Why obstetrics/gynecology?

I was torn between specializing or general practice. … OB/GYN has the best both worlds. Every day is different. I spend one day in clinic, the following day managing labor and delivery, and the next day in the operating room.

What three things can an expectant mother can do to most ensure her newborn’s health?

Stay active! … Labor is one of the hardest workouts you will ever experience. You can’t spend ten months on the couch and expect to climb Mount Fuji. … Don’t overdo it, though. Pregnancy requires moderation. Watch what you eat. … Remember: As you are putting on weight, so is your baby. If the baby gets too big it makes labor more difficult. Do not listen to the horror stories! I think people turn off their brains when they talk to pregnant women. You hear things like … “My delivery was so horrible!” They are scared and emotional enough — don’t tell a horrible story so they can stay up all night and worry.

… That a father-to-be can do?

Love, support and back rubs!

When did you know you really were going to be a doctor?

I decided I wanted to be a doctor when I was 16. The next 10 years I focused on achieving that goal. … You focus on one hurdle at a time. You cannot give up because you keep looking back, telling yourself you worked too hard to give up now. Then one day you realize: “I really am a doctor!”

What was it like the first time you helped a woman give birth?

Honestly, I was scared to death!

Describe a perfect day.

Hiking and backpacking in the Japanese mountains.

What do first-time mothers most often ask going into the delivery room?

“When do I get my epidural?”

Do a lot of male servicemembers want to be with their wives in the delivery room?

Absolutely. … The partners are almost always involved in the pregnancy, from the routine appointments through the delivery.

Ever had a father-to-be faint?

I’ve had a few dads get a little light-headed but never pass out.

Any tips for dads-to-be to avoid having that happen?

Everyone worries about it, but it rarely happens. … Stay involved in the labor process; most importantly, count while pushing. Focus on mom and the baby — you will be ok.

“ER” or “Grey’s Anatomy?”

Neither. … I bring my work home enough!

Any tips for wives whose husbands are deployed when delivery day comes?

Find a friend or family member to be there with you. Have him/her take as many digital photos as possible. Dad could have a picture within the hour. One of the best deliveries I had, the husband was on the phone in Iraq for the entire time she was pushing. That was awesome.

Anything to say to dads who can’t be there?

Know that we are thinking of you and truly regret that you can not be there. Trust we are taking care of her and providing her with support. … I want our troops to have peace of mind that their family is safe and healthy while they are away.

If a husband is on base when his wife delivers, what might he do to help her?

Spoil her!

What’s the best part of your job?

Handing moms their babies for the first time. … Every delivery, I feel honored and blessed to take part in the most important moment of a person’s life. It makes the long, stressful hours worth it.

Lisa Ann Mills

Age: 32

Rank: Major

Title: Staff physician, obstetrics and gynecology, Misawa Air Base, Japan

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