Sleepless in Seattle. Again.

Well wouldn't you know it that on the night after my crazy OB call night one of my own patients decides to go into labor. This patient of mine is a lovely 20 something Chinese woman, pregnant with her first baby, a week beyond her due date, and wanting no interventions whatsoever to bring her baby into this world before it decides it is high time. I saw her name pop up on my schedule yesterday afternoon for "pain" and thought, "Oh, some prodromal labor. At least something is happening." Though I dreaded the thought of having to explain that her intermittent contractions could go on for days.

She arrived in clinic with her usual entourage of family members, looking not a lick like she was in pain or in labor. Apparently she started feeling some discomfort yesterday morning, and was feeling contractions about every 15 minutes (ho-hum). I checked her cervix and to my utter dismay found her to be 7 cm dilated and nearly completely effaced. I happily sent them along to the hospital to be admitted by a certain fantastic male colleague and former co-resident of mine.

After admitting my patient, Dr. Dreamy (as I will call him for anonymity sake) called a little later to tell me my patient was much more uncomfortable but not wanting any pain meds. Fast forward 7 hours... quite uncomfortable, equally stoic as before, no pain meds, and completely dilated, starting to push.

Although at this point it was late into the night/early into the morning, I figured I'd head over to the hospital and swoop in for the catch. Fast forward 2.5 hours of pushing, unmedicated, entourage still at the bedside cheering their heads off with every push, though stealing curious glances at me and whispering "why is this taking so long?!" out of earshot from the patient. Finally, a screaming baby boy decided to make his appearance, with the most impressive cone head I've seen in a good long time, weighing in at 8 lb 12 oz (for a 120 lb woman, mind you). And despite some minor cries of pain with crowning, my patient remained impressively stoic and calm. Even as her 4th degree laceration was repaired (yikes). She is my hero. And I am officially terrified of childbirth.