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[1edyfirel]

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[tr]

Don't start a private practice now. That's just setting yourself up for a nightmare maternity non-leave with needy patients calling you when you haven't slept more than 2.5 consecutive hours in weeks. Keep the side gigs going until you are done with maternity leave. After that you can make your move to cash PP.

 

[theduderino]

First of all, congratulations!! I have a little one along with a new insurance based PP, though I waited about 1 year after my kid was born to start my practice.

I agree with the above poster. You can spend this time figuring out the nuts and bolts of how you want to structure your practice. Talk to people in your town/city/region (the most important thing by far) and read through experiences others have had on this forum.

You don't know how your postpartum life is going to be and it's safer to plan for at least 12 weeks of time uninterrupted by work. My partner couldn't take the amount of time off she wanted/needed because of her job. It really sucked for everyone in the family unit, most especially for her. If your family can stay afloat with your partner's income alone, you are in a nice space to make your own well being a priority over paying the bills.

Additionally, your career aspirations/priorities may evolve as you start this new part of your life and it may change how you want to structure your practice, the kinds of patients you want to see, how much you want to work etc. A nice thing about PP is these things can evolve with you, over time, but it makes more sense to wait for this huge life change to occur before you start to make decisions that carry their own inertia and take time to unwind.

 

[Sushirolls]

First child is a whirl wind and will hit you harder than any further ensuing children. Anticipate a whole other level of suck.
Medical school and residency prepares you well for pushing full throttle.
However, with a child, you never get the targeted day on the calendar to say "that's my rest day" "that's when I'll attempt to sleep binge"
Doesn't happen.
You will be exhausted.

Now, women bring their own spectrum of motherliness. Some women live and breath the role and the whole domestic duties that come with it. Others loathe it and can't wait to get out of the house and punt their kids to some one else.

Think about where you are on this spectrum. Granted things might change after delivery, but what I'm getting at, is if you happen to already know that you are more of a working person, you might want to simply just open the practice now, and be okay with having it limp along for next few months and after. Use this slow limping time to develop your policies, and hone your work flow. Let all the patients know maternity leave is coming in several months. Set your schedule up to not take on new patients while on 'Leave' but also work a few hours each day, like 2-3 at most. It could be a good distraction to get you out of your screaming pooping peeing thirsty hungry infant life, even if for a few hours.

 

[Merovinge]

First child is a whirl wind and will hit you harder than any further ensuing children. Anticipate a whole other level of suck.
Medical school and residency prepares you well for pushing full throttle.
However, with a child, you never get the targeted day on the calendar to say "that's my rest day" "that's when I'll attempt to sleep binge"
Doesn't happen.
You will be exhausted.

Now, women bring their own spectrum of motherliness. Some women live and breath the role and the whole domestic duties that come with it. Others loathe it and can't wait to get out of the house and punt their kids to some one else.

Think about where you are on this spectrum. Granted things might change after delivery, but what I'm getting at, is if you happen to already know that you are more of a working person, you might want to simply just open the practice now, and be okay with having it limp along for next few months and after. Use this slow limping time to develop your policies, and hone your work flow. Let all the patients know maternity leave is coming in several months. Set your schedule up to not take on new patients while on 'Leave' but also work a few hours each day, like 2-3 at most. It could be a good distraction to get you out of your screaming pooping peeing thirsty hungry infant life, even if for a few hours.

Great advice, I agree completely. Need to check yourself and see where you are on the spectrum of working as a form of self-worth/joy. My wife could not wait to get back into the OR after 2 months of maternity leave (while still being an incredible mother). Other female docs I know love working part-time and have very fulfilling lives.