over stressed about FHTs??

[babymamaRN6]

ive been on my own for about 8mo and this is my first time in l&d, i absolutely love it! for the most part i feel pretty comfortable and am not afraid to ask for help but now i have a lot to learn and room to grow! i work at a level II hospital and we average 130 births/month. anyways i find myself watching my strip very closely....this i guess is good and bad? but im starting to think maybe im too anxious about every little thing?

ex. i know for lates and variables you can change positions, give iv fluids, stop pit, give o2---all as needed depending on situation. i get a little stumped with variablity, i know it's an indictation that you have a well oxygenated babe, but it makes me nervous when babes are through sleep cycles or periods of minimal variablity. am i over reacting? sometimes i try position changes to wake up babe or fluid? another question if you have a babe in a sleep cycle for 30 mins or so or period of minimal variablity but babe has shown accels within past 30-45 mins would you give IV pain medication? even though it's going to make the babe more sleepy? i think im more afraid to make the babe look bad and not get reprimanded for it but have older nurses remark on something i failed to notice.

.alittlestressed.

[redbeads]

It is normal to be hyper vigilant about fht's when you are relatively new. Are you stressing about it too much? Probably. It sounds like you have many older nurses around you and I am sure they are watching your strip like a hawk.....so, take advantage of this and ask them for advice! They have a wealth of information to share and will probably appreciate being asked.

It also sounds like you know the proper interventions for particular decels, but remember, one variable or early or late here and there is not concerning. Position changes are always good to do, not only for baby, but mom as well. Sleep cycles are common, and if you have had a reactive strip in the last hour, shorter periods of minimal variability are okay.