Busy

I have to finish writing up last week before writing up today.

S* lost a baby earlier this year. We met her at work. She has an extreme anxiety about the pain of labour and this is of concern to N*.

S*, 12 weeks, has moved from Auckland. I was made aware of non-midwifery aspects because she takes Thyroxine for Hashimoto's disease.

We also did venepuncture last week in class. What a nightmare! We have an odd number in our class so I practiced on our lecturer. I got the vein but went through is, so I obviously need practice. [NB: Lecturer note in journal "That's OK"] N* suggested going on rounds with the phlebotomists at the blood lab.

Today's visits. D*, 39 weeks. I did the palpation and was thrilled to correctly detect that her baby was posterior. It was so exciting to get it right myself with no cues. N* did a vaginal examination to assess the favourability of the cervix. I met D*'s husband today as well. Looks liek the induction will be assessed next Tuesday for favourability as D* will not have pessaries, only artificial rupture of membranes.

R* came into the hospital from out of town for her antenatal appointment today. She is at 28 weeks. Of concern was her level of depression. She noted that her mood had improved, but throughout the appointment I got the impression that she was holding back a really big cry.

I felt as though I really clicked with L* (36 weeks) and would love to be at her birth. She is really fun and intelligent and onto it. I commented to N* about how a midwife is in the position where you click with some women, do your job with others, and sometimes badly clash. She mentioned that both parties need to remember that they can change when necessary and the midwife may be able to facilitate this by opening up discussion.

S* is 24 weeks with twins. She looks to have a very supportive family and network. It was great to be able to palpate her abdomen, but I have no idea what I was feeling.

R*, another one, was fit and well postnatally. Already back into her jeans! Baby was gorgeous with a wee rash on her cheeks and chest. Likely from milk.

I nearly forgot A*. Last postnatal visit at 3 weeks. We were so busy...

D* was a postnatal as well. Baby appears to have a heart condition and it may or may not correct itself. We were there for her first bath. D* was really upset when N* listened to baby's heartbeat with the sonicaid.

One really nice thing today was that N* believes I will make a wonderful midwife. The confidence I have dealing with the women and my intuition based on experience and knowledge will stand me in good stead.

Independent Midwifery

My first day with N* was fantastic. The first woman we visited was the first woman whose birth I would attend. N* asked me to take D*'s blood pressure. I felt like a complete wally when I couldn't hear anything and Noreen turned the stethoscope head around.

D* was 38 weeks, gravida 3, and easily palpable. Next time I do a palpation I should really do it without watching N*, or before N*. D* will have a planned induction on 8 August if she does not go into labour prior to 40 weeks gestation. Baby was ROL. D* may not have much support for rest prior to the birth.

A* is gravida 2 and at 24/40. She had an amniocentesis to identify risk of Down's Syndrome. Amnio came back negative and identified baby is a boy. She has difficulty with her daughter C* who requires a special diet. The concern is in respect to family dynamics and risk of problems if baby is difficult. Constipation a problem. Decision points covered.

Back to School

Back at school. I am relieved to be back on track after a wonderful, but somewhat tedious, school holidays.

It already looks as though assignments are going to be very heavy going in September and October, and we're to plan to do the births then too.

We get pagers to use this half. It seems to somehow raise the importance of our courses by being on call.

I've contacted N* and briefly outlined what I need to achieve. She is absolutely fantastic and we have scheduled a meeting for this Saturday to go over my schedule and discuss goals and objectives. N* will also permit me to attend all of her Monday scheduled visits. Lucky me!