https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 15 May 2026 12:20:44 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-116177 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:33:55 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 116177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrBee - I'm so sorry that you had a poor experience with your L&amp;D nurses.</p> <p>I had a scheduled c-section, so I didn't have any nurses coaching me through labor or delivery. One nurse was with me in pre-op, though, and she was AMAZING. She took me back to surgery and held me hand when they administered the spinal. She walked me through every step of the surgery, and handed me my baby as I was being wheeled to recovery.</p> <p>She was INCREDIBLE and I was so happy to have her by my side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-116172 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 22:22:04 +0000 mrs. wagon 116172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We chose our OBGYN practice based on the fact that they deliver at Brigham and Women's, which among the top in the country (if not #1) in terms of labor/delivery/postpartum nurses. I can't remember where Wagon Sr. did his research but my college had a strong nursing program, so I know that this hospital is very competitive for nurses to get into. I had three or four different labor nurses and they were amazing... the one that was on duty when we actually delivered got on my nerves a bit because she had to stick me like 6 times to draw my blood when I spiked a fever, but then again I was drug free during transition at the time. I think anyone would have pissed me off. I thought she was clueless but she actually helped me so much through my contractions when my epidurals failed. She's the reason why I'm going to hire a doula this time around-- she basically served as a doula for me. </p> <p>My postpartum nurse was AWESOME. I cried when we left because I wanted her to come home with me. Literally. I literally asked her if she could come home with me and I think I offered her money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-116136 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:57:07 +0000 Mrs. Pen 116136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I had no idea that classifies someone as high-risk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-116131 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:53:34 +0000 mrbee 116131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@miss-spunkin: We had a few miscarriages before having Charlie and Olive...</p> <p><a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2011/09/12/the-journey-to-charlie-part-1/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2011/09/12/the-journey-to-charlie-part-1/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-116127 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 21:50:52 +0000 Mrs. Pen 116127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was going to have a birth center birth, partly because I wanted to avoid a bad experience with a hospital birth if I could (obviously not all hospital experiences are bad, but if I felt I could control the environment I was birthing in, I wanted that power/freedom). The birth center was a small business, two midwives and about five nurses, so I knew everyone by the time I delivered.<br /> However I ended up becoming high-risk as well, and had to transfer care to a hospital. It was one that came highly recommended by my midwives though, and my nurses were INCREDIBLE. I was soo scared and nervous about going to the hospital and having to get induced, but the nurses were so great at taking care of me and being so patient, kind and explaining everything. They really helped me with breathing during labor and making it through each contraction. </p> <p>My doctor was really nice too. Not as hands-on and involved as the nurses, but still very kind. I feel so blessed to have had a positive experience.</p> <p>@mrbee: do you mind me asking what made Mrs. Bee high-risk? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-116064 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:50:46 +0000 Pancakes 116064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My labor nurses were great. I was so thankful for them. The one who was there for most of my labor was so encouraging to me. It was only after LO was transferred to the Level III nursery that we began to have problems with nurses (*grumble grumble*). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-116030 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:29:53 +0000 singingbee 116030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: That's awful that the nurses were horrible. My situation is different than what I thought my first delivery story would be, but my nurses were amazing. Like, I want to go up to the hospital and bring them a home cooked meal. They made the whole experience more tolerable than I thought it could be. I joked with my husband that we were going to 'request' them when we go to deliver again. That way they can be in on a good experience. My doctor is amazing....he wasn't on call that night, but he made sure that the nurses called him when it was time for me to delivery and he was there at 4:00 a.m. to help me deliver. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115809 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:12:46 +0000 lavender 115809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved our labor nurses! They were all very kind/funny/approachable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115400 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:26:09 +0000 HabesBabe 115400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Luckily, one of my friends is a L&amp;D nurse at the hospital I'll be delivering at... so if we happen to come during her shift, she'll be one of my nurses :) Otherwise, she told me to text her and she'd hook me up with the nice ones. Hahah.</p> <p>Question-- can't you request to have another nurse if the one(s) you have aren't working out for you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115396 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:22:26 +0000 SAHM0811 115396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For as many times as I've been a patient in a hospital (about a handful of times, including times my kid/s were sick), I never had big enough problems with nurses or doctors to complain. Very sorry about your experiences!</p> <p>eta: my phone submitted that too quick... to answer the post's question, my first L&amp;D nurse had such a gift in helping me through contractions, that she is the main reason I had enough confidence to go med-free and natural with #2... which I did! And the nurses the second time around were great, but they really only helped me for about 5 mins while pushing since I arrived at the hospital at 9cm anyway. </p> <p>In general though, I have heard many positive things about L&amp;D nurses, and not-so positive things about postpartum nurses. I think maybe this has to do with the fact that postpartum nurses are often stretched thinner, taking care of a bigger number of patients on a given shift (usually 1:6 vs 1:2 with L&amp;D), but then again the nature/tasks of both units are very different as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115378 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:05:22 +0000 kml636 115378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>yikes, this scares me. I'm sensitive anyways and kind of afraid of having a nasty nurse! I want the most natural birth as possible and I'm afraid they will mock me. I don't have a lot of hospital or birth center options either. </p> <p>I guess right now I just hope to stay home as long as possible and pray! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115350 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:34:08 +0000 sandy 115350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I LOVED my labor nurse. She was so calm and kind and I really felt like she cared so much. I was a wreck when I first got into labor and delivery...and then I spiked a fever due to some uterin infection and my baby's heart rate was super high for a while but she was such a calming presence. After 13 hours I ended up with an unplanned csection (she stayed past her shift for several hours) and a big reason I was so calm was bc of her. She hugged me so tight when she had to leave as I went off to get the csection. I feel such an emotional bond with her and my doctor. The nurse that took over after she left and stayed with me through the csection was fine...not was warm but so professional and actually was super kind in recovery and helping getting my baby to start breastfeeding. I loved my labor nurses so much i get emotional thinking about them :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115313 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:11:19 +0000 pelikila 115313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wasn't with my triage or labor nurses for long enough to have much of an opinion good or bad. I will say the triage nurse that put in my hep lock was awesome in how fast and relatively painless it was. I wish my labor nurses had actually told me what they wanted me to do as they kept just moving my hands rather than telling me why they were moving my hands. I would say a positive experience overall but leaning toward neutral. My doctor was great as she was able to show up in the nick of time and told me exactly what she wanted and when and it was done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115309 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:10:38 +0000 Maysprout 115309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first nurse I had was OK but she was a bit too negative for me to really like her. She almost seemed to think I wasn't in labor because the first test to see if my water broke came back as inconclusive. It turns out my water had broken and I was about 5 cm and at the time I was having crazy contractions so her trying to tell me gently that I might not be in labor sounded super condescending to me at the time even though I know she sees stuff all the time. So we were polite to each other but I kinda felt like she didn't like me. </p> <p>The nurses after her were really good, the student nurses even came by on their off time to hang out in my room (while I was still laboring but now with the epidural) and chit chat and give my hubby a break so he could go walk around and eat. After delivery I pretty much liked all the nurses. One of the nurses even got us to get free pro photos since she suggested us to be the family for the website and hospital pamphlet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115226 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:25:30 +0000 tequiero21 115226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a great dr and great nurses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115189 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:17:03 +0000 Rubies 115189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My labour nurse was THE BEST. I LOVED her so much that when her shift ended a few hours after LO was born, I cried. She was sooooooo wonderful to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115182 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:15:27 +0000 chopsuey 115182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>:T That really stinks..!<br /> All of my labor nurses were really nice. And I think the hospital was pretty empty the night I went into labor..<br /> Once I asked for an epidural the anesthesiologist came to my room within a few minutes.<br /> Hoping I have a good experience when we have #2! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115099 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:23:30 +0000 purrpletulips 115099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was induced but had the same most awesome labor nurse the whole time (she even stayed a little after her shift because they wanted to move me and she wanted to make sure I got something to eat first since I hadn't eaten in 12+ hours and had just given birth). She was a great coach and dealt with my wacky husband like a pro; he even asked me if we could request her for our next LO due in September. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115090 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:14:15 +0000 His Barista 115090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first one I had for 4 hours. She was awful. She told me since I was throwing up I must have the flu and it was causing my false labor. She gave me an IV and every time dh asked a question her answer was condescending. </p> <p>When she got off shift we had the most wonderful girl for 12 hours. She was so sweet and I just can't think of enough awesome things to say. I am glad she was there when I gave birth! </p> <p>Needless to say when the mean nurse came back for her shift in the morning I was less than thrilled...but she was all nice smiles when she saw I had lo! Wth?</p> <p>The doctor was another story. He also thought I had the flu and was only nice once he announced I was at 4.5 and I was indeed in labor...5 hours after I first arrived. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115081 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:07:36 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 115081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I loved the nurses, but wanted to punch/slap/kill my doctor. I went with a different doc this time around </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115074 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 08:01:54 +0000 Mrsbells 115074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm hoping I get good nurses! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115064 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 07:51:07 +0000 Andrea 115064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That sounds so awful. My labor nurses were fine. I had 2. The first one had a great sense of humor and was very comforting. The second was very no nonsense but really got me to push well. So I kind of wish I only had the second one so maybe I would have been done pushing sooner instead of taking 3.5 hours. The recovery nurses were just OK I think. No bad experiences but they do not stick out in my mind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115024 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 06:39:16 +0000 heffalump 115024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, this makes me feel even more lucky for my nurse! She was soooo amazing. I was her first birth since coming of maternity leave so she was able to see and know where I was coming from, since she just did it herself. Plus it's a teaching hospital and I had a student in there to see her first birth. They were both so encouraging the whole time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-115000 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 01:03:48 +0000 aunt pol 115000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: It sounds like you had a rough time with those nurses! From what I've heard about the hospital I'm going to, labour/triage nurses are ok, but I've heard some rough stories about the ones on the wards after recovery. SIL insisted on leaving hospital early after her section as the nurses were being total bullies to her- she'd had a long hard labour which ended with an emergency section, and the nurses provided very little help with the baby and also seemed not to believe her when she couldn't walk unaided to the shower the next day. I know if they're like that with me I'd do the same, I'll have more help at home and I don't think you should have to defend yourself against charges of laziness post surgery! Although I'd probably make a formal complaint, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-114991 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:29:51 +0000 lemondrop 114991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That is sad to have a negative experience during such an important time in your lives. </p> <p>Other than getting snapped at by the first triage nurse when I answered honestly when she asked if I ever drank alcohol during the pregnancy, the nurses and doctors were great. </p> <p>I totally give credit to my labor nurse for rooting me on and giving me tough love through pushing and keeping me from a c-section. My doctor is great too, he did a great job keeping things light when it got stressful. </p> <p>My best experience though were the NICU nurses, they really kept me from losing it when my son spent a couple days there and I had to leave him. They did a better job helping me with breastfeeding than the lactation consultants from the hospital (who were great too, but each one had a different opinion about what I should do, so it got confusing). These nurses rooted me on when I brought half a cc of colostrum to them after half an hour of pumping- so frustrating to be collecting only drops! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-have-a-positive-experience-with-your-labor-nurses#post-114987 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:15:58 +0000 mrbee 114987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am going to be honest here. I had a horrible experience with nurses at both Charlie or Olive's delivery. </p> <p>For Charlie's birth, we truly had the world's meanest nurses. The triage nurses just didn't seem to care at all that Bee's labor was progressing extremely quickly and that she was in tremendous pain. They just kept saying that all the anesthesiologists were busy and that she would have to wait. Then they outright avoided me for what seemed like hours.</p> <p>Bee was in so much pain and the nurses were so unhelpful that I started roaming the halls looking for someone else to beg for help. I ran into a random resident walking down the hall and just outright begged him to help my laboring wife. He took pity on me and found us an anesthesiologist and sent him to our room to talk to us. I have never been so grateful in my life! He was truly the only person who listened to me, because to be honest I begged almost every medical professional I ran into for help. The next day, I found the resident and told him exactly how much what he had done had meant to me and Bee. My only regret is that I didn't write him a letter, to put my gratitude into writing. Later we found out that the day of Charlie's birth, the hospital was overflowing with laboring moms and that's why the experience had been so difficult.</p> <p>Still, as bad as our experience was with the entire triage nurse department, our experience with the labor nurse for Charlie's birth was even worse. The labor nurse seemed to me to mock our desire to try for a vaginal birth, since she was seemed convinced Bee needed a c-section. I really grew to dislike her, and was so glad when she went off shift.</p> <p>When Bee got pregnant again, I really wanted to switch hospitals... but we didn't have a lot of choices since we had a higher-risk pregnancy. Thankfully though, when Olive was born we didn't have to deal as much with the triage nurses and in fact the initial nurses we had really encouraged Bee to try a VBAC. I was so grateful for that kindness, after the horrible experience we had with nurses the first time around. </p> <p>Our labor nurse for Olive's birth was nice enough, but not that confident or helpful. Still, at least she wasn't outright mean. Do you know what blew me away about Bee's birth experience with Olive — and actually, with Charlie too? To me, the kindest and most caring medical professionals during both birth experiences were... the doctors. You often hear about how nurses are so empathetic and caring, and the doctors can be distant and kind of mean. But that was the exact opposite of our experience. Our doctors were such cheerleaders for Bee, and so warm and emotional. I was truly blown away. Bee had two doctors during Olive's birth, and one of them was such a huge help that I will remember her kindness for the rest of my life.</p> <p>I would never in a million years guessed that both of our birth experiences would follow the same template: kind and helpful doctors, assisted by distant and not-so-helpful nurses. They say that births are full of surprises though, and this definitely ranked up there as one of the biggest.</p> <p>Did you have a positive experience with your labor nurses? How would you rate your experience with your nurses versus your doctors? </p>