Hey guys.... I have been a nurse for 4 years, i am 24 yrs old, single, no kids. In nursing school I have never seen a delivery or been in or around OB. In my ER (inner city St louis ER) if OB patients are over 18 weeks they are automatically sent to OB, so my OB knowledge is small and limited.
Well, I also work PRN in a small rural 4 bed ER, where my parents live. And I was working the other night (only nurse on night shift) and the ambulance called over the phone (not the radio) and told me they were bringing an 18 yr old girl gravida 4 para 2, 22 weeks pregnant and dilated 6. I quickly got off the phone, opened our "emergency childbirth kit" and gloved and gowned up. Called the ERP who was sound alseep and did not wake up. Next thing I know the EMS pulls up and I (me, nobody else) delivered a still born fetus. Well, finally I had the medic go back to the doctor's lounge and pull the doctor out of bed. The 18 year turned out to be on meth, heroin, etoh of 386 and her first statement to me after the delivery while i was cleaning her up was... "now maybe i can fit into my skinny jeans."
Well, I am in tears. I know in nursing school they teach not to cry, however, here was this beutiful, could have been healthy, baby and a young drugged up mother who could have cared less. The fetus, who I wrapped up in the baby cloth (before sending it to pathology) had all 10 fingers, 10 toes, all of his lungs, little baby member (it was a boy) an almost fully developed human being.
I don't know really why I posted this post, just cannot get that picture of the fetus out of my mind. I mean don't get me wrong I have seen trauma ( i do work in the most dangerous city in the US) but i have never seen that before and then all those women who cannot have children. I just feel that this young woman (first kid at 13 by her 27 yr boyfriend at the time) just throw her baby away, for lack of better words.....
I do have traditional thinking that women are born to be nurturers and care for their offspring. And i was just shocked that this human miracle was in her womb growing for 22 wks and she did even care......
I am so sorry for that baby, too. Someone said that God spared him. I believe that, too. What a tough experience for you, too. I had my first OB experience in the ER about a month ago. 18 weeks. So tragic.
Please discuss this with a trusted friend or co-worker. Senseles deaths are always tragic. It is is so hard to understand why these things happen. However, you have to know that you did the absolute best that you could do under dire circumstances. Bless you.
OMG, I am having a hard time fighting back tears. I so agree with Motorcycle Mama on this.
We have some friends who take in foster kids. Last year they got an 11 month old that had tested positive for heroin or something. A month later they got this child's newborn sibling who tested positive for cocaine at birth. Now mom is due in a few days with yet another one.... .. This couple will probably end up with number 3 too. I wish to God they would institute permanent mandatory sterilization in cases like this. Fortunately, the children thus far have been fine....
She had her "first kid at 13 by her 27 yr boyfriend", was he her boyfriend or a child molester?
I think it was her boyfriend, however, one night i looked up his name and he is a registered child molester (in Illinois if you are convicted of a sexual crime, you must register FOR LIFE as a sexual preditor....so who really knows for sure!!!!
TeresaEDRN06
27 Posts
I am so sorry for that baby, too. Someone said that God spared him. I believe that, too. What a tough experience for you, too. I had my first OB experience in the ER about a month ago. 18 weeks. So tragic.