healingheart

Dayray, Thanks for your thorough response. You are right, I am hyper reflexive to the use of interventions in the hospital. I am a new graduate nurse with a year of doula experience and homebirth roots. Specifically I was responding to the word need in your sentence: "When I gently corrected her and explained that I would need to turn up the pit based on her labor pattern and dilation the doula acted shocked as though I were cruel." I appreciated the rest of your explanation and needed to hear more of the story before making any assumptions or accusations. I apologize for this. I know that I will learn a lot from the experienced nurses out there... unfortunately I have seen plenty who seem less than willing to support women in natural childbirth, and creating the positive birth experience despite the circumstances. My nature is not to do things because of tradition or policy, but to question whether it is the best way to do them for everyone involved. This will no doubt cause some conflict along my path. Communicating is the key. Thanks again for explanation, Hannah

Do you not agree that the patient has the right to refuse pitocin? Of course after 24 hours of ruptured membranes there is an obvious risk of infection. However, if the baby is doing ok, what is the harm in refusing pitocin? When does she lose her right to choose?

last week I had a pt who was a nurse and really wanted to deliver lady partslly. She had no risk factors, other than an epidural and AMA but baby's HR slowly but progressively went from 150s to 190s to 200s, even the ocassional 210. Midwife was very concerned after 2 hours of elevated FHR and waiting for the cervical lip to disappear. Doc came in and decided that pushing could take just as much time as a c-section and did not decrease the risk of infection so they had her push for 1.5 hours with MD and CNM helping the baby A LOT to come down and baby came out perfect, with no evidence of infection or distress. I was impressed!

Roughly the scenario is an induction, mom has an epidural and a temperature (don't know how high), baby has meconium and elevated FHR (180s) but good variability. If mom is getting antibiotics, is the elevated FHR really a concern and a legitimate reason for a c/section?

I am a doula and BSN/RN grad (in 5 weeks) and disappointed with the lack of hands on support I see at the hospital where I am doing my last clinical. I do not want to lose my doula skills plus the compassion and respect for women giving birth. I'm wondering if this is the norm... do many nurses feel that they are good nurses by keeping the monitors going and the pain meds flowing? Is there a hospital out there for me?

Anyone planning on attending the midwifery conference in Eugene? Here is the link. http://www.midwiferytoday.com/conferences/eugene2005/ I am looking for others who want to share a hotel room. Email me at [email protected].