CHEST Guidelines-Partial-Birth

Partial-Birth_chest (2)
Pdf Summary
In the poem "Partial Birth," Robin Scofield captures a deeply personal and emotional narrative, inspired by her sister's experience during a late-life pregnancy. The poem vividly conveys the poignant moment when an ultrasound reveals her unborn child has spina bifida, painting a scene of emotional turmoil and shattered expectations. The sister's voice, described as aching like a fracture, exemplifies the acute sorrow and shock of the discovery.<br /><br />The imagery in the poem is stark and powerful. The sonogram technician's ominous "Uh-oh" sets the stage for an emotional unraveling, while the ultrasound room's reflective steel surfaces evoke a cold, clinical environment akin to a horror film scene. This contrasts sharply with the hopeful image of her sister’s first child as a "luxurious stretch aswim inside her,” a “lovely desired creature." The poem poignantly balances the joy of anticipated motherhood against the heartache of devastating prenatal news.<br /><br />Written from the unique perspective of the sister’s recounting, Scofield's language underscores the gravity of the moment—describing the spine as a once smooth road turned into a disaster scene, and highlighting the harsh reality of the "death of the almost beginning." The closing lines suggest an inevitable and irrevocable trajectory following the diagnosis, highlighting both the emotional burden and the heart-wrenching decisions that accompany such news.<br /><br />The poem, published in the "Pectoriloquy" section of the Chest journal, adheres to the publication's submission guidelines, focusing on themes related to physicians and medicine, emphasizing the intersection of medical realities and personal lives. Through minimalist yet impactful poetry, "Partial Birth" invites readers into a personal story of love, pain, and the poignant complexity of medical diagnoses during pregnancy.
Keywords
Partial Birth
Robin Scofield
poem
spina bifida
ultrasound
emotional turmoil
prenatal diagnosis
motherhood
medical realities
personal narrative