I haven't been very good at writing my journal as I go. I find that the paper/study/clinical experience are so intense that it takes me a while to process everything before I can write it down.
I went to the Michel Odent conference last week, which was so inspiring and so needed after the hospital births that I've attended. It is good to know that there is a movement alive and well that not only promotes but practices birth without epidural or caesarean unless clinically indicated. Did lots of good networking at the conference - heaps of people I knew there and met heaps of people also. Learnt lots and got to meet the amazing Michel Odent (I think everyone there is just a little bit in love with him - don't worry though he's 78 so Steve is not about to be replaced). Also James McKenna was amazing and probably for me the most beneficial session on cosleeping and SIDS. Alison Barrett, as always was an interesting, funny and thought provoking speaker on breastfeeding. So that was a nice little break from study.
My practical skills assessment and exam are now over over. Did well on the assessment, although it was nerve wracking, I managed to get through it and not cock it up. Exam was ok and I should (fingers crossed) pass. If I don't I will crawl under a rock and hide for a long, long time!
After the exam (last Tuesday) I went straight to the campus bar with a couple of pals and had a wine and then met one of my darling friends for lunch. Handed in two assignments last Friday for my other paper and have got one hideous research assignment due on Monday. Have I started it yet? No. Will I pass. Probably not. Do I care...No...well yes actually because I hate the paper so much that I really really don't want to do it again. I would be happy with a c-...any pass, I don't care. The intermediate research paper has put me off research for life!! After my breastfeeding research for my CBE Diploma (which I was told was a very good piece of research - an A+ I might add) I thought it might be a field I could enter, but now I don't want to go near researching with a barge pole. I feckin hate that paper with a vengeance!!
Anyhoo, I refuse to waste energy on that. Onto better things. This week we are on clinical which means following around my darling midwife (dear friend, and future business partner) like a little lap dog. It is really interesting and I am completely knackered - pathetic really. Just not used to working a full day...I need to toughen up.
We have spent the past two days doing antenatal clinics and postnatal visits. One of our women has preeclampsia and has been induced tonight - so will head off to bed shortly and see if we get a call in the middle of the night.
Today I had one ah-huh moment when I actually felt the fundus very easily in two women..I was very excited about that.
Things are starting to fall into place slowly. I managed to get the blood pressures done pretty accurately and am getting a little faster. Have done three baby checks this week (all bar the hips) and can fairly confidently pick up the heart sounds now. Ok on reflex checks but hate measuring the head - the buba's hate it and scream! Overall really enjoying the vistis and clinics.
It is incredible that every woman is so different and her needs, fears and excitement is so individual. Some bring their partners, some have screeds of worries, others have no questions and some have zillions of questions - it never ceases to amaze me what a huge proportion of the job is listening, counselling, reassuring and supporting. Such a small (yet very intense) portion of the job is the actual birthing.
Had one couple in clinic today with a Nuchal scan that came back with a slightly increased risk of Downs, so sat in on a farily heavy visit with them. Midwife gave me homework to research the nuchal translucency and nasal bone assessments in relation to downs risk (which I have done). It was very interesting and illustrated to me how you have to put your own feelings aside in regard to terminations, ultrasound testing etc, and counsel and support the couple.
All in all a very interesting day. Exciting that another baby is about to be born as we didn't think we would have any babies during my clinical week - so I'm looking forward to it but at the same time it is completely terrifying! So on that note I had better have my cup of tea and away to bed, just in case I get the call. I definitely need my beauty sleep (and my brain does too!).
