Families Creating

WHO IS DR SKYE DE JONGH?

I am a mother who is passionate about helping women experience the wonder of motherhood. I am originally from Durban, the daughter of two doctors, and now live in Umhlanga with my husband and daughter Lily. For the past two years, I have been an integral part of the Vitalab KZN Fertility Clinic family, where I have helped numerous couples conceive and complete their families.

WHY REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE?

I was first exposed to the world of fertility when I donated eggs to a family member with infertility during my university years. Unfortunately, that journey was unsuccessful, and I saw the devastating effect not being able to conceive had on that family. From that point on, I knew that it was my calling to help families who want a child to achieve that dream.

HOW DID YOU END UP WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?

My parents inspired me to go into medicine. I received my medical degree with cum laude honours from the University of Pretoria. I then completed my residency in obstetrics and gynaecology at Wits and recently obtained my second master’s degree in reproductive biotechnology from the University of Valencia in Spain.

WHAT IS IT LIKE WORKING AS A FEMALE IN THIS PROFESSION?

Reproductive medicine is a maledominated world, but slowly more women are stepping up and joining the field.

The benefit of being a female gynae is that many women are much more comfortable with a woman due to the intimate nature of the examinations.

I also feel privileged to have been able to experience pregnancy and sadly also a miscarriage. I feel that my experience helps me to better empathise with and guide my patients. It is tough being pregnant in my profession though. I often feel guilty and can see the pain it causes my patients who are still at the beginning of their fertility journey.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WORK HARD IN YOUR FIELD, PUSHING BOUNDARIES AND MAKING STRIDES?

What inspires me every day is the joy that I bring to my patients the moment they get that positive pregnancy test, the moment they hear their baby’s heartbeat for the first time at seven weeks, and the moment their little baby waves at them through the sonar at 10 weeks. I also love it when my patients return after I have operated on them or given them medication to fix their problem and they walk in with a huge smile on their face saying, “Thank you! I can’t tell you how much better I feel.” This is such a rewarding job and I feel so blessed to be doing what I love.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHER WOMEN STARTING OUT IN YOUR FIELD OF WORK?

If I had to give young doctors any advice it would be: do what you love. I remember when I first told people that I wanted to specialise in obstetrics and gynaecology. They all told me I was mad. “You’ll never sleep!” they said. But I loved it and I decided that I would make it work for me. And that’s what I did. You can do anything you set your mind to.