I wish I could say that it feels great to be done with the first block of my last semester in Kirksville, but seeing as the exam this morning went terribly, I think I will wait until I get my grades to make any final decisions.

I’m sure I did better than I think, but I just really didn’t feel like taking an exam this morning and halfway through the second section I realized that I just didn’t care.  I wanted to be done with the exam.  It felt like every other question was about a pregnant patient with some sort of fetal distress.  How should I know if she needs a c-section or not?  Gah…it was a long morning.

It is always rough judging how difficult new courses will be, and oftentimes the first exam is the worst one since I’m not quite sure how to study the subject.  I am glad the exam is over.  I should probably do some boards studying with my free afternoon, but I’m opting for a nice nap instead.

I hope that we are done with Womens’ Health labs after this block.  We only had about four, and they consisted of normal birth, c-section, forceps/vacuum, breech, and shoulder dystocia deliveries.  I think under normal circumstances I might enjoy them better, but with my own looming labor and delivery, it was really more information than I needed to know.

I really thought I would enjoy Womens’ Health more because I’m pregnant, but really I don’t think it changes anything.  I still find the class interesting, but I have realized that it really is geared towards future doctors and not future moms.  I was so excited to learn about epidurals and anesthesia because I thought it would help me in my own decision making, but we really just learned how it works and what the side effects are.

The problem is that I am in this weird in-between area where what I learn in medical school is a little too technical, but what I find on baby websites is way too “dumbed down.”  I think I am just turning into a difficult patient.  My doctor is going to be annoyed when I start asking about mechanisms of actions and side effects of various drugs instead of just taking them at their word.

It is what it is I guess.  I’m still trying to figure out a birth plan.  Not to mention a plan for rotations.  It is really hard to plan around having a baby.  I mean, it seems easy, but everything is going to get messed up if this baby comes a few days early or a few days late.  I’m hoping to get a full 2-weeks of rotations in before my due date and then take four weeks off.  I guess I better start praying now for a punctual baby.  If he/she is anything like me, we won’t have a problem!

And, of course, I have to figure out how/when to make up the four weeks I’ll be missing.  It’s a work in progress.  It basically means I will have to use some of my “vacation” time over the next two years and maybe take a few extra weeks at the end of fourth year after all my classmates have finished.  Either way, it is do-able, and I will still graduate on time.

Anyway, it’s too cold in Missouri.  All I can think about is how nice and warm it will be in Arizona at this time next year…