Baby Bonus Was A New Job

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday July 20, 2006

Katrina Damian

They say a baby changes your life. I'm sure no one could have foreseen the transformations the birth of my first daughter triggered.

It was October 2003 and I had just started maternity leave and was looking forward to a few relaxing weeks before the arrival of my baby.

I had been a lawyer in a large corporate law firm for more than seven years. I enjoyed my work: it was intellectually stimulating and I worked with great people.

I visited my obstetrician for my 36-week antenatal appointment. He had a slightly concerned look on his face as he took my blood pressure. He measured it again. The concerned look remained.

He told me I would have to go to hospital for the day to have my blood pressure monitored.

It was just a precaution and chances were that after a few hours my blood pressure would settle down and I could go home. I ended up staying in hospital for the next two weeks for "bed rest".

I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a condition of pregnancy of which high blood pressure is a feature. If not kept under control, pre-eclampsia can be serious, even life-threatening, for both mother and child.

I was put on anti-hypertensives and regular blood pressure readings were taken. But the most striking thing in those two weeks was the nature of the care I received from my obstetrician and renal physician.

The two of them were empathic, good communicators and clearly knew their stuff. They took the time to talk me through what was happening and answered my many questions. They visited me day after day, often several times a day.

Following my two weeks' bed rest and after changes in my blood platelet levels, they decided my baby needed to be born, and she was - safely - at 38 weeks gestation.

After the birth, I kept thinking about just how lucky I had been to have such wonderful doctors and what an important impact they had on my life. They had kept me healthy and helped me safely deliver my baby girl. When I thought of what they had done, my career in corporate law seemed so superficial, so lacking in meaning.

It was at this time an idea sprang into my head. I wanted to be a doctor, too, to help people in the way I had been assisted.

I didn't dare tell anyone I was having these thoughts. After all, I had climbed my way up the ladder at a law firm and much of my blood, sweat and tears had been extracted along the way.

Becoming a doctor would mean starting all over again, at the bottom of the pile. At 32, and with a child, that wasn't going to be easy.

I found out the University of Sydney had a graduate-entry medicine program. I just had to pass an entry exam and get through an interview.

With my then three-month-old daughter, I set about studying for the exam. It was tough and there were so many nights I stayed up late that I seriously questioned the wisdom of what I was doing.

As it turned out, I passed the exam and, after the interview, was offered a place.

I thought long and hard about ditching my legal career. By then, I had returned to part-time work and was pregnant with my second child. It made sense to stay in an organisation where I had a few runs on the board. In the end, I figured I had nothing to lose.

I am now halfway through the first year of my medicine degree. I have two daughters (almost three years and 18 months ) and the juggle is difficult. But I have a supportive husband, family and friends and am loving it. I look forward to giving back something of the wonderful care and support I received during my time of need.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home