Nov 7

“Let Me Finish This Paperwork…”

“Let me finish this paperwork first, and then I’ll check you.” L&D nurse after mother tried to get the nurse’s attention to inform her that the baby was about to be born.

When she finally did come to check on me, my baby was crowning and she went into panic mode.

There are 6 comments to this post.

Lynette had this to say, Nov 7, 2009 @ 7:38 am (Quote)

I can’t really post how this makes me feel, but it includes plenty of expletives. Really??? The nurse couldn’t handle herself? She went into panic mode?? It’s amazing that if you choose to have a homebirth (to avoide this nonsense) the majority of people will tell you your decision is absurb yet they want us to put up with the incapabilities of L&D nurses like this?
I am sure there are some outstanding L&D nurses, yet this one was just stupid.

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Micah had this to say, Nov 7, 2009 @ 8:50 am (Quote)

I work as a birth doula and I’m sorry to say that I’ve only met 1 L&D nurse who was competent, compassionate and supportive.

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Ashley F. had this to say, Nov 10, 2009 @ 7:21 pm (Quote)

Well the baby clearly couldn’t be about to be born because nobody had told mom it was time. How dare she let that baby come out before a professional had told her it was time to proceed! Scandalous!

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Sheva had this to say, Nov 11, 2009 @ 9:08 am (Quote)

This happened to me with my first. I was 4 CM, but they were pouring the Pitocin into me with a funnel, I think, so 15 minutes later I had the urge to push. Of course no one believed me, so my mother, bless her, insisted that they check me before they do anything else, and I was complete and the whole place erupted into freak-out mode.
Very professional.
My mother whispered in my ear to push anyway, which I did, and 45 minutes later my son was born, amidst much yelling and freaking.
My sister had the same – very fast transition, and they yelled at her to breath and not push because they had to set up the tray. So my sister said, “Just put on gloves because I’m pushing!” Two pushes (and much panic from the midwife) later and her baby was born!
But you’re right, Ashley, it makes no sense that a mere mother should know that her baby is ready, or that she is ready to push. Such absurdity.

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Kat had this to say, Nov 11, 2009 @ 10:23 am (Quote)

Interesting how every manual on emergency childbirth says NOT to panic… yet these “trained professionals” panic at the mere thought of a baby emerging before they instructed him to.

Maybe every medical professional who works with birth-related care should be required to review what happens during a birth every day. The guide book could have “Don’t Panic!” printed on the cover in large friendly letters…