What could they be talking about?

What could they be talking about?

Never allow the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game!

Babe Ruth

Friday, January 27, 2012

A Night in Labor and Delivery...

Being away from the hospital for the past three years has given me a new love for my job.  A love and an appreciation had I not been away I'm sure I wouldn't have.  I work in a very small hospital. I love it...because you get experiences you would never have in a bigger hospital.  I know this..I've worked in bigger..and they are not necessarily better!  I love that not only do I get to admit my patients, I get to be their labor nurse, I get to be their recovery nurse, their post partum nurse AND their baby nurse.  I get to know my patients on a level I never could in a big hospital.  I also need to know how to revive a baby that's not breathing, start an IV on the teeniest of babies, and keep those little buggers warm, pink, and sweet until the NICU from about 45 minutes away can rush in and take those that need to go...

Wednesday night at work was one of those eye openers when I realize..I DID learn something over the years.  I DO know alot..and even when everything is crazy I STILL love my job.  Wednesday night was spent with "Rosie".  Rosie is a 27 year old first time Mom.  She has been coming in twice a week to have non stress tests done because she is a gestational diabetic.  A non stress test is a test we do just to be sure the baby is doing ok...we hook her up to the monitor and see how often the baby moves, and if the heart beat increases for brief periods of time.  The movements and increases mean the baby is doing ok.  Well at the last NST Rosie's had another test done called a biophysical profile.  This is an ultrasound that measure babies growth, movements, the amniotic fluid level, babies tone, and babies breathing...teamed with the NST it gives us a score as to how baby is doing.  If it's to low..we induce labor.  Rosie's score was to low.  so we induced.  I spent all of Tuesday night with Rosie.  Trying to get her labor going.  She and her husband were excited...a bit shell shocked yet..as they thought it would be at least another week, and tired.  They were able to get a little sleep here and there...but as you can imagine, the mix of emotions made it pretty difficult. 

I returned to work Wednesday night.  Poor Rosie was still in labor.  Things were not looking good.  Rosie had just about every tube hooked to her you could imagine.  Yet...I was still able to find a few more we didn't have on her...and add them through the course of the night!  Rosie's babies heart beat wasn't look good.  Normally babies heart rate should be between 110-170.  Rosie's baby was dipping down into the 80's for periods of up to 4 minutes.  I'd have loved to see Rosie have a c-section and a healthy baby.  Rosie's doctor however decided to try to weather the storm..shall we say.  The babies heart rate would go back up..and look pretty good for extended periods of time..Then tick tick tick...go back down.  BUT finally...finally..at 5:30 in the morning...36 hours after Rosie had been admitted...she was complete..she was ready to start pushing.  And push she did...one hour and seven minutes later...Rosie's baby's head was delivered.  Sure enough...the umbilical cord was wrapped around this little guys neck...when the doctor went to slip it over the babies head...SNAP...the cord broke.  Let's just say...this is not good.  This is not good at all.  BOTH Mom and baby can bleed to death...baby EXTREMELY quickly...And trust me...when a doctor says he needs help...you help!!!  We had blood everywhere...and I mean everywhere...BUT we snapped both ends of that cord tight...and I'm more than happy to say..both Rosie..and her beautiful son David...where fine!!!  Had  worked in a big hospital I'd of had all sorts of resources there to help..NICU, for one...for baby David.  BUT it was just one of my amazing friends and coworkers, the doctor, and little old me!  And thanks to our quick work...everyone was just fine!!  Housekeeping wasn't real happy with us...can you say scene from a horror movie..SERIOUSLY!  But Mama, Baby, and the new Daddy where great.  Doctor and nurses were happy...and there was no c section involved.

Last night I was able to care for Rosie and David all night long.  They were our only patients left on the unit.  I was the only nurse working.  I spent my night rocking and feeding David so that Mommy and Daddy could sleep.  As I looked at this sweet baby boy...I couldn't help remember the events from the night before.  I told him how he was scaring this old nurse and how happy she was when he was born and ok!  I wondered what his life had in store for him.  I prayed for him..I prayed for his Mommy and Daddy.  Maybe it was PMS..or maybe it was just because last night I didn't know what our outcome was going to be...and tonight I was holding this beautiful baby....but I had a stray tear fall down my cheek.

When Rosie was in labor..on one of the few times I actually left her room, I asked her if there was anything I could get her.  She laughed, despite all the tubes, and exhaustion..and said..A BROWNIE!!!  Guess what I brought her last night...oh yea...a Brownie!  I couldn't have done that in a big hospital!!!  Have I mentioned I love my job???

10 comments:

  1. What an awesome job, and what an awesome nurse you are! I love babies, your job is so rewarding. Think of all the lives you touch, so wonderful that mom and baby are doing well, Hugs, Lecia

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  2. Wow1 Amazing! I give you so much credit to be a nurce!!!! I can't even handle the site of blood. So glad there was a most wonderful outsome! OLM

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  3. Just amazing girl! So glad David is OK.What a miracle.I probly would have seen all the blood and passed out.Well maybe not people do things they never thought the could do in times of crisis.You got the best reward ever holding that sweet baby in your arms knowing you were part of saving him.Big Hugs to you!~Amy

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  4. Oh Katie, a tear certainly ran down my cheek as I read this. Katie, my dear, that is a story for guidepost. You need to enter their writer contest, when they have it. I know there are good medical professionals out there. I am proud to be your friend.

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  5. How wonderful! You are blessed with a job you love! And Im sure it shows. Wish you were my nurse when I delivered. Many hospitals need more nurses like you
    Loved this post.Thank you for sharing.
    Blessings to you
    Trace
    www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com

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  6. The nicest nurses I have ever met were in the OB ward! What an awesome job you have - I bet you are wonderful at it! ~*~Lisa

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  7. What a touching post! So glad to hear that David is okay. What a rewarding job. There needs to be more nurses out there like you. I thought about going on to school for nursing when my kids were little, but the sight of blood and the fear of needles, kinda put a stop to that, Lol! I credit you for all you do. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  8. People who are nurses (and good ones) have something very special about them. It's a gift from God I'll tell you. Not many people can do that job and very well. I can tell you are a good nurse because of the way you write about the love you have for the people you serve and the babies you care for. I've also seen that "good nurse" qualities carry over into their personal lives and they are able to reach out and touch all sorts of people in many ways. Good nurses also make great friends. I have a few:) Thanks for this post. I love it. And thanks for being a good nurse. The world needs them. -Steph-

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  9. Oh heavens, that is such a heartwarming story. You truly have a heart-of-gold and I'm proud of you for doing your job in such a personal way. I'm sure that the mommies, daddies and babies all appreciate you beyond words...makes their "special delivery" even more special and you'll always be remembered as the wonderful nurse that took such good care of each and everyone of them. ♥Traci

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  10. Oh Katie, if ever I have a baby, I hope I have a nurse like you!

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