Monday, February 16, 2015

Responsibilities: To observe the RN as well as observe the surgery.

Knowledge: I learned all about the process of the contractions a woman goes through, and how it affects the baby. I also learned how it is possible to halt contractions with magnesium sulfate and when it is necessary to have a c-section.

Best: The best thing this week was I got to watch an emergency c-section. I got gowned up and even got to hold the placenta!

Worst: The only bad part was that I didn't get to stay longer.

This week was good! It was by far the best week of clinical rotations I've ever had.

Technology: I saw these monitors that show the contractions and vitals of the mother and baby. When they took the baby out I got to see a specials pump they use that gets all the gook out the babies mouth.

Diagnostic: The pads they use to monitor the discharges during contractions showed lots of blood meaning that something had ruptured and she needed surgery. They also measured the distance away the baby is from being birthed. (10 cm)

Therapeutic: The anesthesiologist numbed her torso and tested her to see if the anesthesia worked by poking her with something sharp. They worked very quickly during the operation so the mother wouldn't have too much discomfort.

Diseases/ Disorders: She had ruptured something while in labor. The baby wasn't reacting well to the pressure changes during the labor process.

Terms: C- section- Emergency surgery to remove the baby by cutting it out.
Umbilical  chord: chord that connects the mother to the baby supplying nutrients.

When I first walked in the nurses looked kind of bored. After the nurse answered a few of my questions, all hell broke lose and everyone was rushing around yelling. A bunch of doctors and nurses were arguing on weather they could send one of the soon to be mothers by life flight to downtown MH, but ultimately decided to deliver the baby here. I had been watching the contractions chart the whole time and saw how after one contraction the baby had freaked out. Apparently the woman had ruptured something during the contraction.

At fist everyone was arguing and it was pretty hectic, but once they decided on a course of action everything and everyone fell into place. The communication between the nurses, doctors, and anesthesiologist was absolutely perfect as everyone knew exactly what to do. I got gowned up and got to be in the operating room and got to see the c-section from the beginning all the way through. I saw the anesthesiologist give her the good stuff and how the doctors made the first incision. At the end, the nurse let me hold the placenta and umbilical chord!

I learned how a good labor can turn bad in an instant. I also got a pretty general sense of how to deliver a child through a c-section. This really helped to solidify the career I want to go into. I also learned just how connected the mother and baby really are during pregnancy.

The labor and delivery area is super fun as you never know what can happen. I enjoyed watching the c-section and it amazed me of just how cool it would be to be an obstetrician. The nurses actually seemed to want to give you a glimpse into there field of practice. It was a really cool experience that I will take with me for the rest of my life.:)

1 comment:

  1. wow, exciting experience. Glad you got to see it. It was one of my greatest experience too, the miracle of birth.

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