Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born

Interesting book by Tina Cassidy. From her book:

"Most dilating women today arrive at the hospital during the late shift, when the staff is reduced and the least experienced doctors are working. More senior obstetricians have the privilege of working business hours, while exhausted residents, living on pizza and donuts and the occasional nap on a cot, attend to the overnight customers. However, the dearth of well-rested, experienced doctors working overnight, and the lack of hospital services that are available only during the day, can have devastating consequences."

"Babies born late at night have as much as a 16 percent greater chance of dying than babies born between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm, a 2005 study found. This spike in overnight infant deaths may be attributed to the quality and number of doctors and nurses during these dark hours."

Cocaine

Admitted a first time mom tonight. Beautiful young lady in active labor accompanied by her mom and sister. We learned from her prenatal records that she had a history of cocaine use but had stated to her physician that she, along with the father of the baby, were "quitting together."
Anticipating a quick progression of her labor, we hurriedly obtained a patent IV, placed her on the monitor, and got her admitted. She had quite a look of panic in her eyes when we told her we needed to draw a blood sample. We became suspicious.

We explained that it was needed by anesthesia in order to place her epidural. She consented.

We asked her to give us a urine sample. She refused, saying she had "just gone." Our suspicions grew stronger.

Once her epidural was placed, we obtained a urine specimen via a straight catheter insertion and the results were as we suspected - positive for cocaine.

I just wanted to ask her - "Was it worth it?" Will it be worth it now that we have to contact Child Protective Services to report the abuse of your unborn child?

Will it be worth it when CPS takes your child away from you?

Will our nursery nurses be strong enough to watch yet another baby withdraw from a drug that it never asked to take?