Almost a babycatcher...

For the second time in a week, I came thisclose to delivering a baby.

The first time was with a first-time mom. I'd been providing labor support while she pushed for almost 3 hours. My preceptor took over so I could go to lunch (it was almost 2 PM) -- and when I came back, SHE was delivering the baby!

My second almost-opportunity came with a mom having her fifth baby. She didn't make any cervical change for hours, had her labor augmented, and then *foom!* it was baby time. It went a little something like this:

I check on the patient. Contractions are a little bit stronger, but the patient still feels like she has a ways to go.

(Ten minutes later)

Family member runs to the nurses station looking for me. "She needs you! She says the baby's coming!"

I help the patient to bed and check her cervix. She's dilated to 7 cm, so I calmly instruct the patient not to push, and make sure my preceptor has paged the doctor. I stay with the patient to help her try to breathe through each contraction -- which have definitely turned into strong, get-that-baby-out-of-here kind of contractions.

(Five minutes later)

"The baby's coming! I have to push!"

That's right about when a spare midwife rushed in and took over. The patient was complete and she delivered in about 2 pushes.

Just goes to show that when those babies decide it's time to make their grand entrance -- they really make an entrance!

A cervical epiphany

I finally found the cervix.

I've been doing semi-successful cervical checks for the past few weeks now -- where I was pretty sure I'd found it, but I always a little uncertain. Unless, that is, the baby was half-way to crowning and the mom suddenly felt like pushing. I'd gotten pretty good at those checks.

I don't know exactly what or how it happened today, but it was a like a light came down from heaven when I checked my patient for the first time today. There was no doubt in my mind that I had found that cervix, it was dilated to 3 cm, and that there was still a bulgy bag of waters.

The most satisfying part was when the doctor agreed with one of my cervical assessments later in the day. I still need practice -- especially for determining effacement and fetal station -- but I'm really starting to get the hang of it.

For the first time, I felt like the idea of me being a labor and delivery nurse (or even a midwife!) wasn't just some crazy dream. Someday, I could actually do it!

I've turned the corner...

I'm not yet to the halfway point in my summer preceptorship, but I feel like I've had my "a-ha!" moment this week.

I had my first day with my secondary preceptor, and I LOVED working with her. She has tons of labor and delivery experience, teaches a class for childbirth educators, and worked as a doula for 11 years. We have very similar philosophies about the role of a labor and delivery nurse. And, she's incredibly supportive of students. I think, for the first time, I didn't feel like I was a burden to the unit.

I also had the chance to do my first independent delivery with Ashley, my primary preceptor. She took on the role of the baby nurse, and I helped the mom with the delivery. I couldn't believe it -- early on, I was helping the mom push and I was the only health care provider in the room! Not only that... it was all in Spanish. It went a little something like this:

"Uno, dose, tres...fuerte fuerte fuerte! Bien! Bien! Mas!"

I still have so much to learn, but I really feel like I'm starting to put all of the little pieces together and thinking of the "big picture" rather than the tasks that surround nursing care.

I love it. I love it, I love it, I love it.

Where has the time gone?

Suddenly, it's the first of July. I officially have 120 hours (of my required 336) logged in labor and delivery. It feels like so much has happened, it's like I don't really know where to begin!

I'm 1 for 3 for IV starts on patients. I did, however, manage to start an IV successfully on another nursing student who's working at the hospital as a tech for the summer. I was proud of myself today because I managed to get a mom all cleaned up, gown changed, underwear in place on my own -- even though she was still a little bit numb from her epidural. I've finally gotten used to the 12.5-hr days. Don't get me wrong -- I'm still tired when I get home, but now I can at least stay up after 2100 after getting home from my shift. I'm very comfortable with my preceptor, to the extent that I'm more nervous when I'm in a patient's room by myself than I am when she simply stands in a corner and watches me.

I've had good days and bad. Today was a good day. I had my first delivery where I didn't even feel a bit like shaking while coaching the mom through her pushes (in Spanish!) and I've finally overcome my habit of getting lightheaded in the OR.

I guess what's most important is that I still love it and am so happy to be here. I'm slowly becoming more independent, and each day I'm a little more confident.

I hope, I hope, I HOPE I get a job in an L & D unit when I get my license!