The OBGYN rotation experience was truly a profound one. The greatest challenge I learned was that to work in OBGYN, a medical provider should embody both intellectual and emotional intelligence. The maternal patient is especially vulnerable during this time as both her mind, body, and emotions are on the line. As a provider ensures the medically safe delivery of the baby, he should also be mindful of the patient needs at this time. 

For example, the patients seen at the OBGYN rotation ranged from miscarriage to labor & delivery to elderly women with fibromas. Each of these scenarios requires a separate set of treatment guidelines as well as empathetic skills to manage the patient. In a patient experiencing miscarriage, I found that the simple act holding her hand greatly impacted the difficult process. The patient is typically alone, in a sterile clinic environment, and experiencing significant loss and bodily pains. It can be especially invasive and foreign to have a transvaginal ultrasound in this time and the act of touch will provide her a sense of comfort and reassurance. Furthermore, the patient often needed longer time after the diagnostic procedure to process her emotions and make any necessary phone calls to family members and friends.

In contrast, patients in labor & delivery required both empathy yet firm guidance. It was important that the patient felt she was cared for. At the same time, she needed encouragement and strength to continue pushing during a long and painful process. Her vitals also had to be monitored regularly to ensure both her and the fetus were stable. Medications such as Butorphanol, Oxytocin, Misoprostol, and Magnesium Sulfate could be administered in order to effectively manage her pain, contractions, cervical ripening, or signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia. 

For a patient with fibromas, patience and reassurance was necessary in order to explain the condition to her. These patients were typically terrified as fibromas could present with excessive vaginal bleeding for long periods of time.  As a medical professional, we must explain that bleeding is typical complication of fibromas. However, treatment may not be immediate as medications take time to take effect and surgical interventions need to be cleared.

Another aspect I enjoyed immensely about the OBGYN rotation was the hands on approach. I felt very lucky that our rotation site trusted students to be involved in the process such as performing transvaginal ultrasounds, venipunctures, pap smears, STD cultures, and placental removals. I felt that this rotation allowed me to take what I learned through a textbook, apply it hands on, and thoroughly engrain it in my memory for future practice.