Happy National Nurses Week! To kick off the week of honoring our “Superheroes in Scrubs”, we sat down with Rachael Aubrey, a registered Labor and Delivery nurse. She filled us in on what an L&D nurse does, and some of her go-to labor and delivery tricks.
Can you tell us what a Labor and Delivery nurse is?
A Labor and Delivery nurse is so much more than someone who helps deliver a baby. She once was a student. Her hair swept into a hurried ponytail, hands sweating and heart racing as she witnessed her first birth with equal amounts awe and terror. And then applied anyway. A Labor and Delivery nurse is an advocate, a teacher, a Dr. Pepper drinker. She’s a careful musician with a trained ear, knowing when a baby’s heartbeat is low even before she glances up to the monitor. She held your numb leg, your red, squeezing hand as you’ve been in the depths of the crashing waves of contractions. She stood beside you in the silent and still hours of night that only a mother knows. A mother who is awake with her shrieking infant. A mother who fears she is inadequate, who sings a whispered lullaby to her baby, to the waning moon that is her body. “Calm,” she sings. “Heal,” she whispers. A mother who stares into the endless void after losing her child. Whether your nurse wept with you at the bedside or alone at her desk-trust me, she wept. Your nurse is a swaddler, a soother, a shadow slipping in and out, fresh water and ice left at the bedside. She’s an all-star high school athlete (but much less popular-most of us are fairly nerdy) as she cheers from the sidelines and jumps on the track to sprint down the fluorescent hallway in case of emergency. She’s a Labor and Delivery Nurse, yes, but also so much more than that.
How did you decide you wanted to work in this field?
When I was four years old my two-year-old brother was diagnosed with Autism. They placed him in the middle of the spectrum with all sorts of fancy terminology, but to me- he was still just my little brother. Hair of sunshine, scattered freckles, racing his red bike around and around the driveway. His brown eyes mirrored back at me. Equals. He was- and still is- one of my favorite people on earth. As he developed into ages 12-16 he began having aggressive episodes. Mentally, he was testing at 2-4 years old, but physically he was just as tall as the rest of my brothers. Suddenly my brother was experiencing 3 year old tantrums in a 6ft. body. (Things have improved greatly since then.) At one point one of these tantrums landed my family at the hospital while the psychiatrist evaluated his behavior and adjusted his meds. I don’t remember much about that day, but what I do remember was the nurses. Hustling to grab him his favorite cold root beer or bag of red Doritos, filling the silence with lighthearted conversations in an otherwise tense room. I watched as this nurse simultaneously discussed with and took orders from the physician, placed an IV, and comforted our struggling family. From that moment on I knew I wanted to be a nurse. Why a Labor and Delivery nurse? Because it encompasses the three things I feel the most passionate about! Motherhood, mental health, and babies. I have given birth to three babies of my own and they are my greatest joy.
How do you support the emotional and mental well-being of the parents you work with?
The biggest thing I did to support mental health in mothers was to educate, educate, educate. For example, most people don’t know that when you decide to wean baby from breastfeeding you may experience hormonal shifts similar to the few weeks right after birth. Postpartum anxiety, depression, and even psychosis are just as tangible and real as a case of strep throat or pneumonia. And it’s a lot more common than people realize. Signs of postpartum depression/anxiety/psychosis can be, but are not limited to; feeling like you are “walking through mud”, having a hard time getting up in the morning or going to sleep at night, not enjoying the things you used to, feeling like the world is “gray”, feeling rage (like you want to hurt yourself or your baby) feeling like you can’t stop catastrophizing (fixating on worst possible outcomes), constantly crying, worrying, disassociating, etc. First of all, you are not crazy. You are postpartum. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or others; call 911 and go to your nearest hospital emergency room immediately. There are people out there who can and will help you. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or are concerned in any way call your doctor’s office, and don’t be afraid to be very clear. “I am postpartum, I am having symptoms of postpartum anxiety/depression/psychosis and I need to be seen immediately.” If they aren’t able to get you in, ask to speak with your doctor. If they still won’t get you in, find a doctor who will. And just know- it really does get better. The hormones balance, the babies learn to eat, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I promise. If anyone reading this is struggling, please reach out to someone you trust. As I tell my boys before they fall asleep: you are brave. You are important. You are smart. You are enough. You can do hard things.
What are some tips you have for managing pain during labor and delivery?
This is such a good question! For unmedicated moms, my biggest piece of advice is to bring some sort of massage gun (Hypervolt, Theragun, etc.) to have your partner run across your lower back during each contraction. If you don’t have one- borrow one! This helped me so much during my labor with my youngest baby. The body is unable to process two pain signals at once, so the massage gun (though not actual pain) causes enough disruption to distract your brain from the contraction. It was the only reason I got to transition without an epidural! Also, breathing is absolutely key. Many people compare contractions to the feeling of drowning- and it’s likely because they are instinctively holding their breath! I recommend the “pant, pant, blow” technique.
For medicated (epiduralized) deliveries: your epidural works by gravity. This means that whatever side is closest to the ground is the side that will feel the most numb. About 15 minutes after your epidural is placed, ask your nurse or doctor to help you turn to the other side. This will help your epidural set up initially. After that, about every 1-2 hours or whenever you start feeling less numb on your “up” side (or just generally uncomfortable), ask your nurse or doctor to help you turn over to the other side. If you have a “hot spot” or a spot that is not feeling numb; lay on that side. If it is still not feeling numb- ask your anesthesiologist to give you a heavier dose. If it is still not feeling numb- have your anesthesiologist come and evaluate, as they may need to replace your epidural completely.
What are your favorite parts of working as a Labor and Delivery nurse?
There are so many things I could say, but I’ll shorten it to three (in no particular order). 1. Surprise gender births. There is just something about the energy buzzing and filling a room as the family members guess the gender. Don’t even get me started on the older sibling meeting “their baby” for the first time. The whole thing makes me cry tears of joy EVERY TIME.
2. Okay, this is the nerdy part of my brain. During my 7+ years as a Labor and Delivery nurse I got really good at IVs. Yes, I’m tooting my own horn but- hey, I worked 12+ hour shifts. There was something about getting an IV on that very first try and feeling it slide perfectly into the vein and knowing you won’t have to poke your patient again.
3. I just loved it. All of it. Becoming a nurse taught me how to be strong and gentle at the same time. It taught me how to be assertive rather than aggressive or passive-aggressive. It taught me that life is so beautiful and also fragile, and we can’t take a single second of it for granted.
What are your favorite products at Copper Pearl?
As a Labor and Delivery nurse and runner, I am crazy passionate about SLEEP. For moms, and for babies. I would give every patient the same piece of advice before they went home: give your baby a consistent routine. The second they wake up- feed them. (Feeding right when they wake up instead of when they go to sleep helps babies to get a full feed and not depend on you to fall asleep.) Change their diaper. Play. Sleep. That way if they cry- you can always figure out what they need based on what comes next in their routine.
If you are going to teach your baby to sleep you’re going to need good swaddle blankets. I’m going to tell you a secret from a Labor and Delivery Nurse of 7+ years; hospital blankets get all sorts of blood and gunk on them and so they have to be heavily washed, which makes them increasingly stiff and not soft. Do yourself and your baby a favor and bring one of Copper Pearl’s soft, stretchy, knit swaddles to the hospital to wrap your newborn baby in. I have used Copper Pearl knit swaddles with all three of my little boys and swaddled them for every nap and bedtime until they began rolling over.
Which brings me to my next favorite product- the sleep bag. Copper Pearl’s sleep bags are that perfect heavy weight while still remaining breathable and cozy. I also love how my boys aren’t able to swing their tiny legs up over their crib while in their sleep bag. (Raise your hand if you have a climber!)
Lastly, I love their women’s cozy classic pajamas and their women’s everyday robe. I am a sensory girl and am very particular about fabrics and feels. Their pajamas and robes feel like butter without being too slippery, and still have that cotton comfort. Instead of buying my friends baby gifts at their baby showers I always get them something for mama because you deserve just as much love as that sweet baby.
Disclaimer:
While I am a Registered Nurse, my professional social media and this interview is not intended as medical advice, counseling, or professional nursing of any kind. My professional social media and this interview is intended to provide general information to the public and should not replace medical advice regarding your pregnancy or any other condition. If you have any medical or other concerns regarding your pregnancy or health direct your questions to your Nurse and Physician. If you are in crisis or an emergency situation go directly to your nearest Hospital Emergency Room.
Follow along at @nurserachael_ for more tips and tricks about labor and delivery, breastfeeding, postpartum and just surviving motherhood and life in general. So much love to you all.