Don't Rough My Newborn Up!!!!!!!

[capribry]

:kiss Hi, nurses, have you ever had a patient who comfronted you about handling their newborns too roughly? I was just wondering because when my cousin had her baby girl she became upset with the way the baby was being tossed around. I understand both sides though. On one hand, the nurse is experience and knows different ways to handle the infant and on the other hand, the newborn is so fragile and should be treated delicately.

So what is your opinion?(be specific and oh if you need to vent about a certain comfrontation, please feel free to do so!) - I get a kick out of ya'll stories.

by the way.....I love allnurses.com:nurse:

[JVanRN]

Some of the most common complaints I have seen have been when the nurses are changing diapers with sticky tarry meconium. The parents sometimes think the nurses are being rough in wiping it off. If able I try to let the parents change diapers, particulary these kind, so they see what we/they are dealing with.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

Oh yeah, I've been there before...

Same stories as everyone else. We'll go to put in an IV or feeding tube and the family says that we're practicing and experimenting on their baby. We'll be vigorously rubbing the back and flicking the heels of an unresponsive newborn in the delivery room and be accused of trying to hurt the baby, when the fact that the baby is silent and blue should be a tip-off that we're actually trying to save the baby's life. My own grandmother even asked me if we swaddle NICU babies tightly to PUNISH THEM!!!!!!!

I've had this happen outside of the hospital. My husband's family was visiting and his cousin had a 3-month old. This kid was probably 15 pounds and very strong. He was laying down on a blanket and I went to pick him up. I had my hands under his arms, bracing his body, and lifted him up. His head fell back a tiny bit as I picked him up and the baby's dad kind of freaked - he threw his hands under the head to lift it and gave me the DIRTIEST look.

What, did he think the kid's head was going to fall off? This was a large, strong baby! He was absolutely fine. I know they were first-time parents, but to make me feel like I was going to hurt the baby just by lifting him up?

Please, if I can care for a 300 gram baby on an oscillating vent, I think I know how to pick up a 3-month-old child...

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Yep, they FREAK OUT about that head! You'd think it was held on by dried reeds.

[Gompers, BSN, RN]

Yep, they FREAK OUT about that head! You'd think it was held on by dried reeds.

Yeah, but when the doctor is literally PULLING the baby out by the head during the delivery, he/she is a miracle worker!!!!!!!!!!!

[capribry]

When I had my son almost two years ago, i went to visit him in the nursery. I was shock to see how the nurse was bathing him. She had him face down in the suds and it looked like she was trying to scrub the skin off of him! I didn't freak out b/c I knew that she wasn't trying to hurt him and just informed her that the soap was covering his face (i didn't care at that point if the soap was "tear-free") She respected my comment and fixed the problem! I am not the type of person to be comfrontational/ignorant. I think that most people who do accuse people of doing wrong should get their facts straight instead of freaking out!! When my cousin had her baby, her boyfriend was fussing at the nurse saying that the medicince that she was given caused the baby to go into distress. The nurse did not defend herself, so I stepped in and told him to shut up and read a book before you accuse somebody( he obviously did not know what the heck he was talking about) The nurse looked at me like she wanted to say thank you.

[CHATSDALE]

my poor nephew

he and his wife had to wait for a babysitter for their two children and as a result didn't make it to hospital..when he tried to help her the baby slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor of the van

he started life with a shiner and a scratch but no permanent harm

his daddy was overcome with guilt though

last child was born at home with a mid wife and a doola[?]

[PreMeMom05]

I just finished reading about the Ballard Test/Assestment and all I have to say is thank god I wasn't there when they did this on my 25 weeker. I surely would have needed to be hospitalized myself! He's my only child and I don't know how well I would have handled all that bending. He was so tiny and fragile looking I probably would have passed out to see someone bending him around like a gumby doll even if it was neccesary.

I think all in all I was very good in the NICU about the care my son was receiving from all those angels (nurses). They were great about explaining everything to us prior to start the procedure. Whenever they saw a worried look come over my husband or myself they were right there to help and explain.

I even got to feed Toby his first bottle since the primary nurse felt I had what was needed to get the job done! But she had to burp him and at first I thought she was going to knock him thru the wall! The kid only weighed three pounds! By the time he was on his third bottle Toby and I had the whole feeding/burping thing down pat...although my mother-in-law tells everyone I'm hitting him not burping him and he will be scarred for life because of it. If being burped is his only scar of his NICU life I will feel blessed.

Heather

[SmilingBluEyes]

Well----a 25 weeker would not be subjected to Ballard scoring, likely. The goal in NICU (well one of many actually)----- is not to stress these kids out with any unnecessary jostling, poking, prodding and intervention/stimulation.

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

If I never have a parent walk in on me doing chest PT on their junky baby again, I'll be a happy girl.

[imenid37]

Some of the most common complaints I have seen have been when the nurses are changing diapers with sticky tarry meconium. The parents sometimes think the nurses are being rough in wiping it off. If able I try to let the parents change diapers, particulary these kind, so they see what we/they are dealing with.

Vaseline. Works great and makes for faster clean up.

[rn/writer, RN]

I try to explain to new parents that babies like being moved around by someone who feels confident in what they're doing. I also point out reasons a baby might cry, other than that the nurse is mishandling him.

Re: meconium. I show them just how sticky that stuff is and what a difference a coating of Vaseline on those tender cheeks can make.

Here's my favorite thing to teach parents. Swaddling. Especially the ones who think we wrap them too tight. I ask if they've seen the baby throw back her little arms and start to shake and cry. 99% will say yes with this astonished/horrified look of recognition. Then I explain that babies in utero don't have much room and they have become accustomed to being "held" securely. I tell them that all that freedom to flail their little arms startles them and triggers a reflexive reaction that can pull them from the edge of sleep and make them cry. The parents nod knowingly. They've seen this.

Then I show them how to swaddle with the arms down (which some will admit seemed cruel to them) and tuck in a pacifier if the baby has one. I read some research recently that says the combination of sucking and swaddling is like a baby tranquilizer, and I have to agree. I have seen a screaming, squalling newborn zonk out almost immediately when wrapped and pacified. (With breast-feeding babes, I use a pacifier only with those who have an established latch.)

I love seeing the parents' reaction when I wrap their bawling babe and watch him soothe and settle in seconds. It's especially gratifying when I come into the room and they show me they've done it themselves and had great results. I tell them that this is their secret weapon and fervently hope they will remember it a few days later when they find themselves at home, tearing their hair out over a ballistic kiddo who is fed, dry, warm, etc and still keeps crying. Such a simple technique, but it can comfort everyone involved. I like to think it might keep a frustrated parent from shaking a fussy child.

[MissJoRN, RN]

Ohh I know the dirty looks, too!

As far as swaddling... Do you think parents are expecting it more/ better educated/ more accepting lately? I'm not in nursery or in pt peds anymore but I noticed while registering for baby stuff the there are several "products" (too funky shaped to be called blankets!) that are designed to swaddle babies. They look a lot like a papoose board without the board. I see moms on message boards debating which one they want so it does seem like swaddling is becoming an "in" thing. I'm sure though, that picking up newborns with just our hands not our entire arms and chests will never be an in thing among parents and will always be left to "mean abusive baby-hating nurses"