We’re linking up today with Ooh Amanda’s Top Ten Tuesday. Check out her blog for more fun and practical top ten lists.
10. The First Flicker
When a patient comes in for their first pregnancy visit, I usually do a sonogram. At 6 weeks, when the baby is smaller than a grain of rice, the heart beat is first visible as a tiny flutter. Miscarriages are very common, so I’m always a little nervous for the patient as I turn on the machine, but when that flicker pops up on the screen, both myself and the patient both exhale a little. Sometimes they tear up, other times they smile and stare in wonder at miracle life growing inside them. No matter the patient response, seeing that tiny flicker signifying the beginning of life, makes me grin from ear to ear.
9. Patients Who Follow Directions
Doctors get a lot of flack for being ‘pill pushers.’ I read a recent FB post where a women was complaining that her doctor never talks to her about diet or nutrition, he only prescribes her medication. {Ironically she had posted a picture earlier that day of the giant cheese burger and fries she was eating}. I have the opposite complaint. For every 50 people that I discuss exercise, lifestyle changes or quitting smoking, probably only about 1 actually does it. When I see someone back for their annual and they have quit smoking, finally lost the weight or started exercising it’s all I can do to contain myself from breaking out into a happy dance. It makes me want to hand out gold stars.
8. Surgery
People think of OB/GYNs as delivering babies and doing pap smears all day, but we also do a lot of surgeries: cesarean sections, hysterectomies, laparoscopies, etc. This is something I really enjoy. Surgery is interesting intellectually and fun to do. It’s also satisfying to be able to solve a problem: you have a giant cyst that hurts? I cut it out, you feel better. All done!
7. When an Appointment Type Changes from ‘Discuss Infertility’ to ‘New OB’
We always run a pregnancy test when patients come in for infertility testing. Every once in while it will come up positive. That is always a great day!
6. Relationships
At the beginning of each day I scan my list of patients to be seen that day and some names just bring a smile to my face. I’ve been in practice for almost seven years now, so I have gotten to know some of my patients pretty well. I’ve seen them get married, have a couple babies and watch their babies grow through the pictures they bring in at their visits. When you have taken care of women through 2 or 3 pregnancies you get to know them pretty well. Then, when they come back later for their checkups, it’s so fun to catch up on their lives. I have to watch myself that I don’t get too chatty or I can run behind, but I do really enjoy the relationships I have formed over the years.
5. The Perfect Call
Those of you that already have babies are probably familiar with that slightly panicked feeling you get the first time your baby sleeps through the night. You wake up (on your own), glance at the clock and realize with a shock that it’s morning. “Wait? but I never got up with the baby,” you think as you run to the baby’s room to make sure he’s OK. Did my husband get up with him? Did I sleep too soundly and not hear his cries? Then you see him sleeping peacefully in his crib, and you realize that a wonderful, wonderful thing has occurred: your baby has slept through the night!
I’m on call every 4th night. Most of these nights include middle of the night phone calls and/or deliveries at 4 am. That is fine. That’s my job. I love delivering babies… even at 4 am. But once in a blue moon there is a magical call night. I will awake in the morning with a feeling of slight panic as I check my phone to make sure I didn’t sleep through any calls, only to realize that it was a perfect call. No pages. No babies. Just wonderful precious sleep.
4. Never Being Bored
As a child, one common complaint I had for my mother was, “I’m Bored!” This is not a phrase I have uttered in a long time. This morning as I was eating my cereal, I got a call form the hospital, ” Your patient just arrived and she feels like she needs to push!”. Twelve minutes later I was in a hospital room delivering a baby as I caught my breath, having literally run from the parking lot. I enjoy the variety of things I get to see, and if I am truly honest with myself, the excitement as well.
3. Surprise Gender Births
Growing up I, like everyone else, would watching people have babies on TV shows. The TV doctor (who was always a man) would hold up the baby and say, “Its a Boy!” and the room would cheer. Nowadays, most couples find out the gender of the baby at the ultrasound appointment, so the ultrasound tech is the one who gets to tell the fun news. I feel a little betrayed by TV doctors on this matter. On the rare pregnancy that a coupe has kept it a surprise until birth, I get really excited. I FINALLY get to say, “Its a Girl!” to a room full of cheering family. This is a job I take very seriously and get very excited about. I encourage patients not to find out… but alas they usually don’t listen. However, on the rare occasion they do, it’s really fun.
2. Telling Someone They are Having Twins
There is something so very fun about telling someone they are having twins. They almost always freak out. When you point to those TWO flickers on the ultrasound screen, it transcends all language barriers. People just go into joyful shock. I once had a woman scream so loud that the entire office rushed into the room thinking something was wrong. Sometimes incredulous, joyful laughter occurs, other times they are speechless. Whatever the response it is the best thing ever, well at least the second best…..
1. First Breath
I’ve delivered a lot of babies over the years, but I still love it when the miracle of life happens before my eyes: the baby takes its first breath of oxygen and begins to cry. In those precious moments of birth I have a lot going on, my mind is going through multiple checklists to make sure mom is healthy and doing well. But for a few seconds, as I lay that precious baby in the mom’s arms, I just let myself soak up the parents’ joy and wallow in the miracle of life. I still shed a tear from time to time (especially when the dad starts bawling, that always gets me). I continue to count it a privilege that women honor me by allowing me to be a part of their births.
I have been looking forward to being an obgyn since i was 16. However, I am now in a committed relationship and was wondering if it’s possible to balance it all out. During med school was it hard for people to keep relationships like this? I also wanted to ask about the workload during school and work. I want to be an obgyn, but i also want to keep my family in mind.
I am also curious about what a typical obgyn work schedule is like.
I have been looking forward to being an obgyn since i was 16. However, I am now in a committed relationship and was wondering if it’s possible to balance it all out. During med school was it hard for people to keep relationships like this? I also wanted to ask about the workload during school and work. I want to be an obgyn, but i also want to keep my family in mind.
Glad to enjoy reading that blog. Thanks for sharing with us.
Glad to enjoy this beautiful Blog. Thanks for sharing with us.
I really appreciate you posting this! I love hearing about women/children and their everyday obstetrician lives. Thanks for sharing.
WOW!!! Im 16 and I have been dreaming of being an OB/GYN!!!!! Im just so scared.. For the beginning part. the college part… Dr. Rupe what are some things I should expect going into college?
Loved this post! The love for your job shines thru you every time you come into the room to see a patient ( ME!!) 🙂 We are so blessed to have yo be a part of Madily’s delivery and our growing little peanuts development!!
Hi, Dr. Rupe. I too, like Niel, also aspire to be an OBGYN, although I’m only 15-years-old. Lately, I’ve been reading up on the path to and duties of an OBGYN, and I have to be honest, it frigtened me. The long hours and hard work are not something I’m looking forward too. However, I still find myself drawn to this specific practice more than any other type of medical practice. I read your other list, 8 Worst Things About Being an OBGYN, and while it was hilarious, it also brought some first hand accounts on the reality of this career (though it still failed to deter me). Reading this brought back some of the initial reasons why I want to be an OBGYN and I just want to thank you for taking the time to run this blog. It’ll definitely be something I keep an eye on as I move onto college and med school.
Hi Dr. Rupe I loved reading your post of top 10 things you enjoy about being an obgyn.I am pursueing a career in OBGYN. I am in my first year of college and have recently been honorably discharged from the marine corps. I had the pleasure to see my fiance give birth to our son three months ago. I have many questions about the career. I would love the opertunity to ask you all of my qustions. One major question for me is: How do women feel about a male OBGYN? Are they comfortable, do men do as good of a job as women? which one do most women preffer or does it matter?
First I would encourage you not to get overly focused on a specific medical specialty until you actually rotate through different services as a third year medical student. I was adamant that I wanted to be a family practitioner as an undergrad. It wasn’t until my third year of medical school that I feel in love with OB. Honestly I think the quality of the physician has more to do with compassion and personality than gender. There are a lot of amazing and successful male OB/GYNs. However, in all honesty, I do think it is harder to get yourself established in practice as a man.
wow this stuff is awsome i want to be a ob or gyn when i grow up
Reading this made me remember why Heather Rupe has always been, and will probably always be my favorite doctor that I’ve EVER worked with. I read your 10 reasons and realized that I too share so many of your thoughts (excluding surgeries). You are absolutely amazing and I wish there were more doctors like you (OK Becky, you’re way up there too!!!)Thanks for being so wonderful and doing such a fantastic job. I hope you can always keep this fresh attitude and love for your work, that way you will do women the honor of helping them through all those “female” things for a VERY LONG TIME! Love you and miss you, Donna V.
Donna, you are so sweet. Your comment really made my day. You and the other nurses at Akron City trained me up right! I miss you too.
Even though I gave birth to two beautiful babies, I felt so privileged to be in the delivery room with my daughter and her wonderful doctor and to watch that birth. Wow – I have so much respect for her and for her doctors and all the nurses that were involved. Thank you for choosing your career as an OB/GYN.
Sherlene, What an amazing thing to be there to watch your daughters give birth. I can’t even imagine. Priceless. Thanks for joining us this week!
What a beautiful collection of favorites. I love reading the perspective of an Ob/Gyn. Thank you for doing what you do.
Hi Melanie,
So great to meet you through this link up. Thanks for joining us this week!
Beautiful! Thankful for doctors like you! 😉
Thanks for linking up!
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Thanks Amanda. So fun to link up with you this week!
omg, this post brought a couple happy tears to my eyes. When someone truly enjoys what they do for a living, they usually do a really great job as opposed to someone who just goes through the motions. This post clearly states how much you enjoy your line of work, and frankly, when I get pregnant, I hope I end up with someone just as caring and full of life!
It was also great to read about it from your point of view. I never really thought about how not many people wait to hear the sex of the baby, just something not many people think about.
I hope you have a great day!!!! Thanks so much for writing this, I truly enjoyed reading!
-Samantha
kreativekaring.com
Thanks Samantha. Glad you enjoyed the post. So great to meet you here!
Glad you enjoyed it!