30 Something Baby Doc

I was on call the other day on labor and deliver. We were caring for a patient with diabetic complications in pregancy. The patient was in labor and when her contractions increased in number and intensity, her fetus would respond with a significant drop in heart rate. After the third drop in the baby's heart rate, we rushed the patient back to the operating room for a possible emergency cesarean section. When we got to the OR, the heart rate had improved, therefore we decided to observe her and let her labor continue.

The patient's husband was allowed to come back to the OR. He was extremely nervous and breathing rapidly. Tears began to stream down his eyes and he broke down and cried in front of everyone. The nurses worked to calm him down and reassure him the everything was ok.

My initial internal response was to ridicule him as being weak. How could he break down, when he needed to be strong for his wife and unborn child? Real men don't cry?

But after a little reflection I realized that he was afraid for wife and child. He likely fearer losing both in one night. He was justified in his emotional outburst.

I cannot ever recall myself crying since I was a child and the site a grown man crying makes me very uneasy. I think I should ridicule myself for being so emotionless and cold.