Multiple Causes For Pregnant Pauses
I’m working the overnight obstetric bleep, meaning if any pregnant person in the hospital has an emergency, it goes straight to me. Naturally, it can get quite busy, but not always for the right reasons – people clap eyes on a pregnant person and lose all clinical judgement. I had these three scenarios happen in one night.
Scenario #1:
Me: “Hi, obstetric registrar. I got bleeped?”
A&E Doctor: “Hi, can you come and take a look at this lady in A&E? She’s got a broken arm.”
Me: “…this is the obstetric registrar?”
A&E Doctor: “Yeah, she’s pregnant. Can you tell us what to do?”
Me: “…put it in a cast?”
Scenario #2:
Me: “Hi, obstetric registrar. I got bleeped?”
A&E Doctor: “Hi, can you come and take a look at this lady in A&E? She’s got some abdominal pain.”
Me: “Okay, what’s the pain like?”
A&E Doctor: “I don’t know.”
Me: “Is she bleeding?”
A&E Doctor: “I don’t know, I didn’t ask.”
Me: “Have you examined her abdomen?”
A&E Doctor: “Isn’t that your job?”
Me: “…take a full history and examine the patient, now. I will be having a word with your senior when I get there.”
It turned out she was in premature labour.
Scenario #3:
Me: “Hi, obstetric registrar. I got bleeped?”
Respiratory Doctor: “Hi, can you come and take a look at this lady on the ward? Her blood pressure’s really high.”
Me: *Starting to worry about pre-eclampsia.* “How high?”
Respiratory Doctor: “135/95.”
For reference, normal is 120/80. This is barely raised.
Me: *Internally groaning.* “I’m sure she’s fine, but I’ll come and have a look.”
She was fine and met her on the wards about a month later with a lovely baby girl.