If You Ever Get The Chance to Be Someone’s Labour Coach, You Should Totally Do It. Because It’s Awesome.
May 19, 2009
And not only is it awesome, it’s beautiful and amazing and you will be floored by what you are capable of when faced with a bit of a crisis, even though you are surrounded by nurses and doctors who *could* take over, but they see that you are, in fact, handling the problem well and even though it’s like being outside of your body, watching yourself handle this situation, for a short while, you will look back on it and decide big things.
Or yanno, maybe that’s just me.
I’m trying very hard to keep details that aren’t mine to share, unshared. So forgive me for only telling you that Mom and Baby are doing just fine.
Over the course of my life, many people have told me I’m a nurturer. There was a time after Thomas was born that was an exception to that (PPD consumed me), but that nurturing instinct is very much a part of who I am. What I am discovering is that I’m also very capable of taking charge when need be. In contrast, I seem to know when to let things take their course, and rather than try to steer people in a direction I think they should go, I’m able to help them reach decisions on their own accord. Again, details are left out here, but let’s say Mama was very much in charge of her labour and I was merely there to hold her hand until she needed me to help steer. Kapeesh?
For the last few months, I’ve been trying to decide if I want to be a paramedic or a nurse. I’ve tossed every pro and con around, trying to figure out what my strengths and weaknesses are in order to come to a decision that makes sense for my family, for my next career, and for my age, which will be over 40 by the time I’m finished school. *gulp* As @debroby pointed out to me on Twitter, I’ll be 40 anyway, why not do something I have been dreaming of doing for years?
I have decided on nursing. Ultimately, I want to be in L&D, Obstetrics or the NICU. I think I’ve decided on the 4 year RN program, rather than the 2 year LPN/RPN Program, and I have to find out if I have to take the Pre-Health Program first, which would add an extra year.
I’ll be honest – going back to school at 35 is daunting, but Daren did that and just graduated (he’s 40 now). Every time I think about it, I get really excited and my heart beats really fast. I can’t wait.
Paging Nurse Sugarpants!
May 20th, 2009 at 3:40 am
Thay sounds very, very cool. It will take more time and training to do the nicu/peads/l&d, but you’ve got to start
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May 20th, 2009 at 5:33 am
I’ve never even met you and I get the impression that you’d make an awesome nurse. Good luck!
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May 20th, 2009 at 5:45 am
That? Is awesome. I am so proud of you for doing this. You won’t regret it.
Congratulations.
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May 20th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Amazing! Good luck, what a great leap you are taking.
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May 20th, 2009 at 7:57 am
Good for you! You’re very inspiring.
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May 20th, 2009 at 8:00 am
You’ll rock L&D. Seriously. Your love for babies, mamas, and with your PPD experience you’ll be so sensitive to what’s going on. I applaud your drive! Because all I can drive is the minivan.
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May 20th, 2009 at 8:26 am
That’s great!! Good luck with school. Can’t wait to read all about it!!
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May 20th, 2009 at 8:44 am
So I’m reading down and see paramedic or nurse and my first thought it birth/baby nurse!
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May 20th, 2009 at 9:40 am
That’s amazing! Congrats and best wishes to you, Karen!
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May 20th, 2009 at 10:54 am
I could have used you with me this time last year because my husband and mother were worthless!!! Too busy fighting with each other to help me with labor.
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May 20th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
You’ll make an awesome nurse Karen! Can’t wait to read your school stories. I’m currently in school also, as well as working full-time – which is a requirement of my program (CGA) – and I’ll be done when I’m around 40 too. Maybe 43ish. Hey! Maybe we could go to prom together?
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May 20th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
I think it’s a great idea. I love it and you’re going to be fabulous… but I’ve told you that about a MILLION times.
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May 22nd, 2009 at 8:05 am
I know it’s already been said, but… WOW! Congratulations, I’m so amazed by you.
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May 22nd, 2009 at 10:30 pm
You know, going back to school at your ADVANCED age (lol) is going to surprise you. You will be surprised that, even though the subject matter may be challenging, how easy it is. You know why? Because you are now a big girl who is mature and who knows how to take care of business.
School when we were younger was harder because our brains were full of BOYS! and FRIENDS! and OMG WHY IS SHE SO MEAN TO ME I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS NO WAY SHE SCREWED MY BOYFRIEND! WHAT A SLUT! stuff like that.
You’ll be in school with crazy people like that and you will tolerate them with a little smile and sympathy, and then you will get back to rocking the hell out of those 95+ scores that older students always get. You will annoy the crap out of your young classmates when you come to class prepared and ask intelligent questions and do extra credit because you are so interested in the subject and when you stay late because you can’t tear yourself away.
Trust me on this. I have been there, and it is pretty cool. When I worked on the school paper, my editor was 19. It was funny to take orders from her, but she was a good person and we got along really well.
You’ll do great.
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May 27th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Oh rock on! When can we call you Karen Sugarscrubs?!
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May 27th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I am delighted for you. Good woman!!
The very best of luck to you.
I watched my best friend give birth 16yrs ago, we were both 19. It was amazing, I feel so grateful to her for sharing this with me and her son and I have a special bond.
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June 2nd, 2009 at 10:31 am
Just catching up, but glad to see you’re thinking the RN route. I think you’ll do great – you’re smart enough and you’ve got the right personality to be a nurse!
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June 6th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
You know, I would totally LOVE to be there for someone during labour one day! I really would
Hopefully someone might ask me one day.
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July 19th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
WOWOWOWOW!! Congrats on this incredible decision! I’m so happy and excited for you. Holy sh*t!
.-= Haley-O´s last blog ..Some Days, You Just Have to Pick One. =-.
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February 11th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Hey! Glad you could find me! I’ll definitely write one up for you about NICU- I have a lot of friends there since I work just below them in the PICU.
Anyways, I wanted to write you and say good luck! 35 is the median in my class…you’ll do great! And I agree, being someone’s labor coach is amazing.
.-= Laney´s last blog ..When I Graduate: OR Nursing =-.
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