 I had two very nice births during my last shift. One at the very beginning of the evening, and one at the very end.
At the first birth, I received report from the offgoing nurse, and the mom was 10 cm and ready to push. Just a few pushes, and out came a bouncing baby girl! Did a lot of skin to skin time. First temp (she unwrapped baby a few times) was a little low. Weighed her quickly at the parents' request, did her footprints, and got her back skin to skin. Much more of a kangaroo type of skin to skin this time. Her temp went right up to normal just a short period of time later. YEAH for skin to skin!
Had some miscellaneous patients after this birth, then I received an admission. Mom was laboring very nicely. She got into the tub, and like magic, she was ready to push. Another bouncing baby girl! Lots of skin to skin time for mom and baby too. Baby's temp was good throughout, and even nursed like a champ. I love when the baby nurses beautifully!! Not only is it easier on my teaching (no need to bend over, help mom latch on, and pray that baby gets a good latch), but it's so positive for the mom to see how easy breastfeeding can be. (It's not always easy............but it's nice when it works out well in those first breastfeeding moments.)
Speaking of skin to skin, I'm glad to say, we've been having more nurses really encourage skin to skin. Not just on L&D, but also on postpartum. This is so wonderful to see a paradigm shift in the nursing profession. Us nurses can get very fixated on our "tasks" and job duties, that we forget to stop -- look at the mother-baby dyad --- and really work with moms and babies to help them establish breastfeeding as well as helping make those first moments extra special.
Yes, I am a natural childbirth - breastfeeding - skin to skin - parental bonding - type of nurse! And proud of it!
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I had two very nice births during my last shift. One at the very beginning of the evening, and one at the very end.
At the first birth, I received report from the offgoing nurse, and the mom was 10 cm and ready to push. Just a few pushes, and out came a bouncing baby girl! Did a lot of skin to skin time. First temp (she unwrapped baby a few times) was a little low. Weighed her quickly at the parents' request, did her footprints, and got her back skin to skin. Much more of a kangaroo type of skin to skin this time. Her temp went right up to normal just a short period of time later. YEAH for skin to skin!
Had some miscellaneous patients after this birth, then I received an admission. Mom was laboring very nicely. She got into the tub, and like magic, she was ready to push. Another bouncing baby girl! Lots of skin to skin time for mom and baby too. Baby's temp was good throughout, and even nursed like a champ. I love when the baby nurses beautifully!! Not only is it easier on my teaching (no need to bend over, help mom latch on, and pray that baby gets a good latch), but it's so positive for the mom to see how easy breastfeeding can be. (It's not always easy............but it's nice when it works out well in those first breastfeeding moments.)
Speaking of skin to skin, I'm glad to say, we've been having more nurses really encourage skin to skin. Not just on L&D, but also on postpartum. This is so wonderful to see a paradigm shift in the nursing profession. Us nurses can get very fixated on our "tasks" and job duties, that we forget to stop -- look at the mother-baby dyad --- and really work with moms and babies to help them establish breastfeeding as well as helping make those first moments extra special.
Yes, I am a natural childbirth - breastfeeding - skin to skin - parental bonding - type of nurse! And proud of it!