Difference A Day Makes

One day is crazy ~ the next is much more manageable...

Today we did 8 deliveries.

Somehow the 10 we did the other day seemed so much worse...

And we did more c/sections today, (4 c/sections and 4 vaginal deliveries). which takes more man power to get done...so why is it that the days were so different? We were talking about it at work today...I think it has to do with outpatient visits and just the sheer number of patients that are on the unit. We always say that there should be a way to even things out so that things were always nice and smooth instead of crazy one day and manageable the next. Any ideas on how to do that??

What a difference a day makes!!

On a different note...I saw this posted on another nurse blog that I read

and I thought...'that looks barbaric"...but in the spirit of being open minded I thought I'd check it out. You know do a little research on the product...see if it is legit.

It is called a "CervoCheck" and it's purpose is to monitor for preterm labor.

It has been developed by some students at John Hopkins University.

BabyMed.com had this to say about the product:

"Johns Hopkins Students Design Cervical Monitor for Premature Labor Detection

Preterm labor detection commonly relies on an exterior device that picks up contractions when attached to the abdomen. With more than 500,000 premature births being recorded each year, obstetricians are constantly on the lookout for improved means of detecting preterm labor earlier in hopes of stopping labor before baby is born. A group of Master’s degree students from Johns Hopkins University set out to change how contractions were recorded and in the process created a viable solution that could change how babies are born.

CervoCheck is the device created by the student team. The device is implanted in the vagina with three probes contacting the cervix and vaginal walls where contractions are strongest. The device has been tested in animals and successfully recorded preterm contractions. The idea behind the device came when students were doing rounds in an obstetrical unit in search of ways to better the patient care experience.

Since the development of CervoCheck, the students have won numerous awards. All have since graduated with their Master’s degrees. Two of the students are currently working to promote CervoCheck, one is going to medical school and the final student took a job in the health technology field.

CervoCheck has yet to start human trials, but the team is working with doctor’s at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. With additional funding, the team hopes to soon offer CervoCheck for use in a clinical setting across the United States and abroad."

Source: Phil Sneiderman - John’s Hopkins University - 21 July 2010

Now, keep in mind, that I do agree that pre-term births are on the rise and that we do need to do something to help mommies stay pregnant. (more on my thoughts on deliveries before 39 weeks will be coming in another post). The March of Dimes is doing great work on helping to prevent pre-term births and all of the sequel surrounding that.

But I am not so sure that this little gadget is the answer...

Just thinking of walking around, or even being on bedrest with that gadget stuck up in me is not something that sounds so appealing.

Will it stimulate contractions by being so close to the cervix??

Should we always count on 'technology' to detect things? - I know that technology often fails us in labor...good ole hands and eyes assessments are so much better.

It is an interesting idea though~

Debbie