'Tis the Season

...to be crazy. I've been laboring under some grand delusion that the "holidays" were supposed to be relaxing and carefree, as suggested by the title "holiday." Instead, they are more work and more stress and more pressure from patients to have their baby/surgery/consultation "right now" so as not to interfere with their holiday plans. There are times that I wish I were an OB that had no qualms about scheduling purely elective inductions. I would have stacked my remaining December patients for induction early in the week, clearing my holiday weekend from pending labor time bombs. Alas, more inductions = more sections. This isn't convenient for anybody.

Wednesday I had 4 scheduled surgeries and two inductions. The first surgery was a 400 pound repeat C-section. Her initial incision was, for some reason, made high on her abdomen, transverse, through the thickest part of her pannus. (We are talking about one foot of fat here, at least.) Due to the increased risk of infection making an incision in a low position under the pannus, we decided to use the same site. To add to the fun, the baby's presentation was transverse back down. We had to rotate kiddo to vertex, then I used a vacuum to gain the proper traction to deliver the baby. Fortunately, I had a seasoned OB as a first assist, and we both struggled with this case. Comparatively, the remaining surgeries progressed in a fairly straightforward manner.

One induction was for post-dates, one was for pre-ecclampsia. In true pre-ecclamptic style, my first induction zipped from 3 cm to pushing in about an hour, max. My second induction never made it past 4 cm and -2 station, as the baby decided it was against this whole labor business and decided to have huge, ugly late decelerations. To the OR we went, and thus I had my 5th surgery of the day.

My parents are in town, and CindyLou is just beside herself with all of the attention being lavished upon her. My mother baked (love you, mom!) and my dad fixed up the Grinch-y Christmas tree so that all of the lights are lit and the star is straight! I addressed all of the Christmas cards this morning (better late than never). Now I have to get myself together, get to the hospital to round and to tell my 39 weeker with gastroenteritis why this is *not* the ideal time for induction (what she wants), what with her puking her guts out and all. Then it's off to brave the last minute crowds to finish up the shopping! I will likely be incommunicado for a bit, with all of the family and holiday and work obligations, but I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years!