From scared student to qualified midwife baby-catcher extaordinaire (hopefully)....
loving postnatal!!
Started my first stint on posnatal ward on monday after doing 6 weeks on delivery, and i am loving it 
My mentor is lovely, most are so approachable, and the difference in stress levels is really noticeable compared to that on delivery.
Today i was taking care of K, who i had been looking after since monday, multip, normal delivery 7 days previously, little girl. She had been fine up until a couple of hours after delivery when a haematoma on her vaginal wall 'exploded' and she lost 4000ml of blood, resulting in her having to be put under GA to have it sutured and packed. She baisically had sutures from her cervix to the outside, and i think it was a very panicked, rushed event, with much mention of how they were 'unsure' if she would ever have a normal sex life/delivery again.
Because of her blood loss she was transfused 8 units of blood and put on iron supplements 4 times a day, and then got horrendous constipation, which wasnt helped by her large and very painful haemorrhoids. To cap this off she had trouble passing urine and had to be catheterised several times before she could finally do it on her own yesterday and today.
So baisically, when i first met her she was in a huge amount of pain, and suffering both physically and mentally from the effects of her delivery (she kept having anxiety attacks particularly at night or when she sat down to use the toilet).
But despite all of this, her physical problems, and the fact that her other child had been seriosuly ill recently and her husband had had a heart attack 4 weeks ago, she was the strongest most beautiful woman ever, never complaining, always a smile, and forever greatful for all that you did.
I wasn't really sure how i could help in the beginning, being my first day and not knowing where everything was- but when she had a panic attack i found my self instinctively just holding her and talking to her, and then in general just talking through everything that happened with the birth in the hope that it would help. After that we had a real bond and i have really enjoyed taking care of her this week.
I was so pleased for her when we could finally discharge her today- and ready to cry when she put her arms round me and thanked me for everything
It is for women like this that i am glad i am a student- because i have the time to sit and talk, which i think really does help. I was so honored to take care of somebody like this, and i know i will remember her forever.
xxxxx
My mentor is lovely, most are so approachable, and the difference in stress levels is really noticeable compared to that on delivery.
Today i was taking care of K, who i had been looking after since monday, multip, normal delivery 7 days previously, little girl. She had been fine up until a couple of hours after delivery when a haematoma on her vaginal wall 'exploded' and she lost 4000ml of blood, resulting in her having to be put under GA to have it sutured and packed. She baisically had sutures from her cervix to the outside, and i think it was a very panicked, rushed event, with much mention of how they were 'unsure' if she would ever have a normal sex life/delivery again.
Because of her blood loss she was transfused 8 units of blood and put on iron supplements 4 times a day, and then got horrendous constipation, which wasnt helped by her large and very painful haemorrhoids. To cap this off she had trouble passing urine and had to be catheterised several times before she could finally do it on her own yesterday and today.
So baisically, when i first met her she was in a huge amount of pain, and suffering both physically and mentally from the effects of her delivery (she kept having anxiety attacks particularly at night or when she sat down to use the toilet).
But despite all of this, her physical problems, and the fact that her other child had been seriosuly ill recently and her husband had had a heart attack 4 weeks ago, she was the strongest most beautiful woman ever, never complaining, always a smile, and forever greatful for all that you did.
I wasn't really sure how i could help in the beginning, being my first day and not knowing where everything was- but when she had a panic attack i found my self instinctively just holding her and talking to her, and then in general just talking through everything that happened with the birth in the hope that it would help. After that we had a real bond and i have really enjoyed taking care of her this week
. I was so pleased for her when we could finally discharge her today- and ready to cry when she put her arms round me and thanked me for everything
It is for women like this that i am glad i am a student- because i have the time to sit and talk, which i think really does help. I was so honored to take care of somebody like this, and i know i will remember her forever.
xxxxx
Total Comments 4
Comments
 |  What a lovely story!!!! It must bring tears to your eyes when you care for people like that who have been through soo much! And make you realise how lucky you are. It sounds like your a great midwife and are really passionate. From my own experience (i've only had 1 baby) Midwives (however busy) should try to explain and talk through as much with the patient as possible about their labour. I bet that woman was so grateful to have things explained to her to help her psychologically. Keep up the good work! Long way off but looking forward to all these experiences! x |
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| |  Awww. that brought tears to my eyes! that poor woman, what a terrible time she has had, it often saddens me we never get to see how they get on afterwards, I hope she is able to have a normal life and not suffer. Women are amazing aren't they? I had a great shift on postnatal ward yesterday, it is fab being a student, being able to take time and care over women, I love it too! |
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| |  Awww bless you Kelly - sounds like you made a real difference to her  What shifts are you doing? Hope fully will get chance to catch up with you at some pointxx |
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| |  What a great reflection, they say the women who we attend will always remember us, but like you say there are plenty of mums we remember too. |
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