I was watching a movie the other day ("Night Nurse" with Barbara Stanwyck from 1931) and when a newborn baby was born, and I mean newborn, i.e., the baby was less than 2 minutes out of the womb/birth canal, The nurses in the move would take the baby, coat it with oil, and then do a curious thing which I am trying to figure out. They would take a large cue tip type device, like a little paintbrush dip it in a clear liquid and swab BOTH the new born baby's armpits, which is understandable (I guess if only to clean the oil /Vaseline off so it can sweat there) and then they would re-dip the brush in the liquid may have been alcohol) and swab the babies upper chest (right under where the chin touches the lower neck when the head is tucked in) from shoulder to shoulder. But it is not the neck, but was definitely the chest, 3 to 4 inches above the tits.
WHY in the world did they swab the newborn baby on the upper chest with the same liquid they swabbed them with on the armpits in 1931?
Do they still swab the newborn baby like this in 2014?
WHY did they coat the newborn baby with Vaseline or baby oil in 1931?
Do they still coat the newborn baby with Vaseline or baby oil in 2014?
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
We are nursing professionals, for us the word "tits" is not an acceptable word. Chest or nipple line is preferable. Also, is that movie fiction or non fiction? If it's fiction that says it all right there. It's the movies, they will lie or stretch the truth.
I really do not think they were just doing something to be doing it, or lying as one of the members stated, although it is possible.
I do not want to beat the point but I said I was sorry if I offended anyone in my first response, days ago. You all keep bringing it up. Furthermore, whether it is acceptable or not you should want to allow freedom of speech as long as no intentional wrongdoing is done which is more a part of America that using the 'T' word or "nipples", especially since the word was just stated/used as a point of reference. I am not a nursing professional. I am an attorney which is a profession that, arguably, requires more professionalism and education. More to the point, I am a visitor here in that I just came to your site to get a question answered. While you did not know I was a sort of visitor, you knew I was new to the site from my 'membership line'. Instead of making me feel welcome, I am constantly lectured after apologizing for unwittingly using a word that unintentionally offended. As stated, I am just a visitor. Now I wish I hadn't bothered, esp. since I have not got my question answered.
Specializes in Pediatrics, High-Risk L&D, Antepartum, L.
It is racist to ask me if I am not from American because I may use words differently than you expect. And please,, forget about the "tits". I used it strictly for a point of reference. I explained that dictionary.com states it was an appropriate use. Whomever keeps drawing attention to it by repeating it, whether one person or more, must enjoy writing about it. I do not really have time to debate the issue. Discuss 'tits' with somebody else.
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
It is racist to ask me if I am not from American because I may use words differently than you expect..
No, it's not racist. She was trying to figure out why you would use a vulgar term. If you're not American, it would perhaps explain why you would use that phrase, not knowing that in the US, it's not very "nice" and certainly not medically accepted.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Well this thread escalated quickly.
But I certainly wouldn't use him as an attorney. What attorney would use the word tits? I think any attorney would use a more professional word. So much for you being professional.
OrganizedChaos, LVN
1 Article; 6,883 Posts
We are nursing professionals, for us the word "tits" is not an acceptable word. Chest or nipple line is preferable. Also, is that movie fiction or non fiction? If it's fiction that says it all right there. It's the movies, they will lie or stretch the truth.