Drive-bys
I had what we call on our L&D floor a drive by delivery tonight. Patient comes in practically fully dilated, and we barely get her settled in the room before she starts involuntarily pushing. It’s all I can do to rush and get my gown and gloves on so I can catch the baby before it falls out onto the bed.
It may be weird to say, but I love the rush of these deliveries. I can’t explain why, because most probably find them annoying. You have none of your tools where you need them, you’re hunched over the side of the bed trying to gather cord blood and catch the placenta.. but I can’t help and feel invigorated when they happen. It definitely helps me stay awake on my fourth night shift in a row that’s for sure!
And meanwhile, the woman in the room next to her has been here, on clear liquids, only 2cm dilated after almost 24 hours of cervical ripening agents... poor thing.