Ask Mrs. Utah About Birthin' Babies

Mrs. Utah · #1 10-13-2006, 10:12 AM

There have been a couple of threads started in 2+2 about fatherhood and impending fatherhood. With that and Diebitter wanting more Ask Me threads I thought I would throw my hat into the ring.

I have been a Labor and Delivery nurse for the last 3 years. Also a pediatric triage nurse for 9 years.(fielding questions from parents about their newborns and kids.)

Ask me anything about the labor process, pain meds, delivery, emergencies, newborn issues etc....
I would encourage and want questions from wives/girlfriends.

dcasper70 · #2 10-13-2006, 10:21 AM

Nice Title!

What's the most disturbing/amusing thing you've heard a woman say to her husband during the pain of delivery?

I want to know what to expect [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

dcasper70 · #3 10-13-2006, 10:27 AM

and what the hell is colic? I fear that more than death...

kitaristi0 · #4 10-13-2006, 10:33 AM

What percentage of nurses are male?

kitaristi0 · #5 10-13-2006, 10:34 AM

Also, I'm not sure whether you are bound by some confidentiality clause but amusing anecdotes about things you've encountered over the years would be nice.

SamIAm · #6 10-13-2006, 10:36 AM

What's the biggest litter you've helped deliver? Twins? Triplets? More?
-Sam

Mrs. Utah · #7 10-13-2006, 10:47 AM

Honestly, most women are really controlled or so overwhelmed that they tend to follow my lead.

You do hear women tell their husbands to "shut up" alot. Mostly during the pushing phase when they want to concentrate and do not like external noise.

Occasionally a patient will be abusive to the nurses, one who continually told a co-worker to eff off, to the point that she asked me to take over. She then contiued to tell me to eff off. Once she was delivered she apoplgized.

Just gotta take it with a grain of salt.

Mrs. Utah · #8 10-13-2006, 10:57 AM

Colic is a condition that can have various degrees of severity.

Most babies have a predictable fussy period, usually in the evening that can last a few hours. It usually resolves in the 3-4th month. There is not always a cause. Babies can be well fed, diapers dry, burps out, but they cry. I had been told by a few that it has to do with the maturation of the brain and the only thing to do is comfort and rde it out. It will get better.

Some babies have problems with upset stomachs and reflux. This is the spitty baby after feedings. If they are breast fed anything mom eats will go to her breastmilk. Caffeine is a big problem and causes a lot of irritabilty for babies. Foods that cause gas in adults, i.e broccoli can potentially cause problems for babies, but not all.

Best way to deal with a spitty baby is small more frequent feedings, stopping to burp during feedings, keeping baby upright for 30 or so minutes after feedings.

If a baby is over the top inconsolable ot projectile vomiting that woulf need to be addressed by a physician.
Babies are sometimes put on Zantac for reflux.

KilgoreTrout · #9 10-13-2006, 10:59 AM

I apologize in advance for this stupid question. I design medical devices, so I should know this, but: what's the deal with water breaking? Does it make a mess? I feel like a damn adolescent for asking this.

Mrs. Utah · #10 10-13-2006, 10:59 AM

[ QUOTE ]
What percentage of nurses are male?

[/ QUOTE ]

In Obstetrics I have worked with one male nurse in 3 years. He was a post partum nurse, not Labor and Delivery.

Most male nurses I encounter have been in Emergency and Surgery.