As an OB, we are involved in the single most intimate and amazing experience most people have - childbirth. There is a huge amount of trust placed in us - we are allowed to see and touch areas most people aren't. I am the first person to reach out and touch a new person as the baby is pushed towards extrauterine existence. I guide the shoulders out and in the same movement swing the baby onto Mom's belly - just inches from where he resided hours earlier.
And as a doc in a small town, we frequently care for the whole family. Sisters who are pregnant at the same time. New cousins. We hysterectomize the soon-to-be grandmother during her child's pregnancy (in time to allow her to help with the newborn). A new patient will come in and say "You delivered so-and-so's baby. She's my cousin/sister/friend/neighbor." It's an interconnecting web of humanity and I am merely one strand.
And I've been here in town long enough to start doing repeaters. That is the true mark of trust - letting you be there again. Allowing you to enter a sacred time again. Trusting in your ability to do a c-section - again.
This is why I still do what I do, despite whining about call, despite the hours, despite the crazy patients. Because there is still lots of beautiful things about being an OB.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Beautiful post. It's nice to revisit what drew us in to the field in the first place!
I think your blog is great, and I would like to feature you on the new Wellsphere. We feature only the best health bloggers on our WellPages, which are special pages that our Health Knowledge Engine crafts to give our users answers to their health questions. We would feature you on all the pages on topics that our knowledge engine finds are related to your blog postings. Because we have over 2 million visitors each month (and we are growing rapidly), you would benefit from an expanded audience for your writings. If you would like us to feature you, send me an email to Dr.Rutledge@wellsphere.com
Cheers, Geoff
Post a Comment