"Sometimes I just wonder how these babies will grow up and who will they become in the future..."
I am currently in the OB(obstetrics)/maternity rotation for nursing, and so far it's killing me and pushing me through the ground! I literally study everyday, and read everyday, but I feel like it's never enough. Even though I like what I'm learning and this is the field where I plan to work for, it's so overwhelming. I never tried so hard in school ever! =(
The past weeks I've been in the N.I.C.U. (neonatal intensive care unit) and at times it makes me sad. There are babies there who are premature, multiple gestations, babies born with congenital anomalies, babies from a mother who has a history of substance abuse and illegal drugs, and babies who require intensive care and monitoring and so forth....
There was a baby who was in the NICU, born at 24 weeks (term is 37,) 1lb, assistive breathing via ventilator, IV lines like crazy, born blind and deaf, no quality of life, mother 17, and father 24. That day they were deciding if they were going to pull the plug. Next week he wasn't there.. Can you imagine what this little tiny baby was going through? How helpless he was feeling and how medicine couldn't help him. I can only imagine....
There was another baby in the NICU born prematurely, but her parents have a history of cocaine and meth use. It makes me sad that their babies have to go through the pain and suffering, but their parents doesn't have to go through it.
One more story (sorry to get all emo) there were twin girls, born 29 weeks gestation, both around 3lbs per baby. They need constant monitoring and gavage feeding (intubated tube going to the stomach). Their mother had not seen them for a little over 2 weeks, and right away that is considered abandonment.
It truly breaks my heart for parents who shows signs of neglect and abandonment towards their newborns. Newborns require lots of attention and your time. If you're not going to show love and care for your babies, don't have one!
As a nursing student and a future RN, I can't be judgmental about people. My job is to provide care for those who need it. My job is not to express how I feel towards them because, quite frankly, my personal opinions doesn't matter. The key to working in the these facilities is not getting too involved psychosocially because it will get to you. This area is a little sensitive because this is the first time that I'm trully exposed to it. I want to share to people that these are real live stories and this is occuring everyday.
Even though the NICU is a little heartbreaking, there are many times where it's very rewarding.
There was this time where I was feeding a baby. A week before they weren't sure if he was going to make it. It was either he wasn't heading towards a bad direction, or a healthy state. A week later, I was feeding him and changing his diaper, and he had a really stinky bowel movement HAHA. But that's ok. Then later that day he was discharged to parents who has been there everyday for their baby and couldn't wait for their baby to come home. Now this is what I want to see, but unfortunately the world isn't like this.
I've been in the nursery and I loved it! When a baby is born, the labor and delivery nurse does a quick assessment to the baby, to make sure the baby is okay and doesn't require interventions. Then the baby is given to the mother to create bonding and attachment. If the baby is okay, the baby goes to the nursery to be further assessed including vital signs, bowel sounds, breath sounds, length and measurements, assessing reflexes, baby's firth bath and so forth. I was able to assess these healthy babies and able to hold them and care for them.
I saw a father in the nursery and family members taking pictures and just truly happy to have a new member added in the family.
I saw a baby who got circumcised, and poor baby! Every little clip, he was crying. I cringed everytime the doctor did a little cut.
I saw new mothers and families at the window, eager to hold or breastfeed the baby.
The babies cried every time their diapers were wet or if they were hungry. Then they would easily go back to sleep.
You know it's rewarding when you see the look on the new mommy and daddy's faces when they get to take their babies home. You can feel how madly in love and how eager they are to take care of their new baby.
Sometimes I just wonder how these babies will grow up and who will they become in the future. Who knows?
