Do nurses do it all?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

I haver been told that nurses get to deliver a baby atleast once a year! Is this true? I hope so!!!:lol2:

Specializes in L&D, NICU, PICU, School, Home care.

21 "catches" in 35 years. First one was 10 pounds 3 ounces. Mom went from 3 to fully in a heart beat. No lac either:up:. A few were cuz the doc didn't listen when told she's moving fast. I am also at a hospital that has no residents and docs at home (i work 7p-7a). So far all of the doc's have been very good about it and not blaming us. I do thank God every time for allowing me to stay focused enough to control the head to allow for stretching, check for cord, and not present me with shoulders that get stuck. :)

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I caught one yesterday for one of my doctors - the doc who was supposed to come for delivery didn't make it until about 5 minutes after the baby. Boy, her nurse was glad to see me. I had gone over to the hospital on my day off to check on a PP patient of mine. This hospital used to have FP residents but doesn't anymore, so the staff is still trying to adjust.

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At my hospital, I have had numerous unassisted deliveries. Thank goodness nothing bad has ever happened, and the babies were fine. I do try everything in my power to not let that happen, it scares the crap out of me every time.

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I am on the edge of my seat. This is so interesting. WOW!!

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Specializes in Midwifery.

Here in Australia all women are cared for in labour by midwives (who are also usually RNs). If the labour is straightforward no doc is involved. If it isn't we work with the docs, and even in the high risk women who birth normally, we catch.

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Specializes in L&D.

Small hospital with no in-house docs & I work nights. Every once in a while I have to deliver one, but I'm usually able to get the doc here on time. There's only one who is upset every time he misses one. The last time I delivered one of his, his patient was very active on arrival. I checked her and called him and said, "Your patient, Jane Doe, is here. She's a multip, 8cm dilated, 100%, 0station, membranes intact and bulging. You need to come in now." He missed the delivery.

Later he complained to my Director that he didn't know he had to hurry because I hadn't said to hurry and I didn't sound excited!!!!

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Specializes in L&D, NICU, PICU, School, Home care.

Hmmm... Aren't we supposed to calm under pressure to keep our mom's in better control? Excitement breeds excitement that turns to chaos. If the Md did not deduce that a multip at 8cm was not immnently going to deliver then he needs a new specialty!!:smackingf

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It can happen, but it's not optimal. During my first 3 months of L and D nursing, I had a patient who was having her 4th or 5th baby and spoke a language I didn't understand. She was very stoic and was not telling me that she was pushing (hard to believe, but she was really quiet and just making an uncomfortable look on her face). I go to change the pads under her and the head is crowning. Before you know is, and thankfully I had gloves on, the baby was in my hands.

It happens, but you really want your whole OB team there for the delivery.

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OH NO way JOSE, not if I can help it. I do not make enough to carry that kind of liability. That is what dr's and midwives are for.

You sound to me as if you need to become a midwife, like already mentioned. Good luck.

NO WAY JOSE here too. Too many scary things happen at the drop of a hat. I want that doc there.

I've never caught a baby - close but no cigar, thank you Jesus.

We always have the ER doc available, fortunately . . . we are a small rural hospital. The most a doc has to drive is 17 miles. But if he doesn't make it - I call the ER doc.

I've seen too many shoulder dystocias . . . I don't want to be responsible.

steph

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Specializes in L&D.
Hmmm... Aren't we supposed to calm under pressure to keep our mom's in better control? Excitement breeds excitement that turns to chaos. If the Md did not deduce that a multip at 8cm was not immnently going to deliver then he needs a new specialty!!:smackingf

My director and I both agreed to that point!

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We deliver quite often but it never is the plan. With so many epidurals unless you are checking all the time or have lots of earlies sometimes they just appear. One of our docs doesn't want to be there until they are crowning so there is a timing thing to it he can't stand to be there for more then 1 or 2 pushes...I've delivered his baby as he sat at the station waiting for the baby to come down further and I said let's just move your leg right here and try 1 more push...well that did it. As long as we don't try and deliver the placenta we're ok...if they fly out it's ment to be good for the mom.

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