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

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

: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:

Where was this vanilla pacifier when I needed it? My 18 year old was a total screamer who loved ceratin binkies. I am sure she would've loved the vanilla one. She needed a bink to hold, one to suck, and for awhile one to hold near her nose. Bedtime was a long drawn out affair.

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Specializes in LDRP; Education.
I made my own sisters nervous when I had my babies and I would pick them up casually or dress/change them. And I could also tolerate a little fussy crying from my babies(you learn that after spending a couple shifts in the nursery):lol2: OB nurses are also very good at soothing babies. You get used to working with babies quickly and carefully, or just getting into the folds to clean them well.

Ditto.

I haven't had any parents comment about how I handled their newborns, but my DH and my Mom sure did when I'd handle my preemie twins! :mad:

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

A little teaching goes a long way. Try teaching new parents the amazing features their newborns have and the reflexes they are born with. Point out every amazing and beautiful little feature you see as you bathe, change diapers or examine their babies. They are more likely to trust what you are doing and will remember your gentle and educational words all their lives.

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This is a difficult situation for both nursres and families. I certainly realize we don't have all the timein the world on our hands in our jobs, but I wonder if perhaps a little patient education reguarding what to expect once the baby is out might be helpful? This way, we could let them know that it may look like we are being rough, but in fact, we arent' and give them rationale for our actions. Might save a whole lot of heartache and arguments.

However, there will ALWAYS be that one special someone looking for an issue. These situations simply can't be helped!

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THis is a little OT, but where CAN just a regular mom like myself find those magic pacifiers? I am absolutely going to try the swaddling thing too. I tried w/ my 2nd, a very coliky ds, but the blankets I had always seemed to be too small ( he was 9 lbs at birth) and he escaped every time. This time I am going to the fabric stores and buying some lightweight stuff that's big enough, but still light enough for the South in mid July ;)

btw...w/ my second I was really unsettled at the way my son reacted to some handling. Turns out,though, he had a broken collar bone, which I know heals on its own( he was fine in 3 weeks) His pediatrician didn't discover this until after 3 exams, 48 hrs, and we were just about out the door. This time I am going to be very polite, but ask that the staff humor me until I make sure baby#3 doesn't have same thing. I know its rare, but still...

Jen

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Specializes in NICU.
THis is a little OT, but where CAN just a regular mom like myself find those magic pacifiers? I am absolutely going to try the swaddling thing too. I tried w/ my 2nd, a very coliky ds, but the blankets I had always seemed to be too small ( he was 9 lbs at birth) and he escaped every time. This time I am going to the fabric stores and buying some lightweight stuff that's big enough, but still light enough for the South in mid July ;)

Do you mean the green vanilla ones from the hospital?

http://www.soothie-pacifier.com/

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Specializes in L&D, PP, NSY.

I have had, on more than one occasion, parents express concern over handling the baby during burping..I always have to remind them that 1.It's not THAT easy to "break a baby" and 2. no one wants a baby with a belly ache. Here's a funny thing...I just had my 3rd baby (8weeks ago) and this is grandchild #5 for my mom...I guess having worked L&D for a year now I too have gotten used to handling babies more casually...and it drives her nuts!!! My new saying to my mom "Gee, it's amazing my other 2 survived isn't it??" Actually, her constant jumping at the baby when I handle her has almost made me drop her...but thanks to my cat-like-reflexes:cool:, she is thus far, uninjured!!

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Do you mean the green vanilla ones from the hospital?

http://www.soothie-pacifier.com/

YES! thank you thank you!!! I have heard RAVES about these from my NICU RN friends. I hope these work w/ her highness ;) We'll see in July!

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This is amazing and hits close to home, I'm doing my maternity clinical now and the first day I walked in some of the newborns were crying and do you think a nurse moved to get the babies. They were crying for about an hour and no one moved to see what was wrong. So while the nurses were gossiping instead of taking care of the newborns I went into the nursery and simpy put pacifiers in their mouths, and what do you know...the babies stopped crying....and this happens every monday and wednesday when i have clinical..its rediculious

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Specializes in Registry, all over the place.

Having had my first child almost 11 months ago, I understand completely. It has to be understood by staff that especially with someone's first child, new parents can be particularly obssesive compulsive. If this is not expected, I don't know why not. This is the most precious cargo a person can ever have. In fact, I think I would be a little worried if they didn't show some sort of reaction. Plus, it is a little alarming to see a newborn with scratches on them, my DD had a monitor hooked to her forehead her heart rate was slightly low. When she was born, she had a scrape where it was so sometimes you just have to bear with people.

I think it was the host of Talk Soup or Conan O'brien that said something to the effect of "I didn't know I had the capacity to kill until my son was born." You can't fault someone for being that way, that's their baby.

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This is amazing and hits close to home, I'm doing my maternity clinical now and the first day I walked in some of the newborns were crying and do you think a nurse moved to get the babies. They were crying for about an hour and no one moved to see what was wrong. So while the nurses were gossiping instead of taking care of the newborns I went into the nursery and simpy put pacifiers in their mouths, and what do you know...the babies stopped crying....and this happens every monday and wednesday when i have clinical..its rediculious

Well, if they are being breastfed there's a good chance the parents didn't want them to have pacis. Although why healthy babies are in a nursery I don't know...

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I had to comment on this thread though I'm not a nurse (YET) . When my daughter was born, my dad and mother came to the nursery just in time to see her ped do the exam. My dad almost came through the window he was upset that the doctor looked to be hurting her legs and of course, she was screaming.

He still hates that pediatrician. I blame it on my dad's age (71 at the time) and the fact that was his first grandchild. The pediatrician came to the room laughing that there was some man glaring at him while he was checking our daughter out and thought it looked like a first time grandpa.

That pediatrician is still one of my favorites.

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