In December of 1997, I graduated from Nursing School and started my career as a Labor & Delivery Nurse. I LOVED it! Sure, the hours were tough, there were complicated patients and heartbreaking outcomes, but my job allowed me to be a part of one of life’s most amazing events! After my second child was born in 2001, I became a SAHM. Even thought my career as an RN was short, I still remember what it “felt” like to be a part of this momentous occasion.
Whether you are pregnant with your first or you are a veteran pregnant mom, I thought it might help you to understand what a Labor and Delivery Nurse wants you to know before, during and after you have your baby. There are literally hundreds of things I could share, but I paired it down to just 5.
- Be On Time. I know this sounds crazy because babies come at all hours of the day and night. What I am talking about is for your appointments. And not just being on time for your office appointments. If you are scheduled for an induction or cesarean section, please be on time…as in early! If you are late, this messes up so many parts of your experience. A hospital room, an OR room, the various doctors, specialists and nurses who are involved in a delivery all rely on these schedules to stay on time as much as possible. It’s amazing how many patients show up late (even hours late) and then don’t understand why their induction or surgery doesn’t get started on time.
- Listen to your Doctor. When you doctor says to get your blood pressure, glucose or any other test done, listen to them. When they say “If your water breaks, go to the hospital”, listen to them. I’ve had patients who had their water break, then they took a shower, had some food, did some errands, picked kids up from school and then HOURS later, went to the hospital. Please know that when your “water breaks,” bacteria and all sorts of yucky stuff can put you and your baby at risk for infection.
- Expect Changes. Having a Birth Plan is wonderful and can help you, your partner, your doctor and nurse know what your desires are for you labor. However, please know things can quickly! There will be circumstances that you may not know about or understand. It is our job, as the nurse, to help you understand why certain things happen and why certain things can’t happen. Our goal, along with your doctor and other medical staff, is to have a healthy mom and baby. This means that your plans may not be met in order for everyone to be safe and healthy.
- You will feel overwhelmed. You will be inundated with a HUGE amount of information, ideas, emotions and advice in a very short period of time. Take a breath. If something doesn’t work for you, don’t sweat it. If you planned on childbirth without drugs or without a Cesarean section but end up needing one or both of those, take a breath! Having a baby a certain way does not make you less of a mom. Every labor is different. Every mom reacts to pain differently. Don’t feel like a “failure” because you did it differently than you had planned or differently than your mom or friends. What matters is that you and your baby are healthy. If you have trouble breastfeeding, remember you AND the baby are figuring this thing out together. There are resources at the hospital and at home for you to use. Not being able to breastfeed isn’t the end of the world. Feeding and taking care of your baby (however that looks for you both) is the most important thing.
- Bring maternity clothes to wear home. When you leave the hospital, you will look about 7 months pregnant. Your uterus takes time to go back to it’s “close to” pre-pregnancy size. You will also leave the hospital in what looks and feels like a diaper…maybe even an ice pack in there, too! You may be swollen from extra fluids you got during labor. Your breasts will be getting ready to produce milk, so they will also be bigger. Even though you just dropped the weight of the baby (6-9 lbs), blood and amniotic fluid, you will still be bigger and proportioned differently than your pre-pregancy self. So, please do not come with pre-pregnancy clothes thinking they will fit after your baby is out of your body. It’s not going to happen! Even Kate Middleton, in all her Princess glamour, was wearing a loose fitting dress!
Remember to enjoy this labor process and much as you can. You are bringing your child into this world and no matter how that process goes, you are getting the best gift you will ever receive!
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