KEVIN: How is Babby Formed

A large portion of my OB/GYN rotation was obviously spent with pregnant women, who spend a lot of time preparing for baby, either at the hospital, or at Babies R Us, or working, until baby becomes #1 priority. How anyone could assume that responsibility was and is beyond the understanding of my Y chromosome. What if you accidentally eat a tuna sandwich or forget your folate one day? What if your boss has a pretty, young, not pregnant thing ready to replace you if your well check takes too long? What if you trip on a pebble and fall on your tummy, your arms too slow and edematous to lessen the impact? The end product of the pregnant state, once emerged, serves to chronicle your performance during the most stressful 40 weeks of your life. And then you have to raise the thing. Ugh.

My mom, a 5 foot, 95 lb woman, proudly volunteered that I was born via vaginal delivery, 8 lbs 8 oz at 41.3 weeks. Although never spoken, the insinuation was that childbirth forever delegates women as the stronger gender. I realized that I was perfectly comfortable with this arrangement.

I waylaid my cynicism after I laid hands on a fresh, sterile, stinky newborn baby, simultaneously the ugliest and yet the cutest thing. A hundred billion have mostly turned out okay so far, largely devoid of input from men. So I hereby accept my responsibility of foot massages, back rubs, home cooked dinners, and, of course, adherence to ACOG guidelines in pregnant care.

1. Internal Medicine
2. Emergency Medicine
3. Pediatrics
4. Psychiatry
5. Dermatology
6. Family Medicine
X. Ob/Gyn
X. Anesthesiology
X. General Surgery
X. Radiology