Different Stages of Labor ~ Including Dilation, Pushing, Delivery & Placental Birth

When I was an Obstetric nurse one thing that had me all tripped up were all the different stages and sub set of stages there are to labor.  I've recently made 6 videos on my youtube channel that explains all the different stages of labor.  You can find the first of 6 by clicking the video below.

 

Otherwise I'll briefly break it down for you here:

 

Stage 1 = Early Labor: This stage lasts the longest ranging anywhere from 6-12 hours. For some women they hardly know their bodies are changing and getting ready. The cervix can dilate up to 3cm.

 

Stage 1 = Active Labor: This stage seems to be for some women the most difficult especially if their pain is not controlled. This stage could last anywhere from 3-5 hours. This stage the Labor nurse needs to step up her game and stay strong not only for herself but for the patient too. Be supportive and let the woman know she can get through this and that she is strong!  The cervix can dilate up to 7cm.

 

Stage 1 = Transition: This stage is nearing the time when it comes to start pushing. The laboring patient doesn't think she can handle one more ounce of pain or one more hour of waiting for her cervix to dilate. This stage ranges anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.  The cervix dilates to complete aka 10cm.

 

Stage 2 = Pushing: This is SHOW TIME!  Yahoo the laboring patient's cervix is finally 10cm dilated, some women seem to get a second wind of adrenaline that gives them exactly enough energy to push the baby out. Now as a Labor nurse you need to find the strength to help get the laboring patient through this time mentally. She needs the most encouragement during this stage because with each push the baby moves forward but then slips back behind and under the pelvic bone. Which can last up anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours.

 

Stage 2 = Birth: FINALLY the baby's head has made it past the pelvic bone and is crowning. Phew, what felt like forever will be done in another couple pushes. Boom a miracle is born. Sometimes the reaction at birth can be anywhere from immense crying with tears of joy and shouts of happiness to exhaustion to complete and utter silence. The nursing staff and doctors can be emotional too.

Every family and every laboring woman is different. Each with a different story. Other women have a different reaction, where tears may not be made of joy instead sadness fills the air. Every road can be immensely intense and needs a strong nurse to help each patient along the way. 

 

Stage 3 = Placental Birth: Baby's out and doing well. Now all the laboring woman has to do is deliver the placenta.  Some women are just as nervous about this step as they are about delivering the baby. But trust me, most times delivering the placenta is much much easier than delivering the baby.

This is the best time to initiate skin-to-skin and breastfeeding. Otherwise if the woman would rather have the baby cleaned up first, then the Labor nurse can get a lot of the other to-do items completed at this time like "eyes and thighs" or footprints, weight and length etc etc.

Nursing Hiarstyles~~Under 1 min Each~~Quick & Easy

Watch as I style my hair quickly with 4 different options for the on-the-go nurse who doesn't have a lot of time for fuss.

Watch my video and please let me know if you have any questions!

All up

Half up half down

Ponytail

Thanks for watching :-)

~Rachel RN

Million Excuses

As I sit here I could find a million excuses as to why not to write today including these:
-computer is too fickle to work with
-no Word program
-the kitty litter amongst other things needs to be cleaned
-the extra weight I've put on around my middle beckons to be exercised off
-I haven't gotten ready for the day
-etc, etc, etc.
However, I proceed on and continue this post because what I think most important for me right now is to get out how I'm doing.

There seems to be a lot of things going on in my life right now.  Especially BIG life changes that I'm not so sure I can/want to handle.  I prefer to have a normal scheduled day with predictable outcomes but I also love to live each day to it's fullest.  Hence I have new and exciting changes happening all around me.

For example:
-my daughter is graduating high school :-() in 6 days
-said daughter is starting college this summer, in 4 weeks (plus we are having her grad party the day before we move her out)
-same daughter is moving out of our nest...
-I have officially given my 28 day notice at my job and am frightened to death (more to come on that huge piece of news and chapter in my life)
-my son is going to start driver's ed this summer
-my husband was offered an opportunity of a lifetime and going forward with that decision (more on that in a future post)

Ugh more than ever I need this blog as an outlet to vent all that is ever-changing around me.
Thankfully I am working on spending more time relying on my relationship with Christ to help me get through my days.  I cannot even imagine us doing any of this on our own.  In fact recently I read from Lysa and her team at www.proverbs31.org who is developing an app called "First Five".  It's a bible devotional app for your phone basically giving God the first 5 minutes of your day will help transform your day drastically.  They're in the works of fundraising for this app to get it off the ground and running smoothly for when they plan to unveil this summer. Check out more here www.first5.org  The app will be available for free for anyone interested.
HOW WONDERFUL RIGHT!  Either way I think this app will help remind me what to focus on before my feet even touch the floor each day.  Amen to Lysa and her team!

This feels good to be able to organize my thoughts today.  Thanks for listening.

How to Locate and Find the Cervix

One of the hardest things I had to learn when I first became an Obstetrics Nurse was how to locate and find the cervix.  This was difficult because until you find it, you're always in a state of guessing or thinking you're close to it.

The vaginal wall is very strong (being a muscle and all) but can be easily mistaken for the cervix depending on how far you advance your fingers.  And just like the cervix you can stretch and move the vaginal wall and really believe you're at the cervix.

BUT, unlike the cervix that has a thinner wall all the way around it that feels like when you poke your finger through a deflated water balloon hole, the vaginal wall does not.

If any of this sounds confusing or right on to you beginner OB nurses, go ahead and watch my video that explains more.

And if any of you are wondering how to check for dilation, station, or effacement check out my other post here

Hand Lettered Challenge Week 5/52 - Places to Visit

This week's hand lettered challenge prompt is places to visit.  This hand lettered challenge comes from a blogger named Miranti at www.penandpeplum.com

Oftentimes I think I would love to travel. I'll read an article or listen to someone's story about their experience overseas to another country.  I think I'd love to go there and do that.  But then they mention what they ate and immediately I become ill just thinking about their food options.  I'm not a big fan of exploring different food tastes or meals.  I'm too picky!  I would have to travel somewhere inside the US where American cooking is available.

I have 5 beautiful and wonderful places I've painted in this week's video you can watch below to find out more of each location.  And maybe if I ever overcome my fear of eating different foods, I may just visit them.

Thanks for watching and reading and we'll see you next time,
Rachel Anne

Hand Lettered Challenge Week 4/52 - Recall a Summer Memory

This week's hand lettered challenge is to recall a summer memory.  This comes from a blogger by the name of Miranti from www.penandpeplum.com.

Just keep in mind that I have plenty of summer memories and the one I talk about in my video down below is the one that stands out most recently.  Or at least it did when I started filming the video.

I wish there was a way for you all to hit a button and instantaneously feel the warmth from the sun on a bright sunny day.  It's not like I'm implying you all live in caves but when winter lasts longer than almost all 3 other seasons combined here in Wisconsin I sometimes forget that awesome feeling.
And as this winter continues I'm in need of warmth either from sun or temperature to bring me happiness real soon!!

Enjoy more of my explanation of my summer memory by clicking the video below:

Have a great day and we'll see you next time,
Rachel Anne

Early Valentine's Day

This year I have to work on Valentine's Day, actually the whole weekend to be exact. I wasn't so happy about missing out on one of the most romantic manufactured holidays of the year.

So Jason and I celebrated early on the 31st of January.  It was fun and exciting and romantic. We just did a bunch of things we like to do together anyway all in one day and called it good.  

You can click on the picture below to watch the short video I made about our special date.

First Jason surprised me by drawing a fun spring time picture on my bathroom mirror so when I got off work Friday morning I would see it.

Then the following day was our date night.  I got myself all dressed up in what else...a dress. And I happened to walk past this cool striped wall at the hotel and couldn't resist taking a picture in front of it.

Then it was off to dinner, yum we ate at my favorite restaurant in Marshfield.

Afterwards we picked up dessert at my favorite bakery called 2-1/2 Cups Cupcakery.  We purchased a 6 pack of cupcakes, flavors are as follows top to bottom and from left to right:  Bacon and Maple, Dark Chocolate Cherry, Oreo, Salted Butterscotch, M&M, and Reese's PB Cup

Talk about a sextuple-yum!!!

 

Then we splashed around in the steaming outdoor hot tub at Hotel Marshfield. And I gotta say is worth doing especially when the temperature is 17 degrees Fahrenheit and there's snow all over the ground!

Lastly we warmed up by cuddling close and watching our favorite Netflix show called House of Cards.  I love this show!

I love my hubby more and more and more each year, especially when we have many common interests.

What kind of fun things do you all have planned for Valentine's Day this year?