Dr.Vinodhini Bhaskaran

28/04/2026

The Diary of an OBGYN

As obstetricians, we are used to patients requesting “good dates,” auspicious timings, zodiac alignments, and numerology-driven deliveries.

But today was the first time I encountered the opposite:
a patient who had already accepted the need for surgery, yet chose to wait for an emergency in the name of faith.

A near-term mother with a previous cesarean scar came in with pain. She had conceived just 8 months after her last C-section despite contraceptive advice, making scar integrity an even bigger concern.

She had already decided she wanted a repeat cesarean delivery.But there was one problem-
She did not want to choose a date.

She and her partner firmly believed that scheduling an elective surgery would mean they were “playing God.” They wanted labour to begin naturally first, and only then would they agree to surgery.

I explained the risks repeatedly:
— the danger of scar rupture
— the unpredictability of labour after a recent scar
— the higher risks of emergency surgery compared to a planned one
— the possibility of fetal compromise

But belief often speaks louder than medical reasoning.

She arrived this evening after having pain since yesterday, and reduced fetal movements since today.

The CTG showed fetal tachycardia.

There was no longer a discussion to be had. She needed an emergency cesarean section immediately—cutting into an already packed list of emergencies, with the team mobilising rapidly to prevent disaster.

Thankfully, mother and baby were delivered safely.

Sometimes, being an obstetrician means carrying not just clinical decisions, but the emotional weight of choices made before the patient even reaches the labour ward

It made me reflect on the delicate space we work in every day—
between science and belief,
between autonomy and responsibility,
between respecting choices and preventing harm.

And sometimes, despite all counselling, we are left hoping that physiology will be kinder than probability!

Obstetrics keeps us humble- Always!

21/04/2026

The Diary of an OBGYN

The hemoglobin report sat in my hand for a few seconds longer than usual.
It wasn’t the first time I had seen a number like that.
But it never quite feels routine.
Severely and dangerously low.

And once again — not a pregnant woman.

A woman in her 40s. Perimenopausal. Still working. Still managing a home. Still showing up for everyone else.

I asked the question I already knew the answer to.
“How long have your periods been heavy?”
She paused. Thought about it.
“Maybe… a few years.”

A few years….

Years of bleeding more than normal.
Years of fatigue explained away.
Years of “I’ll get it checked later.”

Not because she didn’t notice.
But because she didn’t have the luxury to stop.

In our training, anemia in pregnancy is emphasized a lot — and rightly so.
But in real life, the most severe anemia I encounter walks in quietly, without urgency, without drama.

Perimenopausal women.
Irregular cycles. Heavy bleeding. Delayed care.

By the time they reach us, their bodies have been compensating for far too long.

What unsettles me is not just the clinical severity —
it’s how expected this has become.

How many more women are out there… functioning, coping, normalising symptoms that are anything but normal?

We need to shift our lens.

Screen earlier. Ask better questions. Create systems that don’t wait for collapse before responding.

Because this isn’t just about iron levels.

It’s about a group of women who have spent years putting themselves last —
and a healthcare system that has not yet caught up with them.

And that needs to change!

18/04/2026

17/04/2026

Thanks to us “ HUMANS “
- The AI bots may need therapists soon!

17/04/2026

The Diary of an OBGYN

Some days in medicine don’t sit right with you.
Today was one of them!
My patient -10 days after her hysterectomy, came back with a wound infection. The incision was oozing. She was uncomfortable, worried, trying to stay composed.
She needed admission for Iv antibiotics, daily dressing and monitoring until the cultures were ready.
A simple decision!

But then… we waited … and waited …
and waited…

She had upgraded her insurance card 2 years ago.
Used her company coverage for the surgery.
Did everything she was supposed to.
And still — she sat there for almost 10 hours.
Back and forth. Questions. Forms. More questions.
“Clarifications.” “Deferment.”
“Just one more thing”.
The same questions worded differently -one after the other !

Meanwhile, the wound didn’t care about approvals.
The infection didn’t pause.
We checked on her in between everything else — not because medicine was complicated, but because the system was!

And I kept thinking…
we keep hearing these big numbers — billions paid out in insurance claims every year — and yet, at the ground level, it feels like patients are made to prove, over and over again, that they are sick enough, deserving enough!

By the time the guarantee letter finally came through, it wasn’t relief I felt.
Just… discomfort!

Because no patient, already suffering, should have to spend hours fighting to be allowed to get treated.
Somewhere along the way, something isn’t working the way it should!

16/04/2026

The Diary of an OBGYN

Some moments don’t need staging… they simply happen!
Today was one of those rare days where conversations with management went beyond routine updates—there was honesty, perspective, and a shared intent to do better.
And then came the “hard to get” moment!
A spontaneous pause.
A gathering under the trees.
A group photo of women consultants!

In the rush of clinical duties and responsibilities, we rarely stop to stand side by side like this. But today, we did!!
Not just as colleagues, but as a collective force—supporting, leading, and shaping the spaces we work in.
Sometimes, progress isn’t just in policies or plans…
It’s in presence. In representation. In moments like these!
Grateful for conversations that matter, and for all these lovely ladies who make this journey more meaningful❤️

16/04/2026

Rare “Hard to get “ moment

15/04/2026

Raya open house in labour room

15/04/2026

The diary of an obgyn

Care Meets Camaraderie: A Moment Even Babies Appreciate!

We traded scrubs for smiles, charts for conversations, and the usual rush for a moment of togetherness!

Our Raya Open House wasn’t just about food and festivity—it was about people!

The team that stands shoulder to shoulder through every delivery, every emergency, every quiet victory.

And in perfect timing, one little star decided to make an early, fuss-free arrival—almost as if to say, “Go ahead, you’ve earned this celebration.” 🌙👶✨

We were also honoured to have our hospital CEO and Medical Director join in the celebration—making the moment even more special and reminding us that leadership is strongest when it stands with its people.

In between laughter, photos, and a little bit of chaos (the good kind), there was something deeper—gratitude. For colleagues who feel like family, for shared resilience, and for the privilege of doing what we do, together.

Because behind every strong unit… is a stronger bond!

Selamat Hari Raya from our labour room family 🌙💫

15/04/2026

The diary of an obgyn

Care Meets Camaraderie: A Moment Even Babies Appreciate!

We traded scrubs for smiles, charts for conversations, and the usual rush for a moment of togetherness!

Our Raya Open House wasn’t just about food and festivity—it was about people!

The team that stands shoulder to shoulder through every delivery, every emergency, every quiet victory.

And in perfect timing, one little star decided to make an early, fuss-free arrival—almost as if to say, “Go ahead, you’ve earned this celebration.” 🌙👶✨

We were also honoured to have our hospital CEO and Medical Director join in the celebration—making the moment even more special and reminding us that leadership is strongest when it stands with its people.

In between laughter, photos, and a little bit of chaos (the good kind), there was something deeper—gratitude. For colleagues who feel like family, for shared resilience, and for the privilege of doing what we do, together.

Because behind every strong unit… is a stronger bond!

Selamat Hari Raya from our labour room family 🌙💫

14/04/2026

“New Year… New Beginnings!

Today didn’t begin any differently…
And yet, it felt different.

There was a quiet sense of renewal in the air —
the kind that only a New Year brings!
A gentle reminder that no matter where we are in life,
we are always allowed to begin again.

Like every year, we step into it with hopes, plans, and silent promises to ourselves.
Some we keep… some we outgrow…
But what remains constant is the gift of a fresh start.

This morning, as I went through my emails,
one message stood out.

A warm welcome to the FIGO Women’s Leadership Network.

I paused.

Because this wasn’t just another email.
It felt like a moment —
a quiet acknowledgement of years of work, resilience, and purpose.

An opportunity to step into a larger space.
To listen, to learn, and to contribute.
To be part of something that empowers women and shapes meaningful change.

And in that moment, this Tamil New Year became even more special.

It reminded me that beginnings are not always loud or dramatic.
Sometimes, they arrive softly…
as a message,
as a email,
as a moment,
as a nudge toward something bigger!

A new year.
A new chapter.
A renewed sense of purpose.

This year, I ask myself:
How can I create impact that truly matters?

May this New Year bring us clarity in our goals,
courage in our decisions,
and fulfillment in our journey.

New beginnings. Purposeful growth. Meaningful impact!

Wishing everyone a very Happy Tamil New Year 🌸

இனிய தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு நல்வாழ்த்துக்கள் 🌸

13/04/2026

“Ignorance is bliss,” she said softly… when I advised her to go for a routine gynecological screening she hadn’t done in years!

It wasn’t defiance.
It wasn’t lack of awareness.
It was something far more human.
A quiet fear of what knowing might bring!

Because in that moment, screening was no longer just a test.
It was a doorway — to possibilities she wasn’t sure she was ready to face.
A normal day could suddenly turn into follow-ups, labels, decisions, and life-altering conversations.
And so, she chose — at least for now — not to open that door.

That encounter stayed with me!

If ignorance is bliss why do we seek knowledge?

We often speak about knowledge as power and as empowerment!
But in clinical practice, knowledge can also feel like a burden before it becomes power.

It demands emotional readiness.
It asks patients to confront uncertainties.
It replaces the comfort of “I’m fine” with the ambiguity of “what if…”
And this hesitation… is not ignorance.
It is vulnerability!

As clinicians, we are trained to advocate for early detection, prevention, and evidence-based care.
But moments like these remind me — our role is not just to recommend screening.

It is to walk alongside our patients in that fragile space between fear and courage.

To acknowledge that opening “Pandora’s box” is not easy.
But also to gently reframe it:

What if that box doesn’t just hold fear…
but also the chance for early action, better outcomes, and control over one’s own health story?

Because true empowerment in medicine is not just about giving knowledge —
it is about making patients feel safe enough to receive it.

“Ignorance is bliss,” she said.

And perhaps, for a moment, it is!

But the deeper, more enduring peace often comes from knowing —
and realizing that you are not alone in facing whatever comes next!