L/D nurses . . . . ?

Question

What can L/D Nurses do to help women improve their birth experience? What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about L/D nurses?

I'd love to hear your experiences!

Answer 1

Most of them are not sincere. I think if they showed a lil more sympathy and compassion it would help women that are in labor feel more comfortable.

Answer 2

I think it helps IMMENSELY if your L/D nurse(s) have given birth. Then they can sympathize with you! I'm not saying the nurses who don't have kids of their own are evil, but I think it helps that they can "feel your pain" so to speak. :)

It also helps to have one who is kind and will listen to you. If your nurse is attending to several other patients (busy day in the maternity ward!) they may seem unkind or uncaring, when in fact they're only acting this way becuase they're harried.

During the birth of my first son (vaginal) the L/D nurse who actually attended my birth was so wonderful. She actually hugged me while I received my epidural, took the time to chat with me, checked my dilation gently, etc. She was truly a gem! The other ones (I don't know that they're considered L/D nurses...they were the ones who checked on me after birth, and during my recovery period) weren't so nice. I wouldn't say they were unkind--they just didn't seem to have much time. It was rush rush in, rush rush out for them.

During the birth of my second child (an emergency c-section) the nurses couldn't do much for me other than to talk with me. They were all really nice, but they were busy too, since they were OR nurses.

Answer 3

I love the L/D nurses at my birthing center. They are very attentative and listen to concerns. I feel like even when I bring up something silly I'm concerned about, rather than blowing me off or making me feel stupid, they try to explain what's really going on and make me feel at ease.
I have heard so many other ladies complain about nurses not listening and in so many words telling them they don't know what they're talking about (like my mom telling them she was having the baby & the nurse not going to get the Dr. in time w/ her 5th baby).
I really feel like the nurses at my birthing center really care about me & want me to have a good birthing experience

Answer 4

I had 2 HB and 1 in a hospital and although it was a quick delivery once I got there(after laboring 19hrs) the LD nurses weren't very compassionate. They kept yelling at me to STOP pushing, and I kept telling them that I wasn't, the baby was coming out on her own!
And they kept telling me to 'breathe' but by that point, my baby was coming out fast on her own-who wants to breathe??
So I yelled back,"No-that doesn't WORK!"
The main LD nurse was being especially rude to the midwife that accompanied my husband and I to the hospital, as if she opposes homebirths(which the 3rd was also a planned homebirth).
Even the nurses in the neo natal unit and maternity ward were extremely rude to me(except for only two that were sweethearts) and mean to the newborns!
They'd call them "pains in the butt" whenever one would cry!
I witnessed all of this b/c my daughter was in the neo natal unit b/c she developed an infection in her lungs from inhaling mecomium(I blame this on the castor oil I took the start my labor b/c she was almost a week past due-I had taken castor oil to start my labor w/ my 1st b/c of my hypertension and it did not cause him to have a bowel movement, but I heard its possible) and I came in to nurse her every couple hours.
The nurses were rude to me as if they were annoyed that I was in there so much to nurse my baby and they did not have the patience and love for those newborns. Makes me wonder why they got into that career to begin with.

Needless to say I prefer a homebirth! :)

Answer 5

I haven't had a L&D nurse, but I can share about the best nurse I ever had who had I think would be a model for anyone, although it will hardly seem like it.

She was gruff, seemed uncaring and demanding. Finally, I broke down crying asking her why she was so harsh with me. She sat down my bed, hugged me, and told me that she had a heart of sympathy for me, but that because I was dealing with such high levels of pain that empathy would make me feel sorry for myself and be counterproductive - I would lie in bed wallowing in self-pity. Her goal was to get me to be so angry with her that I would lie in bed thinking about her and not about my pain which would result in my being able to handle it much better.

She then gave me a short lesson in pain management, made me promise that I would occupy my thoughts with something other my severe pain, and since she was going on vacation, that I would contact her to let her know what the diagnosis ended up being and to reassure her that I was all right.

To me, she was the best ever. As hard as it was for her, she did what she firmly believed was best for the patient. I have used the pain management lesson ever since to manage a chronic pain problem and intend to use it during labor. She was also right - getting angry about something and stewing really reduces your pain. I use the "Soapbox Method" now whenever my pain comes. I think of some hot button issue and give imaginary lectures to invisible audiences. Works like a charm.