New OB Nurses, Grads and Students, Please Feel Free to post your questions here:

[SmilingBluEyes]

Mugwump had a great idea offering services to new grads as a mentor (thank you for that!)

So, I thought having a "sticky" for new grads, OB nurses, students, and others with questions who want to post these can do so here. We also seem to see many of the same questions over and over, so perhaps this would help serve as an ongoing discussion of common issues/questions we all seem to have on our minds. This could serve not just for those asking directly, but others who may be "lurking" and looking for information or considering a career in OB, newborn, GYN nursing, or midwifery, doula services, childbirth education, lactation consulting, or other related work.

So if any mod thinks this is a good idea, mind stickying this?

Let's give this a go and see how it works out. We have many potential "mentors" here among us who, I am sure, would LOVE to help a new nurse/midwife/doula or student on his or her way to a rewarding career. I know I would love to help out!

[Goldenhare]

Q1-yes

Q2-G2 P8

Q3-G1 P2

This can get confusing. Try to remember that

Gravida means pregnant

Para means live birth-generally over 20 weeks

So anyone who has ever been pregnant is automatically a gravida

If the pregnancy ended in an abortion or miscarriage, that does not erase the fact that she was a gravida.

Gravida does not refer to the number of babies she is carrying. It only refers to the fact that she is, or was pregnant.

If a woman is pregnant (gravida 1) and gave birth to a live baby (para 1) who later dies

she is STILL G1 P1.

If she is pregnant (gravida 1)and gives birth to 2 babies (para 2), one who later dies she is G1 P2.

If she is pregnant (gravida 1) and gives birth to 2 babies (para) who live, she is G1 P2

Hope this helps!

[nurse carla espinosa]

hello all.

im starting on a mother/baby unit soon (new grad rn) and i'm terrified! there isn't a grad residency program or anything, just normal orientation. any advice, books i can read, things i should know?

thanks!