Monday, August 18, 2008

An Experience Worth Sharing

So about a week ago I was as work in labor and delivery as usual. It was a relatively calm morning and things were going fine. A women (and her husband) come in and she looks like she's really hurting with the contractions. (Sometimes you can just tell when they're really bad.) Since I currently only had one patient I assumed I would be her nurse and she would be my second patient. I could just tell things would move quickly so I went directly into her room to get things started and check her dilation.

As I walked through the door her water broke. That was another sign things were moving quickly especially because this was her fourth child. So I asked her to lay down on the bed after her contraction ended so I could check her. We really needed to know how far she was and what the timing would be like before delivery. So she kept saying "I CAN'T SIT DOWN, I CAN'T SIT DOWN!" At this point my adrenaline started flowing and I knew it wouldn't be long. So she finally sits down on the bed and the baby's head delivered. No doctor was around because things went so quickly so I through on sterile gloves and proceeded to deliver the baby. I clamped the cord and cut it while stimulating the baby's back and drying it off. My hands were shaking and other nurses were around to try and help out.

So in the end both mom and baby were perfectly healthy. I learned a lot about delivering a child and now I can say that i've done it. I don't hope to do it again anytime soon though. A few nights later I had nightmares about it happening again. =) You can tell what was on my mind. =) Well that's my exciting story and I hope you enjoyed it.

10 comments:

Clark and Liesel said...

Wow Z! Thats crazy! What a great nurse you are! I am very impressed, but I can see why you would have nighmares!

Clark and Liesel said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lindsay Riggs said...

Oh, Elizabeth, I can't believe you are delivering babies these days! You are so grown up and important! :)

Jenni said...

Oh my gosh! It sounds like I wouldn't mind having you as my nurse..you know what you are doing! What a crazy experience, one you will never forget. I bet Grandma loved hearing that story!

Dallan and Ashley said...

That is so cool Elizabeth. I would have been nervous too! Way to go!

Karie said...

Yay Elizabeth! Way to keep your head and help that poor woman out. So fantastic!

Melissa said...

What a cool experience. I can't imagine how that would feel. Especially since the only baby we ever really delievered was in the nursing lab. I am so proud of you!!!

Kristy Carpenter said...

AHHHHH!!! Oh my goodness that's crazy! Delivering a baby all by yourself?!?! Nice work babe!
Oh - PS...I'm coming to Provo next week and would LOVE to see you!!! I'll give you a call.

Laura said...

Yes, that is way exciting! Way to go!

The Woods said...

YOU ARE MY HERO!! :)