Dear Labor and Delivery Nurses,
On behalf of all us mamas who delivered at your hospital, thank you! This one post during National Nurses Week is to honor and applaud all that you do.
We know your job is exhausting. We know your shifts are long. We know many people don’t see how much you do. We know you may feel like you fade into the background behind the anesthesiologists and obstetricians. But to us, you are front and center.
You are the unsung heroes.
You are rock stars.
You are angels.
You are incredible.
No matter the circumstances surrounding our labor and delivery, we are needy patients.
We push the call button for a variety of reasons. We sometimes forget you are one person, and there are many of us you are helping at one time. We can get obnoxious as we wait, but you run in as fast as you can, with a composed face, showing no signs of being flustered or frustrated. (We should call upon that skill when we rush into our kids’ rooms and tend to their exhaustive bedtime needs).
Throughout the entire process, we are self-conscious. We feel raw and unattractive. You do not see a crime scene as you clean our beds and bodies. You are gentle and patient, treating us with the same care we will extend to our children when they are bruised and bloody.
You meet us at our most vulnerable, but you make us feel like the strongest women.
We scream and cry, believing we are going to fall apart from the inside out. You cheer us on and grip our hands, convincing us that our sounds are those of a warrior who is ready to rally again. You convince us that our bodies are fierce and capable of withstanding the battle that will ensue for the next several minutes or hours. You help us continue fighting. You’re there, gently re-positioning our bodies into optimal delivery poses. You’re there, gently talking us through the surgical procedure.
It is your eyes and your voice that reassures us.
You remind us of the victory that awaits. How we will be hearing our babies scream and cry soon enough. You are there when we meet our newest family member, and you witness how our life changes.
Later that day, you will push us to the postpartum wing. You will share your notes with our new maternity nurse. We will say our goodbyes. You will say congratulations again, and we will say thank you again.
The cards, treats, and flowers we give you are a small gesture of our immense gratitude and appreciation. Please know you are remembered long after we drive away from the hospital.
