I have had an "interesting" postpartum inpatient experience. I'm going to be writing to the director of the floor among others because I feel some of my nurses choices could potentially be fatal in other situations. I was about 2 hours postpartum, and I told my nurse that I was feeling very confused, I was slurring my words, falling asleep mid sentence, and didn't remember some very basic personal information that she asked me. Despite this, she never assessed me. I asked her to take my blood pressure and she agreed, yet She proceeded to assess/ work with the sleeping newborn for another 15 min. I ended up having a fairly ridiculous panic attack like fit screaming at the top of my lungs and crying uncontrollably, which brought in about 6 nurses. At this point, no blood pressure, no blood sugar, no neuro neurocheck. Afterwords I felt fine, but did instruct my husband on how to call a rapid if something like that were to happen again.
I feel that this could have been a major safety issue. Can you all tell me if I am blowing this out of proportion or not?
Even though it was 4 hours, I've seen moms "crash" after the fact, because your pain is no longer "eating" all the pain med. When you are in extreme pain, ie childbirth, it stimulates you beyond the ability of the pain meds to sedate you; once you aren't in pain it can all hit you at once.
Rapid response? no, spouses don't get to call them. You had an Airway, you were Breathing, you were Circulating (awake and talking even if feeling confused). My advice would be to let it go. {{{hugs}}}
At my facility, family members are encouraged through signage to call a rapid if they believe their love one warrants one. Surprisingly enough, it isn't abused, and has caught a few emergencies.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
You need to discuss this with your OB not here. I am afraid you won't find what you're looking for here. We weren't there and we don't have any side of the story but yours.
Enjoy your newborn and if this haunts you as much as it appears to, the place to go is YOUR health care provider.
Even though it was 4 hours, I've seen moms "crash" after the fact, because your pain is no longer "eating" all the pain med. When you are in extreme pain, ie childbirth, it stimulates you beyond the ability of the pain meds to sedate you; once you aren't in pain it can all hit you at once.
Rapid response? no, spouses don't get to call them. You had an Airway, you were Breathing, you were Circulating (awake and talking even if feeling confused). My advice would be to let it go. {{{hugs}}}
Not a post partum nurse and have no comments on this particular situation, but just wanted to add something about rapid response. At my hospital, ANYONE can call a rapid, patients and family members included if they feel as though something is wrong with the patient and they want more assistance. There are signs posted to that effect in each patient room. Have I ever seen a patient or family member call one? No, but it is possible in some facilities.
Per AN's terms of service, we can't provide medical advice and without knowing much more info, we can't comment. Please do contact your OB provider or the hospital patient relations department.
NightOwl0624
536 Posts
If the sleeping newborn baby was in the same room as you, then my guess is that nurse was (discretely) assessing you too.