Labor And Delivery Nursing

Years ago I went through Lamaze with a friend and was her coach during the labor process. She had her baby during Hurricane Hugo so it was an extremely exciting time. Later, another friend asked if I would be her coach and I readily agreed. Birth is such a miracle and being a part of that is an exhilarating experience. I also went through Lamaze twice myself but never had the pleasure of practicing the process due to having scheduled C-Sections with my two breech babies.

Later when in nursing school, I enjoyed the clinicals I completed in Labor and Delivery. Although I wasn't involved in an actual Labor I did get to attend a C-Section Delivery and that was quite exciting. I also enjoyed taking care of the Postpartum moms and their new babies. When an opportunity to orient to Labor and Delivery became available, I jumped at the chance. I had visions of witnessing the miracle of birth daily while helping new moms and their babes.

While there are many professionals who operate with ethical integrity in this field some do not. Witnessing doctors who induce patients simply because they are tired of addressing their endless concerns or performing c-sections for convenience sake so as not to miss a ball game I found very offensive. One doctor performed classical incisions although his patients would have preferred a low transverse. Patient wants and needs were not necessarily taken into consideration in this area.

You also have the endless different facets in delivery of care. Each doctor and midwife requires different setups for their delivery tables. Each doctor and midwife has different orders for each type care: Antepartum, C-Sections, Labor and Delivery and Post Partum Care. While one doctor might order a regular diet another may only give their patient liquids. One doctor might give their patient's adequate amount of pain medication while another may not. Each patient's care was drastically different from another patient.

This is also an area of feast or famine. One labor nurse might have two laboring patients as well as two couplets they are caring for and triaging patients as they arrive. On another night they may have no patients whatsoever. This can be a good thing.

There are many good things about this area. You are able to witness the miracle of birth and help families with their new baby. With couplet care you are able to do a lot of education. This area is exciting, fast paced and very task oriented.

I found that Labor and Delivery is probably one of the most difficult areas to work in. It is not just about having babies. There are many different facets to this area both technically and ethically. You will love this area (a good thing as the legal liability here lasts for 21 years) or you will find it is just not your cup of tea. For me, it was just not my cup of tea.