During my OB/GYN rotation, I spent two weeks in the clinic, one week on the GYN service, and two weeks in labor & delivery, with one of those weeks being night shifts. This rotation provided a wide array of experiences and learning opportunities. I attended lectures that covered key topics such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and third-trimester bleeding. Additionally, I participated in grand rounds every Wednesday, where I learned from reviewing cases and discussing complications and improvement strategies.

In the clinic, I worked closely with a PA each day, following their patient list. I became comfortable performing routine prenatal visits, measuring fundal heights, and using a Doppler to detect fetal heart sounds. During L&D week, I assisted in numerous vaginal deliveries and c-sections. I also drew blood from the umbilical cord prior to the delivery of the placenta. Throughout the day, I performed magnesium checks for preeclampsia patients and participated in interviewing patients in the triage rooms, further developing my skills in OB history taking. One experience I will always remember is delivering a stillborn at 39 weeks. It was a very emotional and challenging delivery to take part in, but enhanced my ability to offer support and show compassion to a mourning family.

Overall, I valued the variety of experiences and procedures, which increased my confidence in presenting patients and performing focused physical exams. My skills in OB/GYN history taking were notably enhanced. I hope to use these skills on my last rotation – IM at North Shore University Hospital.

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