Phew what a weekend. Sometimes the best laid plans go awry - I had planned an easy weekend with some family time, reading time and down time. But my overdue client went into labour - it was a long drawn out affair starting with a call at the crack of dawn on Friday morning and finally culminating in a lovely normal birth on Sunday lunchtime!
The weekend was full of new graduate firsts; assessing at home, taking into assessment, calling consultants, anaesthetists, liaising with CCM's, taking bloods, epidural and synto management, suturing, prescribing pain relief.... the whole range of firsts as an LMC and all on no sleep. Lots of learning, thinking, worrying and wondering why I signed up for this. Must say that it was also invigorating, scary, magical and a terribly "grown up" learning curve.
I would love to say it was a breeze but it wasn't at all. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be for the most part. There were times when I wanted to curl up in a little ball in the corner and cry. A couple of times I just wanted to say "sorry I'm not doing this anymore". Mostly I was cool, calm and collected despite the staff saying "oh she'll be a section". But they of little faith in natural birth - despite a prolonged first stage, an op baby with a hand round its head and cord round its neck and contractions that wouldn't establish - we managed to have a lovely normal vaginal birth! Patience and the support of a really good mentor.
Having said that I could not believe that I managed to survive with very little sleep - probably 6 hours all weekend. But I did and then had a nice visiit with my gorgeous friend who fed, watered and listened to me debrief. Had a refreshing swim, a nice cold wine with my hubby, a bananna split (made by my hubby), connected with my kids and a cat on my knee.
School is back tomorrow for the last of my tribe - a momentous day as my 'baby' starts intermediate school. Will he survive my "super undies boy" having to wear a uniform that includes shoes and socks? Will he manage to rouse himself out of bed in time. Will I be able to fit in working with all my family obligations now everyone is back to school - time will tell.
Tuesday super undies boy turns 11 - family celebrations. I'm taking tuesday off (well I'm doing one postnatal visit) and I'm spending the day with my bestie having a girlies day - cupcakes and coffee, dvd and lunch... pure tuesday decadence. Then out to dinner with the family to celebrate our baby's birthday.
Yep life is good!
Monday, February 07, 2011
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
A real midwife???
Well the day I've been looking forward to and also dreading arrived. I had my first birth - although it was an semi-acute elective caesarean because the baby was estimated at 4.7kg (it was in fact only 3.98kg). I had to drop my daughter off at 6.30 to go to the parachute music festival and then pick my client up at 0715.
We were at the hospital at 0730 and supposedly second on the list. Unfortunately it was mayhem at the hospital and we continued being bumped off the list. At 2pm I left as they said it would be at least another two hours. I went and did a postnatal visit and then called back to the hospital - of course the traffic was hideous and when I finally managed to get back in I went straight into theatre and met them in there just before they started the operation.
Baby was safely delivered and I received it and checked her and did all the stuff. We got out of recovery at 1730 and I took them up to the ward, settled them in and then sat down in front of a PILE of paperwork and sorted all that out - I finally got home at 1945!! What a long day but also a milestone day - I finally felt like a midwife, albeit a VERY junior one! I couldn't stop smiling on the way home and felt like I had conquered a major hurdle. Even though it wasn't a vaginal birth I feel like I am less nervous about the next birth I do - the staff were so supportive and friendly and in all that sitting around waiting for theatre I did some good networking with other LMC's.
I am absolutely knackered but feel wonderful :)
We were at the hospital at 0730 and supposedly second on the list. Unfortunately it was mayhem at the hospital and we continued being bumped off the list. At 2pm I left as they said it would be at least another two hours. I went and did a postnatal visit and then called back to the hospital - of course the traffic was hideous and when I finally managed to get back in I went straight into theatre and met them in there just before they started the operation.
Baby was safely delivered and I received it and checked her and did all the stuff. We got out of recovery at 1730 and I took them up to the ward, settled them in and then sat down in front of a PILE of paperwork and sorted all that out - I finally got home at 1945!! What a long day but also a milestone day - I finally felt like a midwife, albeit a VERY junior one! I couldn't stop smiling on the way home and felt like I had conquered a major hurdle. Even though it wasn't a vaginal birth I feel like I am less nervous about the next birth I do - the staff were so supportive and friendly and in all that sitting around waiting for theatre I did some good networking with other LMC's.
I am absolutely knackered but feel wonderful :)
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Feeling the fear...
This morning my mentor was busy at a birth so I attended an elective caesarean for her as the LMC. I was really nervous as I drove up to the hospital. I must admit I felt like a right plonker as my car window is broken so when I drive into the hospital grounds I have to open my car door to swipe my card to get in!!
Caesarean went well - took a lot longer than normal to do though! Baby was over 5kg - very well nourished, but came out kicking and screaming and went skin to skin with his daddy really quickly and as soon as mum came out of theatre went skin to skin with her.
I managed to get through the paperwork and do most of the tasks I needed to do (with some help from the maternity suite midwife!). After that it was off to antenatal specialist clinic with one of my post date ladies who is 41+ weeks overdue with a big baby on board. Baby is really happy but is also on the largish side so it has been recommended that she has a section on Friday - because of large baby, post dates and VBAC. So my first two births as an LMC have been sections!
We were at clinic for ages and I didn't get home until late afternoon and after the early start I am feeling knackered - not used to this working lark. Still have paperwork to do and have to do the reading to prepare for course I'm on tomorrow.
Caesarean went well - took a lot longer than normal to do though! Baby was over 5kg - very well nourished, but came out kicking and screaming and went skin to skin with his daddy really quickly and as soon as mum came out of theatre went skin to skin with her.
I managed to get through the paperwork and do most of the tasks I needed to do (with some help from the maternity suite midwife!). After that it was off to antenatal specialist clinic with one of my post date ladies who is 41+ weeks overdue with a big baby on board. Baby is really happy but is also on the largish side so it has been recommended that she has a section on Friday - because of large baby, post dates and VBAC. So my first two births as an LMC have been sections!
We were at clinic for ages and I didn't get home until late afternoon and after the early start I am feeling knackered - not used to this working lark. Still have paperwork to do and have to do the reading to prepare for course I'm on tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Where did the time go
Can't believe I haven't posted since 2008 - so much has happened.
We have adjusted to life without our beloved eli and blanco has become a much loved part of the household as well as two little (smelly) mice. We have comploeted the renovation and have moved into our beautiful new (old) house. It is so spacious and was well worth the time and effort to achieve. There is plenty of space for the kids who have their own rooms and finally I have the ensuite and walk-in wardrobe that I always dreamed of!
We had a fantastic Christmas and New year with family and friends camping in the most idyllic of spots in Northland NZ - we saw dolphins, went to the very top of NZ, Sandboarded down sand dunes on 90 mile beach, ate fresh fish and swam every day. A typical kiwi holiday...and best of all the weather was gorgeous!
I graduated in December and am now a fully fledged new graduate and have made the decision to be a self-employed midwife with one of my new grad colleagues. We have a long term plan with another midwife friend to set up our own midwifery focused practice but that's t
he five to ten year plan. In the meantime we are just focusing on getting our business up and running and building up a small case-load. My colleague had her first delivery as an LMC (in NZ that is the Lead Maternity Carer) - she did very well. I await mine with both of my January women now overdue!
Graduation was fantastic - we had a really special day and it was topped off by having found out the week before that we passed our state exam and were officially allowed to practice midwifery. It was one of the proudest moments of my life when I marched down Queen Street with the other Graduates and then received my degree. I still can't quite believe I did it - those years have flown by. So now degree in hand I start my new life as a self-employed midwife.
My thinking now is that surely having gotten through a midwifery degree (which is no walk in the park, believe me) why I cannot seem to lose weight. So this year my goals are to not only to gain confidence, experience and clients but to also get my weight and fitness under control. Surely to goodness if I survived that degree I could lose a bit of weight.
Watch this space!
We have adjusted to life without our beloved eli and blanco has become a much loved part of the household as well as two little (smelly) mice. We have comploeted the renovation and have moved into our beautiful new (old) house. It is so spacious and was well worth the time and effort to achieve. There is plenty of space for the kids who have their own rooms and finally I have the ensuite and walk-in wardrobe that I always dreamed of!
We had a fantastic Christmas and New year with family and friends camping in the most idyllic of spots in Northland NZ - we saw dolphins, went to the very top of NZ, Sandboarded down sand dunes on 90 mile beach, ate fresh fish and swam every day. A typical kiwi holiday...and best of all the weather was gorgeous!
I graduated in December and am now a fully fledged new graduate and have made the decision to be a self-employed midwife with one of my new grad colleagues. We have a long term plan with another midwife friend to set up our own midwifery focused practice but that's t
he five to ten year plan. In the meantime we are just focusing on getting our business up and running and building up a small case-load. My colleague had her first delivery as an LMC (in NZ that is the Lead Maternity Carer) - she did very well. I await mine with both of my January women now overdue!Graduation was fantastic - we had a really special day and it was topped off by having found out the week before that we passed our state exam and were officially allowed to practice midwifery. It was one of the proudest moments of my life when I marched down Queen Street with the other Graduates and then received my degree. I still can't quite believe I did it - those years have flown by. So now degree in hand I start my new life as a self-employed midwife.
My thinking now is that surely having gotten through a midwifery degree (which is no walk in the park, believe me) why I cannot seem to lose weight. So this year my goals are to not only to gain confidence, experience and clients but to also get my weight and fitness under control. Surely to goodness if I survived that degree I could lose a bit of weight.
Watch this space!
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