LibraSunCNM

I am learning to first assist currently. Many, many midwives first assist. The role of the first assist is to literally assist the surgeon in whatever they need. We help prep the patient and get her on the table. I help put up the drapes, set up the bovie, set up the suction. He/she makes all the incisions, I cauterize bleeders, hold retractors, and suction. I help with fundal pressure with the delivery of the baby. I help visualization of the layers when they're suturing the uterus and fascia. Some doctors want to suture the skin themselves, some are ok with us doing it. We have PAs where I work who do the bulk of first assisting, but we're being trained to be able to jump in in an emergency, which I am cool with because it's a marketable skill to have. I haven't ever heard of a CNM assisting in other surgeries but it's technically possible.