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Medical Student at my OB's office yesterday

jessknelljessknell member
in 3rd Trimester

I went in for my 38 week OB appointment yesterday and my doctor had a medical student with her.  He was learining how to measure fundal height.  First off he had boney little ice cubes for hands and he couldn't find my pubic bone which is sore as hell since LO dropped! So he just kept poking and proding and jabbing at my lower pelvis while it took all my strength not to sit up and kick him in the nuts and ask him how that feels!

I understand med students need to learn somewhere but it's not fair to subject a 9 month, very uncomfortable, pregnant woman to a trainee!

I should have said something to my OB but I didn't so I'll just vent about it here!

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Re: Medical Student at my OB's office yesterday

  • goldenleavesgoldenleaves member
    That would bug me too, they should ask if it's okay with you first. I would've at least said, "Wow, your hands are freezing!" and hoped he got the hint to try to warm them up or something!
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  • jessknelljessknell member
    I totally should have said something about his hands but I really just had my jaw clamped shut to avoid yelping in pain! UGH!
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  • ibisibis member

    I'm surprised they didn't ask you first.

    I had students at my 32 wk u/s and my last OB appointment. Both did a good job. I actually liked having the student at my OB appt because I felt like the doctor spent more time talking about my body and the baby and letting me ask questions, partly for the student's benefit. 

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  • sarajo317sarajo317

    imagegoldenleaves:
    That would bug me too, they should ask if it's okay with you first. I would've at least said, "Wow, your hands are freezing!" and hoped he got the hint to try to warm them up or something!

    this.

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  • NELCORPNELCORP
    That sucks. I would hae told them no to a trainee. They should have asked you first.
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  • sarajo317sarajo317
    I also had an u/s tech student come in on my 21 week u/s - but they did ask if it was alright.. and then while the dr went to read the u/s - they asked me if she could practice and get some measurements.. i didnt mind.. and was thankful that they asked!
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  • Luv-a-BugLuv-a-Bug
    I've only had a resident/student come in once, and it was to use the doppler.  I didn't mind it.
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  • justbdais4justbdais4
    It is very strange they did ask first. I was asked at my first appointment if a student could come in and observe. I didn't mind and it was nice to have her there when I started bawling when I heard my baby's first heartbeat. Both my DH and the doctor (who is male) stared at me and she jumped around to find me a tissue.
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  • momtogavinmomtogavin

    Well, they clearly should have asked first. However, I've been in that medical student's position (what feels like a hundred years ago). Think of it this way--your doctor was a trainee at some point and learned from patients like you who were patient with the process. Actually touching patients is the only way to learn some things. Taking a fundal hight is easiest on a really pregnant woman, where it's obvious where the uterus ends. He can't help that his hands were bony. He could have warmed them up, but I imagine he would have been happy to if you asked. 

     

    I think the only part of this that's a question of fairness is being asked before being seen by a student. But again, you benefit as a patient from having a doctor who trained on patients and I figure we all owe it to the system to allow students to be involved in our care within reason.  And yes, I had a resident involved in my last delivery as it was precipitious and have had students see me at several OB appointments for this one. 

    Lucky mom of Gavin 11.23.05, Ella 4.26.08, Henry 2.4.10, and Liam 8.8.11. Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker <a href="http://s1135.photobucket.com/albums/m639/mollymoell er/?action=view
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