Theme 1 “pregnancy is not an illness”
The students described pregnancy as a physiological phenomenon rather
than a pathological condition. This is in comparison to the illness and
pathology that is seen in other specialties, which was the only student
experience prior to this placement. Pregnant women represent a healthy
patient population who make an active choice to become pregnant,
highlighting the socially acceptable and often relatable situation of
childbirth. This was a desirable attribute for students considering a
career in obstetrics, contrasting from the illness and pathology seen in
other specialties.
FG1 F2 “Like these patients are more or less generally healthy,
like you’re on a cardio or resp ward where they are quite unwell and you
are trying to help them get better. Here, most people are fine and
hoping for like a normal, like an uncomplicated delivery.”
The students described the subtheme of labour ward being a
“happy environment”, demonstrating this somewhat
unique element of obstetrics, where patients are optimistic and happy to
enter the health service and leave with a healthy baby.
FG2 F4 “It is really nice to have a specialty where like the
majority of it is really positive. And people are happy and you are kind
of there for one of the best moment of their life.”