Birthing and family medicine: More than obstetrics

Abstract

The term birth injury usually applies to an injury sustained by either a woman or her infant in the course of giving birth. In this case the injury was sustained by the delivering family physician. What initially seemed like a minor injury turned out to require a significant career modification. The writer reflects on the personal impact of his choice to provide maternity care as a family physician. The unexpected end to this part of his practice, brought on by the injury, allows an opportunity to assess the effect of other "birth" experiences that are inherent to long-term patient-doctor relationships in family medicine.