Last week I wrote about being a new mom on call. It’s a challenge to say the least, but I’m definitely not the only one who deals with the late night, early morning fear of a ringing phone while the baby is soundly asleep. As of 2009, female veterinarians outnumbered their male counterparts in the profession. Currently, women hold 80% of the veterinary school seats. Practicing female veterinarians are part of the gender shift generation, and there are a lot of issues/stories that come with that as the profession tries to catch up. We even have our own Facebook support group! Here are some shared stories from a few colleague friends of mine. Rebecca H. W. Ten years have gone by and only once did I have to take my daughter with me, but she slept in the work truck and the owners of the horse fell in love with her. But many times I knew what a milking cow felt with swollen udders and a wet mark or two on my scrubs. After having a child naturally I also appreciated more all the drugs I gave to the cows during a hard calving! Elizabeth M. S. My first two children were probably in every barn in north Mississippi. I had my first two about a year and a half apart and my husband travels a lot for work. We didn't live near any family so I can remember many times having to take them with me. It wasn't that bad when they could stay in the baby carrier, but when they were toddlers it was much harder. I remember having to go sew up a nasty laceration on a horse once and the clients were a sweet grandparent couple. They made the oldest cookies and brought him coloring books and she rocked my one year old on the porch and gave him a bottle. I also remember them helping with a lot of late night c-sections. Once they were asleep in the truck, and I'd just gotten bluetooth on my truck, so I used my cell to call the clinic and put the phone nearest the surgery room on speaker, and did the fastest section of my life. Not 100% on vetting or mothering that night, but we got through it. I also remember several times having to take them to calls that didn't end well and begging the farmer not to shoot the cow until we turned out of the driveway so the boys wouldn't hear. More times than I can count, I've shown up late for school pick up covered in blood. My oldest (7) is aces at opening gates now so I don't have to get out of the truck. I bought the clinic I'm in now when I was pregnant with the third and I no longer take call. It's good for reminiscing, but I wouldn't live it again. Jacqui M. I have a lovely college student that is on call when I'm on call (when husband is out of town on business). I have had to call her occasionally in the wee hours, and it adds a bit of time for me to get to the call, but works pretty well. Usually I'm home before the kids wake up. Julie C. Ugh! It's so hard! My son is a terrible sleeper. I went back to taking calls at eight weeks postpartum. I remember one night I got a call at 12 A.M., returned home at 2 A.M., only to have the baby wake up at 3 A.M. I sat there crying, rocking him, and wondering how I would ever survive. My husband leaves for work at 5 A.M., but daycare doesn't open until 7:30. Getting a call between those times is my worst fear. I can't leave the baby, and I'm not going to wake him up to take him with me. Thankfully, so far I've been able to postpone seeing those patients until we open. Sarah K. I just make sure my husband is awake and realizes I'm leaving. My stress level about going out at night is a lot lower now that my son sleeps through the night. It's rough sometimes. He got the flu when he was five months old, was up until 11 P.M., I got a call around 1 A.M., got home around 4 A.M., and had to get up at 5 A.M. for work. I get up at 5:15 now and leave the house at 7 so I can get to work by 8. If I get a call between those times I just tell them I'm already on my way to the clinic and I'll get to them as soon as I can. I took my four year old to a milk fever once. It was a farm close to home, and they have grandkids a similar age, so are used to having small kids around and know them well enough that there aren't likely to be any surprises. Making the call took significantly longer than expected. The down jersey cow popped up and looked great after treatment. My son was completely unimpressed and told me to "stop hurting that cow!" when he saw me put in the IV needle. After the cow got up, the client said, "Aren't you proud of your mom? She saved our cow!" Answer, "Nah." Then their son pulled up with the feed wagon, and he got very excited. I guess old doc mom has nothing on the feed cart guy… Kerrie P. I had one today. Called out at 7 A.M., just before my hubby was due to catch the train to work. Organised him to take the next train and popped into work. I had an hour before I had to be back. Anyway - cue gdv surgery.... Then organised a babysitter and told my hubby to walk baby to babysitter before he went to the station. When I finished, I found the babysitter had prior commitments and had taken baby on a long walk in the pram to carry out those commitments... So around town I drove trying to find the offspring! The worst times for call outs are between 5-8 P.M. and 6:30-8:30 A.M. because those are the times I have no backup help. Kristi M.L. Nikki J.L. I had to load up my then twin four year olds and a six month old for a 2 A.M. dystocia call while my husband was out of town. They slept through the entire thing and when we finally got home and I carried them in they all decided it was time to wake up for the day! Made for a LONG day! Kerry B. I was called out for several calving assistance calls when my kiddos were small. Once my son was with me when we pulled the calf and once when I performed a C-section. (My son was about five years old at the time). Later he said, "Mom, I know how cows have babies! They either poop them out or you cut them out their side." Simple as that! LOL Heather T.
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Jessica Stroupe, DVM
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August 2017
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