Learning Curves

I must write too much, because I'm just not keeping up.

I got an A for my Partnership in Practice assignment, which will dictate my grade for the course. I am really pleased because after all, midwifery is what I'm here for. Hopefully, I do as well with the essay I handed in today.

L*'s birth was an induction on Friday 1 September. They must have arrived early because when I arrived they had already done the first examination.

L* had her GP as LMC. He seemed to be really involved to a greater extent than I expected, but N* mentioned that he was probably after brownie points because of a business relationship he had with G*.

CTG showed some worrying dips. As first baby, N*, was needing assistance immediately post-birth, and because of the dips it was decided to deliver in one of the theatres.

L* used a birth stool, but finally gave birth in a semi-reclined position. Baby had quite a lot of moulding from a long second stage.

G* quickly checked baby. He assisted me with controlled cord traction, then he stitched L*'s tear.

I was surprised that G* stood back instead of really getting in and standing by L*. I'm not sure whether it was because he didn't know what to do, or because he was nervous, anxious, or doesn't like blood.

During this labour I spent a lot of time observing L* and G* and trying to figure out how they were feeling about what they were going through. Did they understand the procedure? Were they coping with the pain? Were they anxious, relaxed?

The learning curve is steep when you make a mistake. When I was getting L* up for the toilet and a shower she bled and there was war paint from the bed to the bathroom. I learnt that the woman should wear the pinkie like a nappy for the first toilet trip!!! And I won't jolly well forget it.

It was certainly a busy day because we also did a hospital tour with V* who met C* who was to be her second midwife at her homebirth. V* invited me to her birth as photographer. I was really pleased and excited and felt very privileged that I had been asked.

N* and I were also caring for B* who was being induced the slow way because her midwife was out of town. I did a lot of the care for B* myself with putting on the CTG monitor and interpreting the printout as well as chatting with her and her partner about the reason for the induction.

And I had thought that would be my two births and my time with N* would be up. Luckily I was wrong. Now the births I'm attending are at the invitation of the women. V*, T* and S* have also invited me to attend their births and I feel very privileged at being asked.