Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Special Delivery!

I delivered my very first baby tonight! And even though I don't get to take it home, like most people who post about delivering a baby, I got to be right there in the trenches. I got to check the cervix, monitor the labor progress, don the sterile gloves and gown, and have my hands right there when the baby was crowning. It is more elegant than I ever thought possible. Then I got to suction the baby and hear him cry for the first time, clamp the cord, deliver the placenta, and draw the cord blood. The mom was such a trooper, she didn't have an epidural, and this was her very first pregnancy. She was such a pro!

These are the days when I am reminded why I am in school. The miracle of it all. A little perspective can make it all worthwhile. So tomorrow when I am in the nursery helping with his newborn exam, studying pathology won't seem like such a burden after all.

I can't wait for that moment when I am the mom and that is our baby. I won't even mind if a medical student needs to learn on me, because the first time is a once in a lifetime experience.

7 comments:

Kami said...

Being there for a delivery is always amazing. It is such a miracle every time. I absolutely love to be priviledged to such sacred events. That's why I work with babies :) And when it's your own, boy, words can't describe. Jon and I both cried like crazy when Amelia was born.

Eevi said...

Lindsay, that is so cool! In an ideal world, I would love to be an OB/GYN and deliver these precious babies into this world. I'm so glad you got to part of it. What a lucky mom to have such a caring and good medical student with her:) Not only are you going to be a fabulous doctor, but one day a fabulous mom!!

Dani said...

Lindsay! so cool! good job with that.

Bert and Benton said...

COOL!!!

Kat Clark said...

That is so awesome! When Michael delivered his first baby we had like 30 pictures of him and the baby locked on our digital camera for months. He was so proud he didn't want to erase it! You would have thought it was our first child. :) Yay for you and your amazing decision to go to medical school and be awesome.

Leann said...

So my doctor didn't make it for my delivery, and it was my nurses first delivery and she was amazing! I never would have guessed. (I mean, she'd been there tons when the doctor had delivered, but her first time running the show) I will always remember her!

Brittany Cornett said...

my secret dream is to be a midwife one day. that is so cool to see it from another perspective. I dont mind if my family takes pictures of me delivering (as long as they dont show anyone and erase them later) but I like to see how amazing it is. I still cant believe how are woo hoos can stretch like that!