panic I feel like I can't breathe and then I get this terrible feeling like I'm going to pass out. I just know this will happen in the delivery room, my doctor has given me anti-anxiety meds to help. I'm worried that my teacher will fail me if I can't or need to leave if I start to feel funny in the room. Should I talk to the nursing director or the teacher and explain this? The school is aware of my situation due to the special testing accommodations form that my doctor filled out awhile back.

I would go and seek help from a mental health professional to see if you can get this under control. It is not safe, when you graduate and pass boards, to have a nurse working in a facility that isn't going to be able to react.

You will get some "passes" by the staff when you are new...the first time a baby coded on me, I absolutely forgot everything I knew..I asked for help quickly and proper care was given...I watched closely and a couple of codes later, I was able to play an active role...even codes take practice...the key is not to get offended if someone tells you to move, b/c there is no time for niceties.

I'm not saying that you have deep seeded issues or anything (please don't think that), but I think you would be more comfortable and a better nurse if you could have the confidence to tackle difficult situations instead of worrying about how you will react.

Kaysmom8 · Jun 10, 2013

No offense taken at all, I'm a hands on person and learn from actual experiences not the one's in lab where we use dummies to practice on. Unfortunately right now I don't have health coverage to see a mental health professional but I'm trying to get insurance.