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Cesarean Section Essential Information (c-section)
When women become pregnant, do they ever assume they will end up delivering via cesarean section (c-section) ? Probably not. I would bet the average parent-to-be’s mindset defaults to a stable vaginal delivery, with the slight knowledge of a possible c-section in the way back of their mind. This is one reason I feel it is essential to spread more knowledge about c-sections. Prevalence, indications, preparation, and recovery tips. So, keep reading: educate yourself! Prevalence The rate of cesarean section has risen globally, with the most recent statistic being 21.1% of all births world-wide in 2021. That statistic actually only accounts for the primary c-section rate, meaning first time c-section.…
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Netflix Gives a Glimpse into Life with Mental Illness
If you have checked out any of my blog posts, or you know, even my look at the websites title and URL, you know I like to revolve my posts around three topics: mental health, motherhood, and being a registered nurse (especially L&D). Many times, inspiration comes from current events. Whether that be elementary school shootings, supreme court rulings that control a woman’s body, or maybe a recent mental breakdown of my own. Chill everyday shit right? Instead, Netflix inspired todays post. It’s not a far reach actually. If you know me at all, you know I LOVE reality TV (especially Bravo) and Netflix. Sorry, I spend my free time…
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The Illness is Chronic, but I’m Also Iconic
A 2018 study about pain management showed that men who sought care for pain related conditions were seen as “brave”, while women seeking care for the same symptoms were viewed as “emotional”.
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Coping Mechanisms
For the Birthday Blues and Other Triggering Days Yesterday was my birthday. Are you one of those people that celebrates your birthday all month? You have multiple lunches and dinners with your friends, maybe you justify purchases for yourself because “its still my birthday”. I am nothing like that. I have a love hate relatinship with my birthday. Well love is a strong word… I have a wanting to love but hate relationship I think. Every year I get sad, mad, moody, throw myself a pity party instead of a birthday party to “celebrate” the day I was born and I have coined this term: the birthday blues. I have…
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Labor & Delivery Nursing: The Good, The Bad, & The Truth
When I was getting ready to graduate nursing school, I would hear all the time how hard it was to get into labor & delivery and NICU. And if you wanted dayshift… you better be willing to wait for someone to retire, move, or die. Until recently, turnover in L&D was historically low nationwide. Especially when compared to other nursing units in the hospital. Well, in this post Covid (wait, are we really POST Covid?) era in healthcare, that is not the case. Our unit has been facing a major staffing crisis. Turnover higher than ever recorded, unit full of travel nurses, not enough charge nurses, and not enough preceptors.…
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Progress Needed for Postpartum: Part III
This is the third and final part of the series calling for progress for postpartum care. So to recap, we’ve learned about postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and the lack of mental health care availability. Also, tons about self care. Self care doesn’t look the same for everyone. For some it looks like having the time to go get a haircut by themselves, and for some it’s making time for therapy. Also, we all agree that only one standard postpartum doctors visit 6 weeks after birth is pathetic right? So let’s* wrap this up. What can we do to improve? *and by lets, I am referring to the 3 people that…
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Progress Needed for Postpartum: Part II
In Part I of Progress Needed for Postpartum, I talked about what’s missing in postpartum care for new parents and how it can impact mental health ranging from the baby blues to postpartum depression, anxiety, and postpartum psychosis. So now we know what those diagnosis can mean and how important they are to treat, now lets discuss the treatment and self care. Self Care Self care means something different to everyone. Different people need different things or rituals to recharge. But, do you think manicures, bubble baths, and paper face masks do much when actually caring for ones self? I don’t. It is hard to be the caregiver of the…
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Progress Needed for Postpartum: Part I
Birth is a factory that is never going out of business. Being a labor and delivery nurse is a recession and pandemic proof job. A fact that I confirmed over the last two and a half years. Being that having a baby is a such a stable and recurring system, there are many websites, bloggers, Instagram pages, and educational classes dedicated to pregnancy and birth. It can be an exciting but also a stressful and vulnerable time in a growing family’s life, which leads to a desire for information. But what about after? Sure, there is plenty of information. Plenty about pregnancy and about parenting and children. But I mean…
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I’ve Made it Through the First Trimester
I posted my first blog post for Mental Mommy Nurse just a tad over 12 weeks ago. So in my world, I’ve made it past the first trimester! That is usually a reason to take a big deep breath and sigh of relief…but it’s a cautious relief. Moms, amiright? Reflection I have gotten some wonderful feedback from my site, I’ve had people tell me they are proud of me and think one day I am going to help a lot of people. That said, I haven’t had much reach to help as many as I hoped. But I also know that I am no #influencer and that kind of reach…
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Summer in Labor & Delivery: New Babies and New Doctors
Something much lighter after a super heavy two part blog post about childhood trauma. I recently thought, I have been struggling to find my ‘why’ for continuing to be a labor & delivery nurse… I am hoping that writing about it and posting about it will give me a little excitement and inspiration. Share with any of your fellow nurses or residents; that may give me a nice hit of dopamine. In Light of Current Events… So, today (as writing this) is the day after the SCOTUS decided to overturn Roe V Wade. I started drafting this post a while ago, and I need to stick to my topic. I need…
