By Anu Dev
“From the day we arrive on the planet And blinking, step into the sun There’s more to see than can ever be seen More to do than can ever be done.” -Tim Rice, Lion King
I’m currently halfway through my year 5 Obstetrics and Gynaecology rotation, which builds on what we’d done in year 4. I’d always had a greater interest in this area than several others that come to mind, and was looking forward to the repeat. I’m definitely more knowledgeable than I was back then. There’s less of me going, “A speculum? What?” But, of course, there are still those moments where I stare back blankly on rounds when a consultant asks me about something I’d never even heard of before. But, overall, I’m not in the constant state of befuddlement that I’d grown accustomed to last year.
This year, instead of just observing deliveries, we have to actually perform the deliveries under the guidance of a midwife. My first delivery definitely wasn’t as miraculous and profound as I was (naively) expecting. And it all seemed to happen so quickly! The baby’s head was crowning, the mom was pushing, the midwife was quickly telling me where to put my hands, how to grasp the baby, and suddenly there I was, holding this newborn baby in my (thankfully, gloved) hands.
I then quickly had to clamp and cut the umbilical cord, show the mom her baby, wipe the baby down, and attach the baby’s name tags around his ankle. It certainly wasn’t a Simba moment, and it was not because there was no Pride Rock for me to triumphantly present the newborn to the world!!
Even though I’d observed deliveries back in 4th year, I was still surprised by how involved the whole process was. In the back of my mind, I guess I sort of felt like I’d be standing by with a catcher’s mitt and the baby would drop into my waiting hands. So, as you can imagine, I was more than a bit thrown when, there I was, actively pulling this little human into the world.
And the process doesn’t end with the delivery of the baby — that’s only the second stage of labour. The next stage is the delivery of the placenta (the afterbirth). And as part of the “Active management of the third stage of labour”, I had to gently use controlled traction on the umbilical cord to deliver the placenta after I saw the signs that it had separated from the wall of the womb.
After examining the mom to make sure she didn’t have any injuries to the birth canal, and after tidying her up, it was time to inspect the placenta with the midwife. I don’t know, but after getting up close and personal with several placentas now, I really don’t understand the trend of women eating their placentas, claiming the nutrients are helpful. To each her own, I guess!
For my next couple of deliveries, as I grew more accustomed to the process, I could understand and appreciate everything a whole lot more. The sight of a mother holding her baby with so much tenderness and love after the excruciating pain she endured is a sight to behold.
These deliveries of babies have definitely been one of the high points of medical school so far. After my first couple of deliveries, I felt a little bit like running up to random people and telling them, “I just delivered a baby! My hands brought new life into the world!” Thankfully for everyone around, I was able to exercise some restraint. Maybe I’ll still have my Pride Rock moment!