TPC Birth Stories: When the Doctor Becomes the Patient

I got in the car to drive to the hospital then suddenly realized that I had forgotten my camera. As I searched the house for my Canon, I laughed. How often am I  the one bringing a camera to the delivery? But this wasn’t just any birth.

This was Becky’s baby.

We have a unique friendship.

We had trained together in Ohio. Working side by side, often up to 90 grueling hours per week, we learned the essentials of obstetrics and formed a friendship along the way. Then I coaxed her to Tennessee 6 years ago to join our practice.

She was there at my son Ryan’s birth 8 years ago, acting as the official photographer.  Now, I got to deliver her much anticipated first baby.

My face hurt from grinning all the way to the hospital. I was finally going to find out if this baby was a boy or girl.

As I drove in, I remembered the day that she found out she was pregnant. We had an office full of patients, so I took her in an exam room room for some privacy to tell her the news.

“Your pregnant!” I said.

She began screaming and jumping up and down. Not bouncing, not hopping, I’m talking full fledged tuck jumps with 2 feet of vertical leap.

We jumped and screamed and laughed and cried for about 5 minutes. Then we composed ourselves and attempted to exit the exam room and pretend to be all ‘doctory’ again.

We didn’t fool anyone. The insulation in our office is not that good so everyone had heard our screaming and figured out the good news.

But that’s Becky, she gets so excited about things. It’s so fun to watch her open presents. At her shower, she would exclaim, “Oh, wow! bottles! These are awesome, I love them!”  One would have thought she was getting a diamond ring,  but her enthusiasm is sincere.

As I arrived at the hospital, she was walking the halls as she labored. Smiling and laughing in between contractions. I was here as her friend, who happened to also be her doctor.

Was I nervous? Honestly, yes, a little.

Luckily, everything went perfectly.

When she got to 10 centimeters, she pushed (only 3 times!).  As the baby crowned, we could see tons of thick, curly brown hair.

The baby began to cry immediately. I held her up and took a peek between the squirmy legs.

“It’s a girl!!!” I said.  The moment was surreal.

Then I placed her in her momma’s arms, and dad cut the chewy cord.

Tears were flowing around the room. Mom, dad, grandma, aunt and the nurses were all blubbering.

I might have shed a few myself.

“She’s so cute and perfect!” everyone kept saying. I totally agreed.

Once again, I stood in awe of the miracle of life. My heart was bursting with joy for my sweet friend and her precious gift. I was so honored to be a part of her most perfect moment.

I have delivered thousands of babies, honestly very few do I specifically remember.  This one though,  I will never forget.