: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.
I would have to agree with all of you. When its your first baby and if you were not an OB nurse, you may think that the nurses are handling your baby roughly. When I had my son, I had worked in health care and was a pre-nursing student, I was a little appauled at how they were treating my son.
When my son was born, he had swallowed meconium and was not breathing. They placed him on my chest briefly while they cut the cord, I went to touch him and they screamed DONT TOUCH HIM. Then took off with him, shoving a suction tube down his throat and doing all they could to get him to breathe. I thought that they were going to break him. But if it wasnt for the fact acting, and everything the nurses did, who knows what the outcome could have been.
My best friend just had a baby and she told me that the nurse took the babies head and shoved it to her breast. I believe she was over-reacting a little but thats what I have seen most OB nurses do.
I told her its because those nurses have taken care of so many babies that handling them is like second nature to them and to us new mothers, it looks like they are tossing them around. Eventually she calmed down and stopped yelling at every nurse.
My daughter just flailed me when she thought I handled the first one to rough and swaddled him up. but by the time the twins (#4 and 5) got here she was a real juggling act. The kid was amazing and she became a L & D nurse
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
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
My youngest son (last child of 4 total) was born with a broken collarbone and he only weighed 7.5 lbs! And he wasn't born that fast either. So it can happen to babies not even that big. I didn't notice but the nurse did. They acted like it was no big deal so I only worried a bit.
All parents need to be educated during the pregnancy thru classes. I took classes with my pregnancies. The only thing they didn't tell us is that a baby gets a shot of vitamin K when they are first born. Never read that in a baby book either. Since we had never heard of that we declined it. DH and I were shocked that a newborn was going to get a shot. I had spent 9 months protecting my baby by eating right and avoiding alcohol etc and now I was not going to deliberately hurt my baby.
why give a newborn vitamin k anyway? just wondering. still don't know
I don't have children, but if I contemplate my feelings they aren't pretty towards a hospital birthing experience. Remember these are my feelings. Meaning I can't really reason with them too much, they just are. I have never been a difficult patient. That said, if I picture myself having just given birth, in that raw emotional state that I have personally witnessed at friends and loved ones births, I don't want anyone but me, my husband, my mother, or my best friend even touching my baby. I understand the need for the apgar. Even emotionally I do. But after that, this aggresive mother bear instinct kicks in. I know it's not reasonable or rational. It just is. I think I am a definate candidate for a birthing center.
Anyway, I can understand that it might miff an OB nurse. Because you are the professional and you know how you treat the baby properly. In my head I know this, but in my heart I want you to get your (perceived as rough) hands off my baby. But that knowledge does not always square with the raw emotion and instinct that emerges in some of us.
Try to not take it personally. I really think it's an instinct that kicks in with some of us, differently than others. It also might have to do with the control issues in the hospital. Meaning, giving up control of your body, then your baby to a stranger, etc.
I don't have children, but if I contemplate my feelings they aren't pretty towards a hospital birthing experience. Remember these are my feelings. Meaning I can't really reason with them too much, they just are. I have never been a difficult patient. That said, if I picture myself having just given birth, in that raw emotional state that I have personally witnessed at friends and loved ones births, I don't want anyone but me, my husband, my mother, or my best friend even touching my baby. I understand the need for the apgar. Even emotionally I do. But after that, this aggresive mother bear instinct kicks in. I know it's not reasonable or rational. It just is. I think I am a definate candidate for a birthing center.
Anyway, I can understand that it might miff an OB nurse. Because you are the professional and you know how you treat the baby properly. In my head I know this, but in my heart I want you to get your (perceived as rough) hands off my baby. But that knowledge does not always square with the raw emotion and instinct that emerges in some of us.
Try to not take it personally. I really think it's an instinct that kicks in with some of us, differently than others. It also might have to do with the control issues in the hospital. Meaning, giving up control of your body, then your baby to a stranger, etc.
What a great example of a balanced post. You have strong feelings but qualified them as such. At the same time, you demonstrated that you understand the informational side of things and how it might look to professionals. This, to me, says you have used both your head and your heart to arrive at the choice that is right for you. And you did it without needing to blame anyone. As a postpartum nurse, I appreciate that.
A position (and a post) that is worthy of admiration and respect. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I had the worst experience at the hospital when I had my second daughter. When I went inside the nursery to have the security bands removed, she spit up a little and swallowed it and I started patting her back. The nurse that was next to me FLIPPED out at me, grabbed my daughter out of my hands with one arm (her forearm against her stomach and hand around her neck) and started hitting her on the back. She was FINE up until she flipped her over harshly and started smacking her back. I think she handled the situation VERY poorly, considering I was already tending to her needs, and there was no need for her to do that.
I would hope she will one day realize how bad that looks to patients, a mother looking out for her child is not someone you should mess with.
Specializes in med/surg/tele/neuro/rehab/corrections.
I posted to this thread before I became a nurse. Now that I am a nurse I do know why they give Vit K. :) Just wanted to let you all know LOL Didn't want someone looking up there and seeing I am an RN and have X years experience and I went and said why do they give Vit K to a NB LOL
I had the worst experience at the hospital when I had my second daughter. When I went inside the nursery to have the security bands removed, she spit up a little and swallowed it and I started patting her back. The nurse that was next to me FLIPPED out at me, grabbed my daughter out of my hands with one arm (her forearm against her stomach and hand around her neck) and started hitting her on the back. She was FINE up until she flipped her over harshly and started smacking her back. I think she handled the situation VERY poorly, considering I was already tending to her needs, and there was no need for her to do that.
I would hope she will one day realize how bad that looks to patients, a mother looking out for her child is not someone you should mess with.
When I did my L & D rotation I had a baby spit up and start choking. The nurse grabbed her out of my hands and did this. I remember being shocked. I must have looked it too because the nurse just kinda shrugged and said, "Happens all the time. They aren't as fragile as they look. Grab one of us if it happens again."
sherichance
124 Posts
I would have to agree with all of you. When its your first baby and if you were not an OB nurse, you may think that the nurses are handling your baby roughly. When I had my son, I had worked in health care and was a pre-nursing student, I was a little appauled at how they were treating my son.
When my son was born, he had swallowed meconium and was not breathing. They placed him on my chest briefly while they cut the cord, I went to touch him and they screamed DONT TOUCH HIM. Then took off with him, shoving a suction tube down his throat and doing all they could to get him to breathe. I thought that they were going to break him. But if it wasnt for the fact acting, and everything the nurses did, who knows what the outcome could have been.
My best friend just had a baby and she told me that the nurse took the babies head and shoved it to her breast. I believe she was over-reacting a little but thats what I have seen most OB nurses do.
I told her its because those nurses have taken care of so many babies that handling them is like second nature to them and to us new mothers, it looks like they are tossing them around. Eventually she calmed down and stopped yelling at every nurse.