I Delivered My Last Baby Today

This morning, after a 30 year career, I delivered my last baby. It was planned, it was intentional and it was emotional. Delivering babies is not easy. Deciding to stop delivering them is not easy either.

I delivered my first baby as a third year medical student, when a midwife noticed my excitement at being placed in the delivery room. She also noticed that I was trying to make myself invisible, as is the job of third year medical students; to get out of the way while also somehow doing all the work that is thrust upon you (even if you have no idea how to do it.) This midwife was encouraging her patient gently but firmly to push with every contraction, and the delivery was imminent. I could see the baby’s hair. She told me, “Put on some gloves and come over here.” I did as I was told. She told me to sit on the rolling stool at the edge of the bed, and when the baby started to emerge (and I started to internally freak out) she put her hands over mine and showed me how to safely and slowly guide that baby out, place it on the mom’s belly, and quietly savor the moment. I was hooked. I made a decision. Obstetrics was to be my specialty.

I have never looked back, and have never doubted that this is the only medical specialty that I should have considered. The road was rough. I had two pregnancies and two deliveries while in medical school; I went through residency…