Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Gratitude

With the approaching holiday season, I like many will stop and reflect on all things happy and for which I have gratitude. Of course, I am grateful for my family, our good health and our home. I am very grateful for my job. Though not for the reasons some would think. Yes, it's nice to have income in a time when so many are struggling to find jobs. My reason for gratitude with my job goes beyond income, it comes from the feeling of satifaction and happiness that moments in my job give me...

One such moment in particular has been a pleasant surprise to me. I became a midwife so that I could be a bigger part of a woman's journey into motherhood. While I enjoy the moment of birth and the awe of the first glimpse of the baby, I have found being a midwife gives me a glimpse into what I feel is an even more amazing moment. Hearing the heartbeat for the first time.

My favorite OB appointment with my patients has become the 10-12 week visit. As a student, I don't think I had these moments as I usually encountered patients mid-way into their pregnancies so that I would be able to attend their births. Now that I have been with my practice for a few months I have had the privilege of return visits from the very beginning.

There is something almost magical about hearing a baby's heartbeat for the first time. The anticipation on the parents' faces speaks volumes as the doppler moves slowly across a still flat belly in hopes of hearing the faint sound of a small heartbeat. When that sound is finally heard, fast and strong, the reactions are amazing. In that brief moment, all is right with the world as parents and midwife alike share a thoughtful silence to better hear the new heartbeat. It's like a moment of hope and peace, for new beginnings. I love the laughter, the smiles, words of praise and the tears of joy. Sometimes I feel intrusive, like I'm stealing a private moment of happiness that isn't mine. Fortunately, my patients don't view it this way and for that I am grateful.

God Bless and Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Undercover "Boss"

It all began the Friday before Halloween. Many of the office staff were dressed up in various costumes including Waldo, a butterfly fairy and a few other costumes of sorts. Of course keeping with professionalism but still fun nonetheless. One of our doctors walked by me, in *gasp* "nurses" scrubs with a stethoscope around her neck. She was not wearing her white lab coat, so thinking it was purposeful, I asked, "Are you supposed to be a nurse?" She stopped, looked astounded and wondered why I would think such a thing. Well. Let me tell you..doctors typically wear dingy, blue scrubs that don't fit anyone with a white lab coat that practically screams, "I'M A DOCTOR!" That day she was wearing black (cute) drawstring scrub pants with a hot pink and black fitted scrub top. Much like I wore during my short stint at Centerpoint Medical Center. She didn't think that she looked like a nurse and I chuckled to myself as I knew the "fun" she would have dressed "like a nurse." I playfully "warned" of what to expect being dressed as a nurse..such as being asked to find a chart..etc. I don't think she believed me. Okay, this should be interesting...

Well I was not disappointed...One day, this doctor was mistaken for a nurse while a disgruntled patient, upset with her care at another location came to us..she assumed Doc was a nurse and decided to confide in her how much she disliked most doctors..Fortunately, this doctor was able to laugh it off and shared a chuckle with the patient when the truth came out. Then she was given a chair to sit on in a patient's recovery room after a very long surgery and got an odd look from one of the staff members. He remarked,"Oh, I thought you were a nurse.." (Remember, nurses aren't allowed to sit, pee or eat.)

It does go both ways, however. When I wear those dingy, blue scrubs and my white lab coat, I am sometimes referred to as "Doctor." This happens most while I am making rounds on patients that I had not met in the office. I am always quick to correct them as I am NOT trying to be a doctor nor do I wish to be. But as my doctor got to glimpse these past few weeks, dressing like "a nurse" is not always ideal...especially when she got handed a dirty diaper by a patient while making rounds the other day. She was astounded that anyone would hand a dirty diaper to a nurse to throw away..yep, nurses get to clean up all the yucky messes.

So I will continue to wear my dingy, blue "doctor" scrubs, but will never forget how hard I worked to get here and how hard (and sometimes under-appreciated) nurses work. Meanwhile, my doctor continues be the "undercover boss." Can't wait to hear of her adventures..