Sorry you had such a bad strech Heather. I know the feeling all to well, I quit doing OB nursing for a year not long ago because i had 3 39 to 40 week IUFD in 3 days all in a row. It really sucked, I find OB happy most of the time but when it is bad it is really really bad.
I spent yesterday (christmas eve) with on of my private patients when she arrived at the hospital they could not get hrt tones on baby, needless to say it was not a very nice christmas.
Hang in there heather don't let it get to you to much, there are plenty of other patient's that need your help.
Sorry, Heather. That just sucks. And it's never better at any time of the year, but you know that those poor patients will never feel the same about Christmas-time again. It will always bring back bad memories. We can only hope that time will heal all wounds.
I have a quick story, if you all want to read for a couple more minutes. I'll never forget the first time I cared for a patient with an IUFD. She was one who had a perfectly healthy baby until 39 week prenatal check, when they found no FHT's. So sad. She was admitted shortly thereafter for induction, she and hubby still in shock. She was really angry about doing everything right, taking PN vit's, non-smoker, took excellent care of herself, and how could this happen? I cried with them despite my best efforts to feel sympathy without growing too close to the situation as to lose my objectivity.
My patient the very next night was exactly like my patient the prior night, but with a healthy live baby girl, who was welcomed into the world with the most perfect laboring and birthing experience anyone could hope for. It served to remind me that people have to go through tough things that even we can't understand, but L&D always offers us a tomorrow that can be so much brighter. There will always be tomorrow, and next week, and next month, when the happy times FAR outweigh the bad ones. I've never forgotten the contrast of those two nights with such dissimilar outcomes. It's a constant reminder of the hope that lies beyond today.
The couple who had the stillborn was back a year later. I got to care for them again in labor. A healthy baby boy for them the second time around...and only tears of joy. Somehow those old memories just slipped away as they held their healthy baby in their arms and thanked God for a chance to have a healthy baby. I cried with them again, and didn't even try to maintain my objectivity... :)
Specializes in CVOR,CNOR,NEURO,TRAUMA,TRANSPLANTS.
It is always sad when you loose one. But too loose 3 how horrible it must have been. I admire yall so much for handling the babies I just dont have it in me to look the parent in the eye when that happens. One of my worst C sections was a set of twins and one was a FD, the entire time I was assisting with the delivery I had tears running down my face so hard and I tried to remain silent for the parents. Its one of the most traumatic events for myself if surgery. There wasnt a dry eye in the entire OR suite. They were so thankful that they atleast had one of the twins to continue on with , I had to admire thier spirit. When the case was completed all the nurses in the room gathered in the locker room and said a prayer for the innocent child and the family. It was the only way I had closure at the time. To this day I think about that family and how thier doing, and how they cope with the loss.
That just sucks. And it's never better at any time of the year, but you know that those poor patients will never feel the same about Christmas-time again. It will always bring back bad memories. We can only hope that time will heal all wounds.
baseline
581 Posts
Oh...and that so-called Mom...............? I have a friend who would love to take that baby............red hair....brown hair......no hair........