Labor & Delivery :: A Sacred Opportunity

Dr. Sanchez & me with Julianne's baby Noah!

I’m a registered nurse in labor and delivery, and I love my job. (And shhh…don’t tell them, but I’d do it for free.)

What an amazing opportunity to be present at an event that changes lives forever.

To help a woman say hello to her baby, or to have the sacred privilege of helping her say goodbye.

To help her get adjusted and settled into her room.

To talk her through the policies and procedures and hear all about what she wants her experience to be.

To listen and laugh and get to know a family.

To help her through pain.

To explain her options and support her choices.

And to help her work and push and see her baby.

It is breathtaking each and every time.

And I stand in the delivery room wearing my blue scrubs, holding my black pen, and typing my notes on the computer … because I’m the nurse and I’ve got my work to do.

But no matter what work is before me, when the moment of birth comes—this opportunity to witness the emerging of new life …

It stops me for a moment.

I’m still. And I’m moved, without fail,

Every. Single. Time.

Have you witnessed the miracle of birth?

Do you remember your labor & delivery nurse?

What was the most memorable thing she did for you?

I’d love to hear your story!

I’m joining Lisa-Jo, over at her site today, to take five minutes and just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. The challenge is to write for 5 minutes flat with no editing, tweaking or self critiquing, with the prompt she gives. And today, her prompt:

Opportunity…

Also, Linking with The Better Mom…

Photo credit: Julianne Florez, RN

Sharon O

The labor and delivery nurse with my son’s birth I do remember even after 37 years.
I was induced in the morning and not doing very much so at the 3pm shift which is when SHE came on duty she said, “well let’s get this baby born by supper time” she turned the pit drip up and I went from no labor to hard labor and had him by 5:35pm Yep I did. Even had what they called a caudel at the time which was sort of like a block (as I was in hard labor and told to roll in a ball hold my knees tight) and they gave me a shot in my back (which didn’t work till after the baby was born) I was 20 and knew NOTHING about labor and delivery. She was a nurse from —- and even the lady who had her son after me said ‘wow’ where did she come from? This lady had NO compassion. (my roommate and I still see each other after all these years… our son’s are 37)
Hannah

As fast as my second baby shot out, I barely remember the wonderful team that helped me except one woman saying “Breathe for your baby.” and that phrase suddenly making that impossible breathing possible again. And the nurse that wheeled me from L&D to the maternity rooms being the wonderful night nurse I had when I was labor with my first baby and finally being able to thank her for how sweet she was!

(And, shhhh… I can tell who the ones are who would do what they do for free. They can’t keep that secret very well!)
http://www.accidentallygreen.com/ Hilary

I will never forget my labor and delivery nurse with my first child! I so desperately wanted an unmedicated delivery, but needed to be induced. My OB laughed at my decision not to use Pitocin, but my nurse, Sharon, coached me through the whole thing. She was amazing. I’ll always be grateful for her help and support. (I’ve written my two birth stories here: http://www.accidentallygreen.com/2011/11/my-first-birth-experience.html and here: http://www.accidentallygreen.com/2011/11/my-second-birth-experience.html.)
http://www.accidentallygreen.com/ Hilary

P.S. I’ll look for you at Allume in October, Jacque!
Growinginhisglory

I just delivered my third daughter, and while we were only in L&D a little over an hour before her arrival, my husband and I were very impressed with our nurse who not only made every effort to meet our needs, but also shared about her own experiences and helped us feel at ease. That is crucial for a laboring mom, especially when you are going all natural and need encouragement and the security of a sympathetic nurse. What a blessing she was to me, and what a blessing you must be to your patients.

God bless you!
Keri
http://www.growinginhisglory.com
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