She was a very young woman. She was admitted in the hospital because her very first pregnancy had ended in a missed abortion. A missed abortion is one in which an early pregnancy dies and the dead fetus is retained in the uterus. This is not a text book definition, but it will do. She was to be subjected to an operation called D&C, for evacuation of the dead products of conception. When we reached her during the ward round, she was sitting on her cot, her head down. Her mother or mother-in-law was standing near her.
"Sir, this patient is a primigravida ...."
While my Registrar was telling us about this patient, I happened to see what the patient was doing. She had her ultrasonography plate in her hand, and she was looking at the plate very intently. She was so engrossed with it that she did not even notice us.
"See what she is doing" I whispered to our Associate Professor.
"She is looking at the picture of her unborn baby that is no more" the Associate Professor murmured.
I developed a lump in my throat and could not trust myself to say anything right then.
"Sir, this patient is a primigravida ...."
While my Registrar was telling us about this patient, I happened to see what the patient was doing. She had her ultrasonography plate in her hand, and she was looking at the plate very intently. She was so engrossed with it that she did not even notice us.
"See what she is doing" I whispered to our Associate Professor.
"She is looking at the picture of her unborn baby that is no more" the Associate Professor murmured.
I developed a lump in my throat and could not trust myself to say anything right then.
