The Good, The Bad...

I had a very tough situation recently (unfortunately I can't go into details here, it's a difficult case to HIPPAize). I felt traumatized by this experience and embarrassed by the care given by staff as well as professionals that were involved. If I felt so bad, I wonder how my patient felt? *sigh* It's a shame when the Bad stuff seems to outshine the Good stuff. And there's far more of the Good stuff.

I had a rockin' waterbirth (oops) recently. I had seen this patient a couple times in the office and enjoyed chatting with her. Her last baby came really fast and she delivered at home, unassisted, then transported to the hospital for a repair. This time she showed up with ruptured membranse and dilated 3cms. She wasn't very uncomfortable and I opted to try and sleep just a little more, until she needed me. An hour later, the nurse calls me to say she's 6cms. Holy sh*t, what the hell was I thinking, going back to sleep?????? I rush up to the hospital and she's in the bed coping well. We get her in the tub and she moans and groans her way through her labor. She feels more pressure and wants to be checked. I check her in the tub and she hasn't changed. I tell her that likely the baby's head just needs to be readjusted and she will finish. I suggest hands and knees in the tub. She goes from side to side for awhile then tells me she has had enough. I ask her if she wants to go home - lol. Finally, she gets up on her knees and leans on the edge of the tub. Booyah. " I gotta push!"

I tell dad to see if he can feel the baby's head when she pushes. He isn't sure....after all, he's only done this once before. I check and can feel the head getting ready to crown. I tell dad - ok, all yours! I watch as the head crowns then briefly assist with maneuvering the shoulders then baby through her legs while having dad lift the baby from her front side into her arms. It was awesome!