Chief Resident and CA-3 Arianna Montes de Oca takes us behind the scenes of her obstetric anesthesia rotation—a fast-paced block where no two days are the same. She also shares how she balances the intensity of residency with life at home alongside her husband, daughter, and their dog.
5:40 AM — The day starts early with coffee brewing and lunch prep underway. While I pack meals, my husband takes our dog, Lara, out for her morning stroll. Around 6:15 a.m., our daughter, Alana, usually wakes up (sometimes earlier, but she patiently waits for her morning hug — see photo for proof of her sweetness!). That hug fuels me for the day ahead.
6:30 AM I hop on my bike and head to the hospital. It’s a refreshing way to start the day, and a quiet moment before the whirlwind begins.
Morning in OB
OB anesthesia is beautifully unpredictable — every day writes its own story. Our mornings usually begin with:
- Checking our machines: First things first, we make sure our workstations are set, monitors are functioning, and everything is ready to safely begin.
- Dividing scheduled cases: Once we’ve mapped out the day’s C-sections and scheduled cases, we divvy up the responsibilities.
- Post-op rounds: These are especially on patients recovering from C-sections or complex deliveries. We assess pain control, block efficacy, mobility, and watch closely for any red flags.
- Placing epidurals: This can happen quickly or take finesse depending on anatomy, urgency, and patient comfort. Some are straightforward, others make you reach for every trick in the book.
- Managing C-sections: Whether scheduled or urgent, C-sections involve a lot of coordination in terms of timing, ensuring appropriate anesthesia plans (spinal, CSE, or general anesthesia) and jumping in when plans change.
- Anesthesia consults: These occur often for high-risk OB patients — cardiac conditions, coagulation disorders, or tricky pain management needs.
Our team is a lively mix: two residents, a fellow or CRNA, and our attending. There’s always someone around to teach, learn from, or laugh with. When things slow down, we sneak in some education or take a well-earned snack break at the cafeteria.
4:30 PM The day winds down and the call team takes over, so I start to head home.
Evening Joys
Coming home to Alana’s excited face is pure magic. If the weather’s nice, we head out for a walk — Lara and Alana both love the fresh air.
Between 6–7 p.m., my husband and I tag-team workouts. We’ve got a Peloton in the basement for quick sessions, and when time allows, I hit the boxing gym for a longer, energizing workout.
7:00 PM Alana’s bedtime routine begins: bath, dinner, and snuggles. It’s a team effort — one of us handles baby duties while the other showers and preps dinner.
Meal prep saves us! Tonight’s dinner: leftover rice, air-fried salmon (seriously, best appliance ever), and a quick salad. We catch up over dinner… or sometimes just unwind with a TV show. Balance, right?
9:00–10:00 PM I wrap up the day by checking emails, reviewing cases for tomorrow (OB doesn’t staff cases the day before), and replying to texts I missed during the day.
10:30 PM Lights out. I’m usually asleep before my head hits the pillow.
