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.”