I need honest opinions...

I just wrote a long reply and my pc stalled and it got lost !!!!!!

I'll briefly say, Claud, I agree that its a shame that not ALL nurses love it or even do it with care, but just for the most part, a patient shouldnt go in on the defensive or with a guard up. I dont think its healthy or right to not give them a chance.

Ive also encountered many Drs and nurses that seemed to just be 'doing a job' and not putting their hearts into it,and I was always the patient or visitor to voice my opinion if i felt the need to but I also respect a Professional's opinion.

I never took any classes with my first and I wasnt going this time cause I know now what to kinda expect.
I certainly don't mean to scare anyone ( I had a lucky 4 hour labor and delivery time) but I cant see how any certain breathing technique would of helped me.
I think the classes are a wonderful thing to take, I dont think they are a waste of time by any means, I just dont think that they are 'nessasary' to have to get through.
JMO

Birthing classes today are alot more than just 'breathing techniques.'

I don't think anyone that responded to this thread said anything about being insulting to a L&D nurse or being defensive about a Mom's list of 'Do's and Dont's.' It is a woman's right to create a birth plan - and most women do realize that things might not go according 'to plan':: once labor starts.

Truthfully, knowing what nurses know about how hospitals really operate - I bet that they are some of the *toughest* patients when it comes to telling the nurses 'what to do' and 'what not to do' when it comes time for their OWN L&D!

However, it is my personal opinion that nurses are just puppets in a hospital. Most of the time, they cannot (and will not) do ANYTHING to help a patient, unless they are given a written doctor's order to do so....I am sure this is for insurance/malpractice reasons and that is understandable. But, that is also why I don't think I need to look upon them as a demi-god in the medical profession. They know their job limits and most of them will not go above and beyond for a patient. The ones that do are very, very rare.JMO.

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Posted by Claud2001

Birthing classes today are alot more than just 'breathing techniques.'

I don't think anyone that responded to this thread said anything about being insulting to a L&D nurse or being defensive about a Mom's list of 'Do's and Dont's.' It is a woman's right to create a birth plan - and most women do realize that things might not go according 'to plan':: once labor starts.

Truthfully, knowing what nurses know about how hospitals really operate - I bet that they are some of the *toughest* patients when it comes to telling the nurses 'what to do' and 'what not to do' when it comes time for their OWN L&D!

However, it is my personal opinion that nurses are just puppets in a hospital. Most of the time, they cannot (and will not) do ANYTHING to help a patient, unless they are given a written doctor's order to do so....I am sure this is for insurance/malpractice reasons and that is understandable. But, that is also why I don't think I need to look upon them as a demi-god in the medical profession. They know their job limits and most of them will not go above and beyond for a patient. The ones that do are very, very rare.JMO.

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I think I must be very rare then because I LOVE what I do and go above and beyond to make my patients feel well cared for. I hug my patients, cry with them, etc... I'm not just a robot who hands out pills methodically.

I am not as 'big' on a specific birthing plan, since we all know the baby has his/her own plan but I will say that I will be the one who makes medical decisions for myself. And I expect those decisions to be respected and heard clearly.
I also KNOW there are certain things I do not want such as the fact that this delivery will NOT turn into a sporting event with people yelling at me to PUSH. I want a calmer situtation, no.... I NEED a calmer situation. That is very important to me and I have discussed this at length with my midwife.

Emergencies come up, and things that we don't forsee happen but in almost all cases a women has the right to accept or deny certain procedures.

I think nurses are way overworked and nowadays many times the person who enters your room is NOT even an RN- they are an undertrained assistant of some kind. It is insane that our healthcare system is soo messed up that we allow untrained people to care for patients. So sometimes we think the nurses are not so great, when in fact, it is just someone who took a home health aide class that is doing things that they are not properly trained to do.

Dani, that was SUCH a beautiful answer.

Call me naive, but I choose to believe that MOST nurses feel and behave as you do.

Danielle-
Thanks for your response.
Thanks for keep the positive karma on here!

Love ya

Dani

Dani...I WANT YOU TO BE my nurse next time I am in the hospital for ANYTHING!
Your post is GREAT! because like claud I have found more apathatic nurses than not...THAT being said- I had a VERY caring staff with me in my L&D at Maimonidias Hospital- bklyn.

I had a midwife, a doula-provided by the hosp for free...and a labor nurse. most of the time the labor nurse was not in the room and I was the ONLY one in the maternity ward besides one other woman.

When the shifts changed, another labornurse came in, she was from England, and I tell you she was wonderful...very supportive, very caring...and THATS what we ALL need in the labor room. It makes the mommies to be RELAX a bit..and that HELPS the whole process

again- Dani- I WANT YOU!

Okay, my Lamaze classes were free. They were given by the L&D nurses.
I highly recommend taking them.
In my case I learned about specific hospital policy and procedures.
I learned what to expect with a c-section.
I learned about all 4 stages of L&D
I missed the class about an epidural (as per my previous posts, dont miss that)
But it was informative and overall a good time. My DH got to sit with the men and commiserate about my hormones and talk about the experience with men who were in the same boat. As well as talk to men who were his age experienceing there first child.
While we women got together and talked about the joys and misery of pregnancy. And Our fears of labor and delivery.
I took 6 weeks worth of classes 2 hours once a week. I'd say we spent a total of 1/2 an hour on breathing.
I enjoyed the class and am glad I took it, if only for the information.
In your case what are you looking to get from a childbirth class?
I dont think it's absolutley nessacary to take them. Women are giving birth at this very moment who have never taken a class.

As far as nurses go, I did not like my day nurse. She was not much in the way of sympathetic, and I found out later that she told the other nurses at the station, that I was a big baby and a total drama queen .( Mind you I gave birth w no meds) I thought that was an awful thing and it made me feel horrible.
But Geno's nurse was wonderful, and my night nurse was a sweetheat.
We actually went back a week after Geno was born and bought lunch for the nurses who took care of Geno and myself, they were the best.
Nurses are so vital in the care of a patient and it's a shame when they either dont care or they do care and go unnapreciated.

Perhaps Dani can 'freelance' for some of us

Hey ladies....sorry some of you felt my posts were 'bad karma' re: nurses. But, I do just feel very bitter about what happened to my Grandmother, as I am CERTAIN all of you would if it had been your grandmothers that were abused and treated so poorly.

I know there are nurses out there that DO LOVE their jobs and are wonderful caregivers...but, in my honest to God opinion, they are rare - so Danielle, YES dear, you are a minority. But, God bless you for loving what you do, AND not being afraid to put your heart in it!

For the record...I never did say that I hate all nurses, or the entire profession. In fact, as a child, I thought I wanted to become a nurse. I always maintained that there are definitely diamonds in the rough and those are the ones that shine! We have a very close family friend who is an RN (she is one of those 'diamonds' and like Danielle, she cries w/her patients, etc) and I have the UTMOST respect for her. My family just encountered a really bad group of nurses during my Grandmother's recent hospital stay.

Claud, SCOUTS HONOR I did not say that in reference to your post!


And Ive had some very bad experiences with both nurses and Dr's but I try to maintain a respect for the Profession and give them all the benefit of the doubt before hating all of them. Quick story of my own:My did went into the ER for stomach painsm they thought it was kidney stones, 24hrs later was admitted, 3 days later still no answers. Dr's that were PARTNERS had EXACT OPPOSITE info for us! I kept telling them to get their story straight and consult with eachother and I was NOT very nice to them! Then they told me they couldnt take further action because my dads EKG (heart exam) was abnormal, and they wouldnt attempt anything that his heart wasnt strong enough for. Still dragging their feet on getting an answer though...
I IMMEDIATELY INSISTED that he be transferred to St. Frances Hospital. They hesitated and told me not to jump to conclusions They wanted other Drs to look at him. It was now 4-5days after the ER!
I was pretty rude and DEMANDED that he be transferred. They SUGGGESTED taking him out of the hospital and driving him to the ER at StFran!!! That would only take A WHOLE DAY where as Dr's orders would take an hour! Well less than 2 hours later he was in a bed at StFrances, and the next day we were told he needed emergency QUADRUPLE Bypass surgery!!!! To this day, John tells me I saved my daddys life
Thank God and God Bless him, at 69, my dad took that surgery like a teenager, he recovered amazingly, but went right back to the cigarettes 2 weeks later...
(sorry for the tangent and thanks for listening!)

Anna, I know what's its like to have a Dad with a weak heart, who just won't kick the habit. You ALWAYS have an ear here, if you need to vent about that!

No offense taken Claud-I too, know nurses who just shouldn't be nurses due to their lack of caring, etc...

A little on a tangent but I always put in my all because when I was younger my mom had cancer and I always thought her nurses were angels, that is why I chose this profession. Sure there are nights I want to pull my hair out or even cry but when a patient thanks you for your caring, it makes all the stressors go away. This patient wrote to the president of the hopsital and I read it now and then when I need a spirit booster. I'll share it:


Dear Mr.Roberts
I had to be readmitted into your hospital for another 10 days and I once again need to commend you on your staff. The 2 East staff was more than perfect in so many ways. On one particular short staffed night, one nurse ran herself to the ground running through the halls trying to do what 2 or more nurses should be doing. She should be commended for her heroic efforts and superior knowledge of nursing and health care. Danielle ********* is a nurse who gives both the nursing field and hospital a great reputation. I hope you share this letter with your 2 East crew. Everyday the staff at Mather provided the best care that a person expects but rarely gets in other hospitals. Please take the time to walk the floors of the second floor, there are wonderful people who work there...
Now you see why I love my job

What a wonderful tribute to you Danielle!
I am proud to call you my friend! (although Patrick would call you my 'internet freak', but that's another story... )

Don't worry-Rob thinks i'm a freak for still coming on here after i'm married
They'll never get it!

AWE! Danielle, I got the chills reading that!!

Good for you, Im proud of you!

Danielle, I too got chills from reading that beautiful letter. My hat is off to you! It is so amazing to have a job where THAT is what you get at the end of each day! (Well, not always...but, you don't find that sort of gratitude and praise in corporate America.) One of my best friends is a teacher, and she often has similar beautiful stories to share