Hey Y'all!!!
It's been a few weeks since I've had an opportunity to sit still and write my blog and there has been quite a bit going on. Jai is doing much better. Thank you to all of you who called, sent texts/facebook messages/tweets, etc to ask about her. She has officially been labeled an asthmatic and she is now on daily medication instead of just a rescue, inhaled drug. Her biggest concern was getting back to school and she received a warm welcome and a huge card from all of her friends!
I started a new rotation, Labor and Delivery, the Monday after she got out of the hospital. Needless to say, I was terrified as I always am when I switch rotations but I was also very excited! I love delivering babies and that's part of the labor and delivery rotation. We call it the suite, as in the labor and delivery suite. I am the day shift person and it's my job to "run the suite." There is an upper level resident (a 4th year) with me, of course, and my 4th year is AMAZING! She told me that she is basically my consultant; there to help me when I need her. I run my plans by her and takes care of the problems that are way out of my league. She is a wonderful teacher and I have learned a TON from her already! I'm sure most of you are thinking that I'll just be delivering babies all month, but we actually monitor some very sick pregnant women, like those with preeclampsia and maternal traumas, as well as women who are having babies with congenital anomalies. It seemed that all I had was sick patients my first week. It was a little overwhelming but, as I said before, I have a really good 4th year as well as our maternal-fetal medicine fellows/staff and L&D staff who help me to manage those patients.
It's been such a joy to deliver beautiful healthy babies, but I've also delivered some not-so-healthy babies and some who didn't make it after delivery. It further shows me the there are many things that we take for granted, like having healthy children. It definitely makes me count my blessings. Every time I deliver a baby I'm reminded of how wonderful and truly amazing God is! I'm also getting to do a lot of cesarean sections, which I LOVE! I really love to operate and I think that my skills are getting better and better each time. I delivered my first baby during one of my c-sections the other day and I was so excited about it. When I say "delivered" I mean that I was the one who put my hand into the abdomen and actually extracted the baby. I hadn't been able to do it prior to that day, as I feared that I would extend the head instead of flex it and hurt the baby. But with some guidance from my 4th year and staff I wasn't as afraid and just went with it. My hands no longer shake like I've had a 40 ounce bottle of coffee and I think that I'm becoming more confident (but not overly confident) in my skills. I also repaired my first 2nd degree posterior midline laceration last week. As I've said many times before, that's one of the reasons I truly love our program. They throw us right into the mix. While it feels like its "sink or swim" mentality at times, it's a great way to learn and there's always someone there if you need help.
Needless to say, I am really loving what I do. Does it still kind of suck to be an intern? YES! But it's also a pretty awesome experience and I am learning SO much. The learning curve is rather steep but my knowledge base has much more breadth than it had even last month. I'm truly grateful for all of the people who have taken the time to teach me. Some days I feel like my brain is on overload and I wonder how much more I can absorb, but somehow there seems to always be more room for additional gyri on this brain of mine! LOL
I pray that y'all will continue to pray for me; that I'll always do my best to provide the best care I possibly can....and for my sanity!! :-)
Until next time!
Your Favorite MD,
Keisha B.
