OB stories

My month at the army base is nearing a close. Unlike first thought, I don't have even xanga access while I'm there. Thus the long entry.

My call on Thursday was a day of highs and lows. In the morning we had a 41 year old woman pregnant for her 9th time. She had 7 children already at home.  Although she was at her due date, the baby was still lying sideways. This was just too dangerous to allow to continue, so she was able to choose either a c-section or a "version" (AKA we attempt to turn baby from the outside).  She choose the version.  So, with about 10 people on hand, outside the hospital room, ready for an emergency c-section, another doctor and I went in to try this procedure.

At the bedside was an ultra sound machine and heart monitor. We lathered up her belly with gel. I then felt for the feet and rear end and pushed counter clockwise as the other doctor found the head and pushed down/counter clockwise.  With all our might we pushed, as the patient moaned from the pain.  The room was silent and all waited with heightened anticipation. After about 30 seconds there was a shift, we paused and took the US probe to check. The baby had moved quite easily! "We're done" we announced, as the room exploded in applause and excitement.  It was much too easy - and not supposed to go so smoothly. 

We immediately started the induction, and a few hours later, very naturally, I delivered a 10lb 6 ounce baby from mom, who choose the hand/knee position to deliver. I had just cleaned up mom, and was leaving when the nurses told me about the next room I was to go see.

A 20 year old male was in the ER that morning, and had just been diagnosed with renal cancer. It had spread to his liver and bile duct, and looked very, very bad. They had decided to fly him out to Walter Reed in Washington DC the very next morning. All this was coming so fast, and with less than a day left, the ER docs asked what were some requests he had. 

"I have two requests" he uttered, "to see my unborn child, and have one last home cooked meal". 

My role was to perform the ultrasound for his wife, him mother and himself so that they could see their child for the first and maybe last time.

As you can imagine, a completely different environment from the one I was leaving. The new diagnosis was heavy in the room, but the excitement to see their little child was competing for space. Ironically the wife was exactly as far along as me - the images for them, so similar to the images I had done on myself. They couldn't soak up enough of their little one's movements; kicking legs and arms, twisting and turning.  We printed some pictures for him to take with him.

I prayed silently that he'd be able to see his child in person in November. Until then he'll have these movie like images in mind.

It was hard to quit the ultrasound, but the nurses informed me there were other patients waiting. Puts everything into perspective, moments like this.