Re: Re: labor down

[Guest guest]

Hi Angie, I am from Midland and work high risk OB in Odessa, pretty much in

the West Texas area. Laboring down is a concept that has really come about

with the increase of epidural anesthesia for laboring moms. When I started

out 25 years ago we used buccal pitocin tablets; one in alternating cheeks

every 30 minutes I think until good labor was established. Then we made the

moms walk until they could not walk anymore and they were usually complete

and ready to deliver. We doppled fhts using an old fetascope and palpated

u/cs. Rare was the c/s and we deilvered footling and butt breech babies with

few complications. Labor and delivery today is nothing like it was in the

dark ages and I have mixed feelings. Most moms came in in natural labor and

their bodies were ready to deliver, plus we let them walk, which I think

facilitated the position of the baby in the birth canal and an OP

presentation was also rare. I do sometimes miss the personal contact and

having moms breathe with u/cs and the different types of yells that would

alert us to someone ready to push. Now we are so busy inducing everyone and

charting via computer, that most moms don't even remember the nurse, and

after the epidural you tend to let them rest while in labor, then labor down

when complete, because you are usually understaffed and busy anyway. In the

old days when I met up with someone who labored the old way they not only

remembered me, but I had several girls named after me. Boy,I miss those

days.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

Dear Sandy,

You verbalized how I feel. I have been wondering why I ever got into this area of nursing lately. I leave feeling I haven't gotten it all done... We induce EVERYONE!! It's a miracle if they slip through. If someone comes in in spont. labor, we AUGMENT them. Our section rate is high (what do you expect?!). I've done this for over 20 years and things have really changed. We over-document everything, which takes more time. The only time we labor anyone down is at night, when the doc's asleep. Otherwise, we'll push from -whatever!!! Oh well, gotta go, I'm off to work! Chris

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down

Hi Angie, I am from Midland and work high risk OB in Odessa, pretty much in the West Texas area. Laboring down is a concept that has really come about with the increase of epidural anesthesia for laboring moms. When I started out 25 years ago we used buccal pitocin tablets; one in alternating cheeks every 30 minutes I think until good labor was established. Then we made the moms walk until they could not walk anymore and they were usually complete and ready to deliver. We doppled fhts using an old fetascope and palpated u/cs. Rare was the c/s and we deilvered footling and butt breech babies with few complications. Labor and delivery today is nothing like it was in the dark ages and I have mixed feelings. Most moms came in in natural labor and their bodies were ready to deliver, plus we let them walk, which I think facilitated the position of the baby in the birth canal and an OP presentation was also rare. I do sometimes miss the personal contact and having moms breathe with u/cs and the different types of yells that would alert us to someone ready to push. Now we are so busy inducing everyone and charting via computer, that most moms don't even remember the nurse, and after the epidural you tend to let them rest while in labor, then labor down when complete, because you are usually understaffed and busy anyway. In the old days when I met up with someone who labored the old way they not only remembered me, but I had several girls named after me. Boy,I miss those days. :)Sandy

[Guest guest]

We get excited if a patient delivers without pit...or if they are a second

over 40 weeks. Our docs are induction happy. Once we had a

42 weeker that refused induction, baby turned out very ill (had bilateral

pneumos and went to ECMO unit) then docs said see they dont need to go

over 40 weeks. I used to work with CNMs that walked the baby's out,

literally walked until the mom could no longer stand it then did intrathecals

and actually had very low C/S rate. Now it seems like we section

every one. Gee i wonder why. Either section or forceps.

I really enjoyed the deliveries where you didnt even push until the baby

was +2 , we get to do that like you said at night when the doc is

asleep. You call him up and say "Oh by the way we see eyebrows, you

better come on" then he gets there and says I didnt even know she was complete.

I kinda laugh because he doesnt get to use forceps. What ever happened

to natural birth?

"A." wrote:

Dear

Sandy,You verbalized

how I feel. I have been wondering why I ever got into this area of

nursing lately. I leave feeling I haven't gotten it all done...

We induce EVERYONE!! It's a miracle if they slip through. If

someone comes in in spont. labor, we AUGMENT them. Our section rate

is high (what do you expect?!). I've done this for over 20 years

and things have really changed. We over-document everything, which

takes more time. The only time we labor anyone down is at night,

when the doc's asleep. Otherwise, we'll push from -whatever!!!

Oh well, gotta go, I'm off to work! Chris

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down

Hi Angie, I am from Midland and work high risk OB in Odessa,

pretty much in

the West Texas area. Laboring down is a concept that has really

come about

with the increase of epidural anesthesia for laboring moms. When

I started

out 25 years ago we used buccal pitocin tablets; one in alternating

cheeks

every 30 minutes I think until good labor was established. Then

we made the

moms walk until they could not walk anymore and they were usually

complete

and ready to deliver. We doppled fhts using an old fetascope and

palpated

u/cs. Rare was the c/s and we deilvered footling and butt breech

babies with

few complications. Labor and delivery today is nothing like it

was in the

dark ages and I have mixed feelings. Most moms came in in natural

labor and

their bodies were ready to deliver, plus we let them walk, which

I think

facilitated the position of the baby in the birth canal and an

OP

presentation was also rare. I do sometimes miss the personal contact

and

having moms breathe with u/cs and the different types of yells

that would

alert us to someone ready to push. Now we are so busy inducing

everyone and

charting via computer, that most moms don't even remember the nurse,

and

after the epidural you tend to let them rest while in labor, then

labor down

when complete, because you are usually understaffed and busy anyway.

In the

old days when I met up with someone who labored the old way they

not only

remembered me, but I had several girls named after me. Boy,I

miss those

days.

Sandy

Welcome to the OBnurses list!

You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any

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digest, or Web-only.

[Guest guest]

Sandy -

I was induced, but I remember my nurses. I think I have a kindof neat

story - both my kids were delivered in the same hospital in the same L & D

room and the same nurse started both labors! - 2 yr 3 months apart! My first

labor was longer and so there was a shift change....the nurse who was there

at my daughter's birth was a girl named - she was so sweet! I remember

playing tug-o-war with a towel w/ her to help me push!

W/ my second labor, the nurse who started the delivery was there when he was

delivered since the labor was shorter. I can't believe I'm drawing a blank

on her name...I usually remember it. She was really nice too - she would

talk to me as much as time would allow. She remembered me from my first

baby...I remember her telling me " you have 7 hours to have this baby because

my shift ends and I want to be here this time! " I started pushing at 2:55

and he was out at 3:01! He made it by one minute :0)

I have wondered if I would ever go into labor w/o an epidural. My girl was

so big, but I never even had contractions that registered until I was

induced...didn't even know what a Braxton Hick felt like. When they broke my

water w/ both kids, I never dilated past 4 until they gave me an epidural -

what causes that to happen?

What exactly is med/surg? I probably will ask silly questions just because

I haven't been there yet! :0)

Do y'all ever get pictures sent to you from your patients after they go

home? I think it would be nice to keep an album of all the babies you helped

bring into the world!

Thanks -

Angie

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down

> Hi Angie, I am from Midland and work high risk OB in Odessa, pretty much

in

> the West Texas area. Laboring down is a concept that has really come about

> with the increase of epidural anesthesia for laboring moms. When I started

> out 25 years ago we used buccal pitocin tablets; one in alternating cheeks

> every 30 minutes I think until good labor was established. Then we made

the

> moms walk until they could not walk anymore and they were usually complete

> and ready to deliver. We doppled fhts using an old fetascope and palpated

> u/cs. Rare was the c/s and we deilvered footling and butt breech babies

with

> few complications. Labor and delivery today is nothing like it was in the

> dark ages and I have mixed feelings. Most moms came in in natural labor

and

> their bodies were ready to deliver, plus we let them walk, which I think

> facilitated the position of the baby in the birth canal and an OP

> presentation was also rare. I do sometimes miss the personal contact and

> having moms breathe with u/cs and the different types of yells that would

> alert us to someone ready to push. Now we are so busy inducing everyone

and

> charting via computer, that most moms don't even remember the nurse, and

> after the epidural you tend to let them rest while in labor, then labor

down

> when complete, because you are usually understaffed and busy anyway. In

the

> old days when I met up with someone who labored the old way they not only

> remembered me, but I had several girls named after me. Boy,I miss those

> days.

> Sandy

>

>

> Welcome to the OBnurses list!

> You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any time you

choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign in with your

e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this list. You will

then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed to. You can then

easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe, digest, or Web-only.

>

[Guest guest]

Do you ever see cases like mine where an induction goes well? Gosh - it seems like they are all horror stories! My first baby was induced - labor was 14 hours start to finish - no forceps or special equip...just an episiodomy and a bit of a tear (3rd degree) - her head was big (14 3/4"). My second baby was an induction too - 7 1/2 hours start to finish - 6 min pushing and 2 stitches - (15 " head). Infact, my doctor helped the nurses set everything up because I went from 4 to complete in 1 1/2 hours and my baby was THERE!

Just curious -

Angie

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down Hi Angie, I am from Midland and work high risk OB in Odessa, pretty much in the West Texas area. Laboring down is a concept that has really come about with the increase of epidural anesthesia for laboring moms. When I started out 25 years ago we used buccal pitocin tablets; one in alternating cheeks every 30 minutes I think until good labor was established. Then we made the moms walk until they could not walk anymore and they were usually complete and ready to deliver. We doppled fhts using an old fetascope and palpated u/cs. Rare was the c/s and we deilvered footling and butt breech babies with few complications. Labor and delivery today is nothing like it was in the dark ages and I have mixed feelings. Most moms came in in natural labor and their bodies were ready to deliver, plus we let them walk, which I think facilitated the position of the baby in the birth canal and an OP presentation was also rare. I do sometimes miss the personal contact and having moms breathe with u/cs and the different types of yells that would alert us to someone ready to push. Now we are so busy inducing everyone and charting via computer, that most moms don't even remember the nurse, and after the epidural you tend to let them rest while in labor, then labor down when complete, because you are usually understaffed and busy anyway. In the old days when I met up with someone who labored the old way they not only remembered me, but I had several girls named after me. Boy,I miss those days. Sandy

Welcome to the OBnurses list! You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any time you choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign in with your e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this list. You will then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed to. You can then easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe, digest, or Web-only.

[Guest guest]

I will comment on this--Angie, there are *no* silly questions. Asking

questions is how you learn.

(Unless of course, it is the question I was asked a few years ago by an

actual American-born pharmacist: " How do you spell H-I-V? " I had

some problem with getting the patient's prescription filled there after

that.....scary!

" Med-surg " is a short term for " Medical-Surgical nursing " --basically

medically ill (i.e. diabetic ketoacidosis, heart failure, cancer, etc.)

and/or surgical patients (i.e. appendectomy, hyterectomy, etc.) Since some

L & D patients may also have an underlying medical and/or surgical history

which can complicate their deliveries, getting some background in med-surg

can be helpful because you learn about basic body systems both well and

unwell. It teaches you organizational skills and many other things. There

are differing opinions as to whether getting that year of med-surg is

" necessary " --that's a judgement call. Some say yes, some say no.

--------Jeanine

----- Original Message -----

> What exactly is med/surg? I probably will ask silly questions just

because

> I haven't been there yet! :0)

>

> Do y'all ever get pictures sent to you from your patients after they go

> home? I think it would be nice to keep an album of all the babies you

helped

> bring into the world!

[Guest guest]

Angie,

Not all inductions are nightmares...there are times when inductions

are necessary. The problems I have with inductions are when they

are done for reasons such as conveinence or because mom is just plain tired

of being pregnant. You run higher risk of c-section or problems with

lung maturity. It works out better when the body says it is time.

Sometimes that doesnt happen and it is risker to continue with the pregnancy

than to induce. Please dont get us wrong.....I think most would agree

that inductions for the right reasons are ok....but not just because mom

wants it.

Angie Klimionok wrote:

Do you ever

see cases like mine where an induction goes well? Gosh - it seems like

they are all horror stories! My first baby was induced - labor was 14 hours

start to finish - no forceps or special equip...just an episiodomy and

a bit of a tear (3rd degree) - her head was big (14 3/4"). My second

baby was an induction too - 7 1/2 hours start to finish - 6 min pushing

and 2 stitches - (15 " head). Infact, my doctor helped the nurses set everything

up because I went from 4 to complete in 1 1/2 hours and my baby was THERE! Just

curious -Angie

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down

Hi Angie, I am from Midland and work high risk OB in Odessa,

pretty much in

the West Texas area. Laboring down is a concept that has really

come about

with the increase of epidural anesthesia for laboring moms. When

I started

out 25 years ago we used buccal pitocin tablets; one in alternating

cheeks

every 30 minutes I think until good labor was established. Then

we made the

moms walk until they could not walk anymore and they were usually

complete

and ready to deliver. We doppled fhts using an old fetascope and

palpated

u/cs. Rare was the c/s and we deilvered footling and butt breech

babies with

few complications. Labor and delivery today is nothing like it

was in the

dark ages and I have mixed feelings. Most moms came in in natural

labor and

their bodies were ready to deliver, plus we let them walk, which

I think

facilitated the position of the baby in the birth canal and an

OP

presentation was also rare. I do sometimes miss the personal contact

and

having moms breathe with u/cs and the different types of yells

that would

alert us to someone ready to push. Now we are so busy inducing

everyone and

charting via computer, that most moms don't even remember the nurse,

and

after the epidural you tend to let them rest while in labor, then

labor down

when complete, because you are usually understaffed and busy anyway.

In the

old days when I met up with someone who labored the old way they

not only

remembered me, but I had several girls named after me. Boy,I

miss those

days.

Sandy

Welcome to the OBnurses list!

You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any

time you choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign

in with your e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this

list. You will then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed

to. You can then easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe,

digest, or Web-only.

Welcome to the OBnurses list!

You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any

time you choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign

in with your e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this

list. You will then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed

to. You can then easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe,

digest, or Web-only.

[Guest guest]

What is your opinion? Is it best to have that year of med/surg under your

belt? Does it really prepare you better for L & D?

Angie

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down

> I will comment on this--Angie, there are *no* silly questions. Asking

> questions is how you learn.

> (Unless of course, it is the question I was asked a few years ago by an

> actual American-born pharmacist: " How do you spell H-I-V? " I had

> some problem with getting the patient's prescription filled there after

> that.....scary!

> " Med-surg " is a short term for " Medical-Surgical nursing " --basically

> medically ill (i.e. diabetic ketoacidosis, heart failure, cancer, etc.)

> and/or surgical patients (i.e. appendectomy, hyterectomy, etc.) Since some

> L & D patients may also have an underlying medical and/or surgical history

> which can complicate their deliveries, getting some background in med-surg

> can be helpful because you learn about basic body systems both well and

> unwell. It teaches you organizational skills and many other things. There

> are differing opinions as to whether getting that year of med-surg is

> " necessary " --that's a judgement call. Some say yes, some say no.

> --------Jeanine

> ----- Original Message -----

>

> > What exactly is med/surg? I probably will ask silly questions just

> because

> > I haven't been there yet! :0)

> >

> > Do y'all ever get pictures sent to you from your patients after they go

> > home? I think it would be nice to keep an album of all the babies you

> helped

> > bring into the world!

>

>

>

>

> Welcome to the OBnurses list!

> You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any time you

choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign in with your

e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this list. You will

then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed to. You can then

easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe, digest, or Web-only.

>

[Guest guest]

Ohhhh! I sure am glad my doctor thought I needed it...all the details are coming back to memory - according to my doctor my daughter dropped to -1 or 0 station by 36 weeks. I was thinned out 60-70% by 37 weeks. And I was stuck at 1 cm. I don't know why I didn't go into labor....I had him guessing too! Similar thing happened w/ my son - who knows why...but it sure was miserable!

Angie

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down Hi Angie, I am from Midland and work high risk OB in Odessa, pretty much in the West Texas area. Laboring down is a concept that has really come about with the increase of epidural anesthesia for laboring moms. When I started out 25 years ago we used buccal pitocin tablets; one in alternating cheeks every 30 minutes I think until good labor was established. Then we made the moms walk until they could not walk anymore and they were usually complete and ready to deliver. We doppled fhts using an old fetascope and palpated u/cs. Rare was the c/s and we deilvered footling and butt breech babies with few complications. Labor and delivery today is nothing like it was in the dark ages and I have mixed feelings. Most moms came in in natural labor and their bodies were ready to deliver, plus we let them walk, which I think facilitated the position of the baby in the birth canal and an OP presentation was also rare. I do sometimes miss the personal contact and having moms breathe with u/cs and the different types of yells that would alert us to someone ready to push. Now we are so busy inducing everyone and charting via computer, that most moms don't even remember the nurse, and after the epidural you tend to let them rest while in labor, then labor down when complete, because you are usually understaffed and busy anyway. In the old days when I met up with someone who labored the old way they not only remembered me, but I had several girls named after me. Boy,I miss those days. Sandy

Welcome to the OBnurses list! You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any time you choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign in with your e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this list. You will then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed to. You can then easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe, digest, or Web-only.

Welcome to the OBnurses list! You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any time you choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign in with your e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this list. You will then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed to. You can then easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe, digest, or Web-only.

[Guest guest]

Dear Angie;

I had one occasion where I was in on deliveries by the same couple. I started

her before I left from the night shift and answered all her questions and

gave her a detailed description of the day she would face. I came back at 3

PM and helped her push and deliver her first son. Then I found out she was a

med-mal defense attorney, pretty cool cause she was so sweet. She came in a

few years later when I was moon lighting in L & D and I got to be present for

her second son. I have received some cards and pictures over the years,

mostly from moms who labored without epidurals, because they remember the one

who was there for them (most dads could not handle the labor).

Med/surg is basically a catch all floor where you take care of a variety of

adult and geriatric patients. I think everyone should work at least one to

two years on a med/surg floor before they specialize because you learn a lot

of different tasks which will help when you get to your particular unit.

You can go through nursing school with little kids too, I bet most of us have

done so, it is amazing how organized you become. I could never sell my books

back because they were so stained and beat up from the little ones spilling

stuff on them or the weird places I would study. Was an adventure and just

take one day at a time and don't think about the future too much, it will be

here in the blink of an eye.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

Hi Angie,

First of all, please let me apologize for being so negative yesterday. I love what I do, just lately we've all been needing some attitude adjusting in our unit! I love the relationships I build with my pts. I've been at the same place for 15 years and have many repeat customers and their friends come through. I agree that all inductions aren't bad. Most of ours are done for physician convenience. I don't know many women at 38 weeks who would turn down a chance to deliver when offered to them. It's the physicians who should guide them wisely through the process and that's just not happening where I am. I don't even have a problem with pts with ripe cervixes having a trial indiction, but we constantly pit primips with th/l cervixes that are in tibuktoo!! It either ends up a failure of worse yet, a c/s. I can't tell you how many of these primips should go home, but say, "I'm not leaving without a baby!" and then we do a c/s. It's criminal! Oh well, off to bed. Y'all have a good day! Chris

----- Original Message -----

From: Angie Klimionok

Do you ever see cases like mine where an induction goes well? Gosh - it seems like they are all horror stories! My first baby was induced - labor was 14 hours start to finish - no forceps or special equip...just an episiodomy and a bit of a tear (3rd degree) - her head was big (14 3/4"). My second baby was an induction too - 7 1/2 hours start to finish - 6 min pushing and 2 stitches - (15 " head). Infact, my doctor helped the nurses set everything up because I went from 4 to complete in 1 1/2 hours and my baby was THERE!

Just curious -Angie

[Guest guest]

-

Please don't apologize! Everyone should be able to vent - I would imagine nurses could get to the point of resenting or hating their jobs if they couldn't vent about docs, patients and procedures!

It sounds like the physicians are mostly at fault. I was fortunate to have a very good one - he encouraged me to wait as long as I possibly could and warned about the increased chance of a c/s. I had so much swelling though - 36 hours after I had Krista, I lost 22 lbs - at the end of 2 weeks I had lost 50! I delivered her 2 days after her due date, and my son 3 days before his due date...so they were both induced 40 weekers.

I've got to brag on my doc for a second - I was married to a bum :0( who wouldn't get a job so we didn't have insurance when I got pregnant w/ my son. I ended up having to get on Medicaid...talk about making my dad mad! Normally my doctor didn't take Medicaid...only extenuating circumstances, but he said he would take it for me. He also said that if I didn't get coverage, he would take care of the baby & I for free - no charge...we'd just have to cover the hospital. In the midst of all of this he moved offices and I barely got in in time to deliver at the old hospital he was leaving (Medicaid didn't cover the one he was going to). I was his second to last patient at the old one... When 37 weeks came along, he really figured I'd be in the hospital anyday - obviously he couldn't REALLY predict, but he thought it was a good possibility. So, he told me if I went into labor to go on to the hospital and get admitted - then he gave me his HOME number and told me to call him at ANYTIME - he would call the hospital and tell them that he would come in and take over for the doctor on call! That is an old fashioned doctor who puts his patient before the all mighty buck! As it turned out, we did induce for a couple of reasons - since my daughter was so big, we were concerned about him being big too and the second reason was that Cody was due on Aug 3rd. My father -in- law's birthday is on Aug 2nd - I can't stand the man and I didn't want to take a chance on them having the same b-day...so Cody was born on the 31st of July!

How big was the biggest baby you ever delivered?

I hope things get better where you work!

Angie

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down

Hi Angie,

First of all, please let me apologize for being so negative yesterday. I love what I do, just lately we've all been needing some attitude adjusting in our unit! I love the relationships I build with my pts. I've been at the same place for 15 years and have many repeat customers and their friends come through. I agree that all inductions aren't bad. Most of ours are done for physician convenience. I don't know many women at 38 weeks who would turn down a chance to deliver when offered to them. It's the physicians who should guide them wisely through the process and that's just not happening where I am. I don't even have a problem with pts with ripe cervixes having a trial indiction, but we constantly pit primips with th/l cervixes that are in tibuktoo!! It either ends up a failure of worse yet, a c/s. I can't tell you how many of these primips should go home, but say, "I'm not leaving without a baby!" and then we do a c/s. It's criminal! Oh well, off to bed. Y'all have a good day! Chris

----- Original Message -----

From: Angie Klimionok

Do you ever see cases like mine where an induction goes well? Gosh - it seems like they are all horror stories! My first baby was induced - labor was 14 hours start to finish - no forceps or special equip...just an episiodomy and a bit of a tear (3rd degree) - her head was big (14 3/4"). My second baby was an induction too - 7 1/2 hours start to finish - 6 min pushing and 2 stitches - (15 " head). Infact, my doctor helped the nurses set everything up because I went from 4 to complete in 1 1/2 hours and my baby was THERE!

Just curious -Angie

Welcome to the OBnurses list!You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any time you choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign in with your e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this list. You will then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed to. You can then easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe, digest, or Web-only.

[Guest guest]

Hmmmm, I like this question! The largest baby that I know of delivered where I worked was 15 lbs 14 oz, delivered vaginally with a midline episiotomy. No forceps, no vacuum extractor. And mom weighed about 100 lbs and was only about 5 ft tall. Ouch! The week she delivered was notable for large babies--no one ever figured out why, but about 4 babies that week were over 14 lbs besides this one, and all except one were delivered by my own OB doc--granted, he was among the biggests docs but still. I used to tease him about whatever he had given those girls in their prenatal vitamins! None of them were diabetics either, even though this *was* before women routinely had GTTs.

--------Jeanine

----- Original Message -----

From: Angie Klimionok

How big was the biggest baby you ever delivered?

I hope things get better where you work!

[Guest guest]

Hmmmmm, it's still a rough question, Angie. I have to say, yes, I think it

*does* help you in L & D (and most other highly specialized areas like ICU or

ER). That said, I have worked with some excellent nurses in L & D that started

directly there, and many of them felt that med-surg wasn't needed.

I went directly from graduation from nursing school into maternal-child

health--high risk OB, both antepartum and L & D. However, I had worked there

for 2 years as a nurses aide, and many times got pulled to med-surg units.

That was when the hospital allowed that--now that particular hospital

doesn't allow pulling from maternal health units into med surg because MCH

is considered " clean " and med surg considered " dirty " . As a new grad, being

lowest on the totem pole, I floated then a lot to med surg. I also

deliberately did staff relief for a local agency for local hospitals for med

surg, just to get my experience without working med surg full time.

--------Jeanine

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down

>

>

> > I will comment on this--Angie, there are *no* silly questions. Asking

> > questions is how you learn.

> > (Unless of course, it is the question I was asked a few years ago by an

> > actual American-born pharmacist: " How do you spell H-I-V? " I had

> > some problem with getting the patient's prescription filled there after

> > that.....scary!

> > " Med-surg " is a short term for " Medical-Surgical nursing " --basically

> > medically ill (i.e. diabetic ketoacidosis, heart failure, cancer, etc.)

> > and/or surgical patients (i.e. appendectomy, hyterectomy, etc.) Since

some

> > L & D patients may also have an underlying medical and/or surgical history

> > which can complicate their deliveries, getting some background in

med-surg

> > can be helpful because you learn about basic body systems both well and

> > unwell. It teaches you organizational skills and many other things.

There

> > are differing opinions as to whether getting that year of med-surg is

> > " necessary " --that's a judgement call. Some say yes, some say no.

> > --------Jeanine

> > ----- Original Message -----

> >

> > > What exactly is med/surg? I probably will ask silly questions just

> > because

> > > I haven't been there yet! :0)

> > >

> > > Do y'all ever get pictures sent to you from your patients after they

go

> > > home? I think it would be nice to keep an album of all the babies you

> > helped

> > > bring into the world!

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Welcome to the OBnurses list!

> > You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any time you

> choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign in with

your

> e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this list. You

will

> then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed to. You can then

> easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe, digest, or

Web-only.

> >

>

>

>

> Welcome to the OBnurses list!

> You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any time you

choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign in with your

e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this list. You will

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>

[Guest guest]

My goodness! I can't even imagine...my 10lb 12oz baby sounds like a runt compared to 15lb 14oz! - 5 more pounds on a 5 ft girl! I'm 5ft 7in - and I thought I was going to burst...where could she have put that much baby? I don't know which kind of epis. I had - I just know he sewed me up really well and that's all that matters! :0) I did rip a bit past it though...the thought of that other baby makes me hurt! Do you happen to remember how long the baby was or was it a long time ago? My girl never did slow down though - they all tell you "don't worry...she stop growing..." She's 3 1/2 and wears a 6x - on her 3 yr check up she weighed 46 pounds & was 41 1/2 inches tall...but she's not fat! She's solid. She's in gymnastics...think of Lou Retton... My boy is the same - he's only 15 months but wears a 2T - at his 1 yr check up he weighed 27 pounds and was 32 1/2 in long. She is completely WAY off the charts on h & w. He is in the upper 90% - I know they aren't record breakers or anything...but they still seem big to me - all muscle and a little fat! It really seems like babies are bigger than they use to be - I hear more and more of large babies being born.

Speaking of - I need to tuck my little one in - it's past her bed time :0)

Angie

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down

Hmmmm, I like this question! The largest baby that I know of delivered where I worked was 15 lbs 14 oz, delivered vaginally with a midline episiotomy. No forceps, no vacuum extractor. And mom weighed about 100 lbs and was only about 5 ft tall. Ouch! The week she delivered was notable for large babies--no one ever figured out why, but about 4 babies that week were over 14 lbs besides this one, and all except one were delivered by my own OB doc--granted, he was among the biggests docs but still. I used to tease him about whatever he had given those girls in their prenatal vitamins! None of them were diabetics either, even though this *was* before women routinely had GTTs.

--------Jeanine

----- Original Message -----

From: Angie Klimionok

How big was the biggest baby you ever delivered?

I hope things get better where you work!

Welcome to the OBnurses list!You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any time you choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign in with your e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this list. You will then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed to. You can then easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe, digest, or Web-only.

[Guest guest]

Oh, it was a long time ago, but I remember! He was 24 inches long. Long, but not as long as you might think he would be. I know we didn't have baby shirts for him, so we had to get a peds pajama top for him, and he wore medium diapers. And I remember thinking just how fat he looked--at least 5 chins, instead of the usual baby 2 or 3! And he felt so much more floppy than you would think, probably because a baby that size is usually older and has more muscle tone.

I still cringe when I think of something (someone? ) come down the birth canal that is that size.

--------Jeanine

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down

My goodness! I can't even imagine...my 10lb 12oz baby sounds like a runt compared to 15lb 14oz! - 5 more pounds on a 5 ft girl! I'm 5ft 7in - and I thought I was going to burst...where could she have put that much baby? I don't know which kind of epis. I had - I just know he sewed me up really well and that's all that matters! :0) I did rip a bit past it though...the thought of that other baby makes me hurt! Do you happen to remember how long the baby was or was it a long time ago?

[Guest guest]

First, while many studies support the later epidural/shorter labor idea, I

don't always. I have seen many women (myself included) that didn't dilate

unitl after their epidural. My thoughts (worth about 25 cents) is that some

women are too nervous to let their bodies do the work. They get their epi

and can't fight it anymore and Surprise...they have a baby. With my first,

it took 12 hours to get to 2 cms. 2, almost 3, more hours to get to 3 cm. I

got my epidural and I was complete and +2 in under 4 hours.

Second, I think it is neat to take care of a patient twice. I have also ran

into women out shopping a year or more later and they still remember me.

That is when I know how important nurses are.

The most touching time that I ever had a patient again was a few years ago.

I took care of her for a stillbirth. It was a long, horrible event with

Prostin. This was her 4th loss in a row. A year and a half later, she calls

the unit from home to see when I was working because her doc was going to

induce her and she wanted me there. Her induction was set and I didn't know

that she had requested me. That morning when I found out, I asked her if she

was sure that she wanted me. She then told me that she had arranged it. The

same doctor and I delivered her several hours later and there wasn't a dry

eye in the bunch!! Her family, everyone, was overjoyed.

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down

> I was induced, but I remember my nurses. I think I have a kindof neat

story - both my kids were delivered in the same hospital in the same L & D

> room and the same nurse started both labors! - 2 yr 3 months apart!

> I have wondered if I would ever go into labor w/o an epidural. My girl

was so big, but I never even had contractions that registered until I was

> induced...When they broke my water w/ both kids, I never dilated past 4

until they gave me an epidural -

> what causes that to happen?

>

> >

>

[Guest guest]

-

Does a baby riding low for a few weeks aggrivate things where it could be

hard to dilate? I remember my nurse saying that pushing could just make the

cervix swollen (I think that is what she said) - but if a baby rode at -1 to

0 station for 3 or 4 weeks, could it have a similar effect?

I was wondering if that could cause the dilation to slow-

Thanks for the reply -

Angie

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down

>

>

> > I was induced, but I remember my nurses. I think I have a kindof neat

> story - both my kids were delivered in the same hospital in the same L & D

> > room and the same nurse started both labors! - 2 yr 3 months apart!

>

> > I have wondered if I would ever go into labor w/o an epidural. My girl

> was so big, but I never even had contractions that registered until I was

> > induced...When they broke my water w/ both kids, I never dilated past 4

> until they gave me an epidural -

> > what causes that to happen?

> >

> > >

> >

>

>

>

> Welcome to the OBnurses list!

> You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any time you

choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign in with your

e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this list. You will

then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed to. You can then

easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe, digest, or Web-only.

>

[Guest guest]

, this story gave me goose bumps! I've had things similar happen, and

it is so gratifying to find out that you really made a difference to

someone's life in some way. *This* is what many of us went into nursing for.

--------Jeanine

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down

>

>

> > I was induced, but I remember my nurses. I think I have a kindof neat

> story - both my kids were delivered in the same hospital in the same L & D

> > room and the same nurse started both labors! - 2 yr 3 months apart!

>

> > I have wondered if I would ever go into labor w/o an epidural. My girl

> was so big, but I never even had contractions that registered until I was

> > induced...When they broke my water w/ both kids, I never dilated past 4

> until they gave me an epidural -

> > what causes that to happen?

> >

> > >

> >

>

>

>

> Welcome to the OBnurses list!

> You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any time you

choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign in with your

e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this list. You will

then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed to. You can then

easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe, digest, or Web-only.

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/8/00 9:12:08 AM Eastern Standard Time, Goggie23@...

writes:

<< All the per diem staff

quit because they didn't want to come to work and have to float - the

hospital is using our staff as the hospital float pool when we're slow >>

We run into the same ting here. Our policy sates that we float only to a

clinically like area (peds...where we have not oriented and have not taken

the peds med test, so basically we tech and secretary) The newest thing tho

is floating us to " sit " with pts who are confused or Baker acted. The reason

is we " don't have to provide nursing care..we just need a warm body to sit

with them so they don't get hurt " . Since this is non-union and we supposedly

have a choice wether to float to the medical units to " sit " if we refuse the

supervisor will say " fine. Float to peds and I'll pull a peds nurse to sit,

because they HAVE to go to medical units!! " Needless to say that after this

happened a few times, the perdiems have left, and none of us will sign up for

extra on call because they will call us in and flaot us to sit. Lori

[Guest guest]

Geez.........same old, same old! At least it seems good that there are

others with the same misery. Thanks for sharing!

[Guest guest]

I doubt that the baby being low during pregnancy should bother anything.

With intact membranes there would still be a lot of cushion.

Re: [OBnurses] Re: labor down

> >

> >

> > > I was induced, but I remember my nurses. I think I have a kindof neat

> > story - both my kids were delivered in the same hospital in the same L &

D

> > > room and the same nurse started both labors! - 2 yr 3 months apart!

> >

> > > I have wondered if I would ever go into labor w/o an epidural. My

girl

> > was so big, but I never even had contractions that registered until I

was

> > > induced...When they broke my water w/ both kids, I never dilated past

4

> > until they gave me an epidural -

> > > what causes that to happen?

> > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> > Welcome to the OBnurses list!

> > You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any time you

> choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign in with

your

> e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this list. You

will

> then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed to. You can then

> easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe, digest, or

Web-only.

> >

>

>

>

> Welcome to the OBnurses list!

> You have the freedom to change your membership settings at any time you

choose. Go to the Onelist Home Page at www.onelist.com and sign in with your

e mail address and the password you used to subscribe to this list. You will

then see a list of all Onelist lists you are subscribed to. You can then

easily choose the settings you would like--unsubscribe, digest, or Web-only.

>

>