job and personal life?

HappyNurse2005, RN · Mar 9, 2007

it didnt make it any worse than it already was.

nurseynightnight · Mar 9, 2007

Well I would say it goes both ways. It does make me want to be pregnant again and go through labor/delivery and the hospital stay afterwards! I delivered at "my" hospital the last 2 times and they were both such great experiences... And I am currently trying to get pregnant. I think I would be no matter where I worked but seeing a mom/baby after delivery is so wonderful and having that "fresh" baby to cuddle with is something I miss.

But give me 1 night with a fussy baby or a mom having difficulty breastfeeding and I am glad my youngest is almost 2 and I don't have to go through that again for at least 9 months!!!!

JoniL&DRN · Mar 13, 2007

We were done (permanent measures taken) before I ever went to work on L&D... that being said, I never really felt done (more husband motivated/initiated) and being on L&D has probably made it slightly worse initially. (This is probably more related to the fact that I never really got the birth I wanted, and I really want that opportunity, plus the whole new baby thing and pregnancy/nursing both of which I loved).

BUT... that being said, after 12 hours on my feet and three or four small people at home waiting for me to get them off to school, wash their clothes, cook their meals, go to their various activites and such, run them to enumerable Dr./dentist/ortho appts., pick up their messes, etc. etc. (you get the point) I really don't think I even want to take on another one! Problem cured. But the itch still does make itself known every now and then! I suspect it will never go away completely

mstigerlily · Mar 13, 2007

We seem to have way more pregnant nurses on postpartum and L&D than there are elsewhere. Someone is always out on leave.

However, I was done having my three before I became a nurse, my last was 11 mos when I started working. I was sure I was done and I'm still sure. I have never had a moment's regret, I get to hold, cuddle, bathe and smell new babies all the time so that gives me all the contact I need with newborns.

But if I didn't have kids and really wanted them? Then yeah, working there would make we want one - bad!

This might be a silly question...but how does working on OB affect your
personal life? Has dealing with moms and babies even given you baby fever? I only floated a couple times up there and I already wanted to be pregnant so it just made it worse. Or does it get kind of routine?

nurturing_angel · Mar 13, 2007

It was torture for me when I first started OB because I wanted a little one more than anything and could not have them. Now as I am older and have all these years experience with OB behind me its a piece of cake. I have come to terms with my childlessness and accepted it and moved on. It is a joy to care for these budding new families, then leave the noise of the newborn nursery and go home to a quiet house. Well, except for the constant meows and such that go with owning a cat or two. Or three! HaHaHa!

Oh, it also helps that I have a couple of step grandchildren that come around occasionally so I can be the spoiler and send them home to mommy.

rnin02 · Mar 13, 2007

I work in the nursery currently, most days it kinda "cures" any baby fever I have. When there's only 1 or 2 babies in with us, sleeping peacefully, they are so cute and sweet, I think, "oh, how sweet, maybe I should have one". Then, midnight comes, and 95% of our babies are with us (rooming in isn't a big thing around here, our parents would rather sleep), crying, and screaming, moms are having problems breastfeeding, etc, etc and I come back to reality!

KJRN79 · Mar 13, 2007

I worked in L&D and OB before I got married, then again in OB/nursery after I was married and going through infertility treatments. I miscarried twice, and that was torture, to go back to work. But, I did manage to come home with ds 16+ years ago, and even though I always wanted another one, I felt "cured" from my baby fever. I think it is really different for each individual. I also was able to help moms with SAB, fetal demise, etc better because of my own experiences.

SmilingBluEyes · Mar 14, 2007

as a person who would love to have one more, it can be hard. Demises and other losses, I do well with, most of the time. But I have had baby fever, not due to OB. Just have not had luck having one more-----several miscarriages and a tubal pregnancy have prevented this. But at least these things have made me humble and very empathetic to those going through pregnancy losses, as well. I can truly say "I understand".

I think everyone is different; some who you KNOW are done, just look at the babies and say "thank GOD I am DONE". Others, who want them, get all fuzzy and warm and you can tell when they are down w/"baby fever". Everyone is so different.

NJNursing, ASN, RN · Mar 14, 2007

I agree with NurseyNightNight. When I worked in maternity - i went back and forth. Doing L & D I seriously considered having another (I only have one and she just turned 6) but then I spent a rough night in the nursery alone with like 12 babies, many of whom would chain cry (one starts and sets of a chain reaction) and by morning I totally had that thought out of my head. It's the crying that drove me nuts. I don't mind the feedings or poopy diapers. It's earplugs I needed, lol.

strn96 · Mar 15, 2007

As a childless single with no current prospects on the horizon, I have to say that working OB (esp Nsy) can be both the trigger for and/or cure for baby fever. I've always loved taking care of babies, babysat from the time I turned 12, wished for a baby brother/sister to take care of when I was younger, etc. And on those nights when I'm caring for a few calm babies I sometimes think it would be nice to have one of my own. However, after a night in the nursery with a screaming baby who refuses any comfort measures you might try, or several babies who gang up on you and cry all at the same time to be fed/changed/burped, or a baby who just won't breastfeed no matter how much you work with them, I'm very happy to go home and leave all the responsibility of babycare to someone else.