May 19, 2010

Deje Vu

Last two shifts that I worked, I had 2 very similar births. Both were multips, with a history of fast labors - very fast labors. They both came in, almost complete. I could tell they were ready to rock as they were wheeled into the room - both were sitting in that tell-all sitting-off-to-the-side position. But they both managed to smile in between contractions. The similarities were many: Same doc, same labor room, same labor nurse (myself), same scrub tech and same nursery nurse and approximately the same time in the morning. Doc managed to get in from home in time to catch the baby - and he is one that takes about 15 minutes to get in. He laughed after the second birth and asked if this was something he should expect from me. I told him "If it were up to me, of course!" All of us in the delivery room had a good laugh. Both moms were very well controlled and even tried not to push so that the doc could get there in time. I'm always amazed when mom's can/are willing to do that when every fiber of their body is telling them to push and their body is pushing against their will. Truly amazing. But they did it, both had beautiful births, quick, less than 2 hours start to finish! and both had beautiful healthy babes that took to breastfeeding like champs! After my dry spell of births, it was nice to have a couple of births just like these!

12 comments:

NHMomma said...

Why do you tall them not to push?

Nurse Lochia said...

We're supposed to do what we can to get the doc there for delivery. I don't tell moms not to push, I refuse to holler "NO, don't push!" like some do, sometimes the baby is coming no matter what...I tell them that if they want their doc/midwife there, and if they are able to hold off, then the doc/midwife will deliver. If they can't not push/or don't care if their doc/midwife is there, then she can do what every fiber is her body is telling her to do. These women really wanted their docs there...most women don't care who catches the baby at that stage and go ahead a push, or their body does it for them and there's no stopping. I know that if it were me in that situation, there's no way I wouldn't push, but this way I've given the women their options and I've told them that it's likely the doc/midwife won't be there if they push. And that way, no one can accuse me of intentionally having mom push so I could deliver the baby.

NHMomma said...

Thanks!
I know there was no way I was not going to push. And my poor husband got to be the only one there as the baby was out to her ears before the ambulance arrived. :) I really did not want to push, believe me, but my body was doing it's own thing.

Thanks for a great blog and doing such a service to the women in your hospital.

pinky said...

I miss deliveries.

Sprinkle said...

I'm so glad I found your blog. I'm sure many women get on here and tell you their life stories - I just want to say thanks for sharing, I'm sure it helps a lot of women who can relate to different things you say.

apvegmama said...

I was told by EMTs and nurses not to push, which upset me, but it hurt to push and my body was doing it anyway. I have heard stories (grandma's generation) about women being forced to cross their legs and wait for the doc. The babies suffered brain damage sometimes. Call me cynical, but I have to think that being told to wait until the doctor arrives has to do somewhat with the doctor's big "pay" off.

Nurse Lochia said...

Doc's get paid for the delivery whether or not they do the catching or not. It's nice to have them there just in case there is a shoulder dystocia...I have had patients where the doc almost didn't make it in time and I was thankful afterwards that they did - bad, bad shoulder dystocia that I am not trained to handle as an RN. Doc's are trained in all those maneuvers, and even in a couple of those cases, it was a LONG time waiting for those shoulders!

Nurse Lochia said...

But, I do want to add, that generally, if a baby is coming that fast, there isn't usually a problem. And it was a matter of 1-2 contractions these women "blew" through. I'll say, I never thought the discussion would go down this path after posting about a couple of awesome births!

apvegmama said...

Oh, wow! I never knew that they get paid no matter what. I learn something new every day. :) Kudos to those ladies and to you for presenting them with a choice. I guess it is good to breathe through a few to facilitate slower crowning despite when the doctor is arriving. ;)

Elizabeth said...

I recently had this happen to me. There was no way that I was going to hold off. I agree that if labor is moving that quickly, that the baby will usually come out pretty quickly. I know that I really didn't have to do anything for my baby to just slide on out.

It is true that doctors get paid either way. One of my papers, though, has the nurse's name that delivered my baby. I thought that was cool and funny!

Giles said...

I enjoyedd reading this

Giles said...

Grateful for sharing this post