-or- Eight weeks to learn it all?
Of course I would never pretend to actually be able to learn all about life in eight weeks. But starting today I have eight weeks to learn all I can about the miracle that is the creation and formation of a new life. Wow, eight weeks. Should be fast, could be fun.
And I am scared.
Today I began my eight week OB/Gyn rotation. Certainly I won't become an expert by any stretch of the imagination in that time. In fact I will probably have no choice but to learn just enough to do well on the wards and the boards (ooh, I rhymed!). But there is a part of me that thinks this could be a really great experience.
Make no mistake, I have no intentions of going into OB/Gyn. Not because I have anything against it, but because I think I have found where I fit, and it lies elsewhere. But having the opportunity to partake in the miracle that is the birth of an infant is exciting. I have been there for our two. I made sure I was involved, went to all the appointments, went to the Lamaze classes, was my wife's labor coach through it all (she rocks, did them both completely without anesthetic! She amazes me on a daily basis!) and just had a wonderful experience.
Unfortunately many of my classmates don't feel the same way. In fact, one of them mentioned that "[he was] a guy, so [he] can't go into OB". Did I miss something there? Others mentioned how horrible they thought it would be. Sure, the hours are rough, you have to give lots of pelvic exams, and have cranky residents. But you get to be one little cog in the wheel of new life. Families will be formed there in the room, and they will be kind enough to let me put my hands in there. How can I not appreciate that?
So I plan to.