1. Tape a 10 cm strip on the back of your badge. It gives you a quick reference for cervical checks.
2. Belly bands (abdominal binders) hold fetal monitors in place when you can't keep a clean tracing.
3. Double insertion for a misplaced Foley. If the first catheter ends up in the vagina, leave it as a landmark, then aim higher with a second catheter. The first one blocks the wrong path and your odds of a urine flashback go up on the second try.
4. Hydrogen peroxide pulls out blood stains. Rub it on with a cotton ball or gauze until the blood lifts.
5. Baby spitup on fabric? Rinse with water, scrub with baking soda, launder as usual. No stink, no stain.
6. Padsicles. Pad, ice pack, Tucks, and Dermoplast. Your postpartum vaginal deliveries will thank you. For home, tell them to add witch hazel and aloe vera gel to a pad and freeze it for pain relief after discharge. ACOG backs short bursts of cold to the perineum, about 10 to 20 minutes at a time with a break between, as most useful in the first 24 to 72 hours after birth (ACOG).
7. Nauseous patient and no antiemetic order yet? Have them smell an alcohol swab while you get the resident on the phone. This is not just folklore: a randomized trial in Annals of Emergency Medicine found inhaled isopropyl alcohol cut nausea scores more than inhaled saline (PubMed).
8. Weighing a newborn boy, lay a piece of gauze over the diaper area so you don't get sprayed.
9. Flavored ice keeps an NPO laboring patient happier. Check the order first, since ACOG says people in uncomplicated labor can usually have modest amounts of clear liquids, not just ice (ACOG).
10. Put baby lotion on a wipe to lift those first sticky meconium stools off the skin.
New to L&D? These will get you started. Seasoned OB nurses always have a few more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are padsicles safe for postpartum perineal pain?
Yes, cold therapy is a standard comfort measure. ACOG recommends applying cold to the perineum for about 10 to 20 minutes at a time, with a break between applications, and it helps most in the first 24 to 72 hours after a vaginal birth.
Does smelling an alcohol swab really help nausea?
It can. A randomized controlled trial in the emergency department found that inhaling isopropyl alcohol lowered nausea more than inhaling saline, so the bedside trick has real evidence behind it. It is a bridge until an ordered antiemetic is available, not a replacement for one.
Can a laboring patient have anything besides ice chips?
In uncomplicated labor, usually yes. ACOG supports modest amounts of clear liquids such as water, pulp-free juice, and sports drinks. Solid food and particulate fluids are still avoided, and you follow the patient's specific orders and anesthesia plan.
Why insert a second Foley without removing the first when it lands in the vagina?
The misplaced catheter marks the wrong opening so you can aim the second one higher toward the urethra. You remove the first one once the second is correctly placed and you see urine return.
Are belly bands an acceptable way to hold a fetal monitor?
An abdominal binder can help keep external monitors in position when you are losing the tracing on a moving or larger patient. It is a practical aid, not a fix for a poorly applied transducer, so reposition the transducer first.
Is hydrogen peroxide the best way to lift blood stains from fabric?
It works well on fresh blood because it breaks down the proteins, which is why nurses reach for it. Rinse with cold water first, since hot water sets a blood stain.