Fertility blues may take a toll on the mindset in addition to personality of the individual in case proper care and understanding in the family is inadequate feels Maureen Muoneke a popular gynecologist who has been instrumental for treating quite a few women during the past.
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Keeping pregnancy blues at bay with maureen muoneke md
1. I still remember the day Rebecca entered my office. She was one who had
lost her confidence and was in deep trouble. The very fact that she was not
able to conceive even after 5 years of marriage was taking its toll not only
physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Rebecca had been a chirpy
individual full of life during her college days as told to me by one of her
friends who are known to me and on whose reference Rebecca was meeting
me.
Emotional Support a Must according to Dr. Maureen Muoneke
While sitting in my clinic I was able to comprehend the state of mind that
Rebecca was going through. She broke down several times. The fact that she
was not able to conceive in itself was there on her mind however the lack of
emotional support from the society and family was something that was
really taking a toll on this young lady.
2. Being a Doctor and having studied a bit of Human psychology I was able to
comprehend that although she was being supported by her family in
meeting new doctors however no one was there when she needed a shoulder
to cry. She cried but in isolation. Today she had a shoulder i.e. Dr. Maureen
Muoneke's. Since, I understand the emotional, physical and mental
upheavals one undergoes during this phase of life.
Emotional and Mental Support Along with Medical Treatment - Dr.
Maureen Muoneke MD
I was able to comprehend that Rebecca's problem was more related to the
emotional and mental stress, the anxieties that had taken over in her quest
to become pregnant we conducted a series of tests which were all
normal, there was no obvious indication that she couldn’t get achieve or
carry a pregnancy.
The problem with Rebecca was that she was emotionally unstable and
would not trust any doctor or physician with any of their treatments. She
had built a notion that she was infertile and will never be able to bear a
child.
3. This is where we won the battle. Since one of Rebecca’s friends was known to me she
had this deep sense of belief in me. I was able to build on that trust, and made her talk
to some of my past patients who had benefitted after treatment with me in the past.
This was a big boost to the trusting relationship I was trying to build with Rebecca. I
explained to her the a possible problem why she was not able to conceive. She had a
minor thyroid disorder. She was averse to taking medications. Her deep aversion for
medications was evident when she flatly refused to have any of the prescribed
medicines I had prescribed for her. She was ready for surgery but no medicines please
she told me.
This was something quite surprising even for me since patients presented reactions
that were quite the opposite that Rebecca had. Half an hour of counseling and making
her understand the use of medicines & of surgery depended on the nature of the
problem; unindicated surgery can only hurt not help, each had its own indicators, with
associated risks and benefits. What was thr root cause of Rebecca’s aversion? However
I was not finished as yet and desired to meet her husband.
Rebecca’s husbands along with Rebecca’s Mother in law were waiting for me the next
day in my clinic the very next day after meeting Rebecca. They knew Rebecca's reaction
for medicines. I had a half an hour session with both of them and was able to convince
them the importance of the medicines I had recommended for her.
4. I was able to sell my point to them and they were convinced of my logics and
medical reasons apart from that they were able to see a change in Rebecca’s
attitude since she had met me yesterday. Both mother and son were seeing a ray
of hope and I was determined to help get them the happiness they had looking
for the past 5 years.
A series of follow-ups over the next 3 months which included me dropping in to
Rebecca's house with my friend and Rebecca visiting my clinic, meeting with her
husband and his mother; Rebecca concieved.
I was ready to leave office that evening and picked up the ringing landline thinking
that this is the last call for the day I am going to take on the landline. I was able to
hear a voice I was not able to recognize, she was Rebecca, excited like a child
who just won her first painting competition. She broke the news; she was
pregnant and she was on her way to my clinic. Although it was already late but I
wanted to wait for the girl that was on the other line.
Here was Rebecca "the to be Mom". Totally transformed, beaming with pride and
happiness. We ran a few tests. While running the tests she informed me that she
is no more averse to medicines and will do anything for a healthy pregnancy &
baby. I was happy and content. More than my medical training, my upbringing to
support and understand people in distress had helped me get Rebecca on track.
5. Rebecca was a special patient to me. You seldom see a change in the patients
personality however Rebecca had undergone a huge transformation. She was
happy and the pregnancy phase ended in great celebration when she delivered a
healthy baby. Her Mother in Law and husband were beaming with happiness, their
joy knew no bounds. I left the delivery room with my usual quip …”she’s
beautiful, make sure you repay God by loving her right; the usual promises
followed.
This was the case of … a bit of human touch…, why was Rebecca averse to
medicines? I never found out, but it doesn’t matter at this point.
Commentary
Emotional in addition to physical strength along with the right guidance from a
Gynecologist are more than enough in many cases where individuals are not able
to conceive due to one of the other reason. Winning the patient's confidence &
enlisting their trust is the first step to healing.
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