On shortages, Doulas and such :)

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone! Like you all , we've been having a baby boom here in AL

as well. I can't remember having a particularly bad winter, but people were

busy just the same obviously with nearly 400 babies for August. The

nursing shortage has hit us pretty hard as well. The hospital I work for has

started an incentive program paying $10+ extra an hour over scheduled time

for units with 10% or greater shortage. The work is hard, but the extra

money sure is nice!

Working in a Teaching Hospital, we see mostly young underprivledged

girls having babies. I've seen only 3 Doula's in my 4 years as a L & D nurse,

but unfortunately have not been exposed on a one to one basis. We do have

midwives that are quite helpful to their patients for the most part, and have

finally moved into the 20th century (even if a lil late) and have a portable

birthing tub available to their patients that want to use it.

I happened to be watching " A Baby Story " today... I know... It's sort

of like watching ER... Can't keep away from it... even worse, today was a

Marathon. Anyhoo, one of the women had a Doula come in to help her, so

Ladies, hopefully you are getting a little more exposure! Any " tricks of the

trade " you would care to share, I'd love to hear them.

Enough of my rambling...

Have a great Day everyone!

Jenn