What is it like to be with women in labor, day after day? "BABY OUT!" . . this is the famous line that a nurse will utter upon witnessing a birth. Every woman who had a child birth can vividly recall her experiences. She can describe every detail with matching facial expressions, from the physical and emotional changes, to bearing down with anguish and pain and lastly, the feeling of being complete upon seeing the baby for the very first time. Numerous articles and write ups have been published on birth experiences of first time mothers but what about the experiences of the labor and delivery room nurse who is a birth partner everyday as this is an integral role of the profession?

Witnessing the miracle of birth can be an amazing and joyous occasion and a Delivery Room (DR) Nurse is privileged to be part of such experience. As a DR Nurse, I consider it a gift to be part of another woman’s delivery process, a phase of life when the mother is most vulnerable. It is a time when her patience, strength and courage are often tested. It is not always easy to be open-minded when dealing with expectant mothers from all walks of life especially those who are here for the first time. We have to keep in mind that they are in the hospital to have their babies born and our team is entrusted to assist them go through the process. It is a silent dogma for everybody in the Delivery Room to treat every woman with respect and dignity. We should always remember that such respect should emanate from the principle that a woman is God’s instrument to pro creation of mankind.

My skills as a Nurse helps me understand an expectant mother’s situation, where she is coming from, what her strengths and weakness may be and most of all, how I can be of help to her as she encounters a very beautiful experience that is of childbirth. Aside from the technical skills that I have developed, I can also do some comforting measures to ease the pain of labor. In these times, it is imperative for us to understand the need for touch and find a way to comfort them. Hearing a newborn baby cry creates a brand new hope in our hearts and no matter how tired and weary I am, there is always a feeling of relief and success. I feel the satisfaction a woman feels for having successfully crossed over into motherhood.

At the end of my shift, I feel so blessed having witnessed another mystery in childbirth with renewed hope and spirituality.