I found myself in the middle of a theatrical affair the other day, at the DS (Delivery Suite). It had all the conceivable (no pun intended) complications one could imagine and to top it all, one of the maladroit (note: they are usually very skilled, helpful and kind) midwives tossed the patient’s catheter bag to the side so brusquely in the emergency that the tubes disconnected, spraying me with glorious drops of the patient’s renal rejects (this of course pales in comparison to the petrifying conduct of delivery and all that which followed to save the mother and her unborn child). This was day 1 in Obstetrics and Gynecology. And I was drowning – in more than just the patient’s bodily fluids.

Despite the fact that I don’t fancy OB/GYN one iota, I wanted to give it a chance but this experience had shattered anything else I’d seen so far. I was going through all kinds of emotions after the ordeal; I thought I was going to cry but I didn’t, I unwillingly tasted breakfast in a private party somewhere at the back of my throat, I wanted to close my eyes and go to a happy place (but I couldn’t get my orbicularis oculi to cooperate because I had to make sure both the mommy and baby were okay)….at the first impression: It. Was. Awful. I was an immature teratoma of uninhibited emotions. I didn’t know how to appreciate a feeling before the next one swept over me. I had no time to react or even think before the next big wave of wild and unkempt feelings brutally tossed me about in my own mind.

However, despite the movie-like effect of it all (where one sees all the complications together and the doctors + midwives save the day against all odds), the mommy and baby are doing miraculously well now and I am following them up like a damaged stalker. I applaud them and the fearless OB team! They were really brave.

Have you got what it takes for OB/GYN?

I thought that this was it, that there was no going back from what I saw or felt but later that week, I got to be in the middle of the “perfect” delivery; no complications, commendable antenatal history, the works. My wounds seemed to, quite disbelievingly, heal a bit. Faith felt a little, restored as I basked in the glow of the upside. I appreciated the specialty for everything that it stood for but it didn’t make my feelings about it any easier to tame.

I think one needs nerves of titanium for OB. The DS has to be one of the most abruptly dramatic places in the hospital apart from the ER and OT perhaps. I’ve got newfound respect for this specialty and its people. OB is really special in many obvious ways.

Have you ever been in the middle of such a dramatic day?

NOTE: this blog has been submitted eons ago. The author is currently
unavailable to comment because she is busy fine tuning her (here’s
hoping) kung fu grip for the final showdown that is her final MDs! The
author welcomes your comments but will not be able to reply for the
said reason etc.  She might return after she recovers from the post MD
burn out. No promises as to when that time might be, but patience is
key. She’s really excited about the prospect of becoming an intern
which encompasses tasks like paperwork, prepping for residencies, more
paperwork, fetching the occasional coffee for the residents, some more
paperwork and of course, assisting in the saving of lives!