Anybody doing rotations while pregnant or with kids?

[ladydoc2be]

I will be entering med school this fall and my boyfriend and I are not sure what to do about our future. We want to get married within the next couple of years but that will probably be during my 3rd or 4th year. I know we'll probably have kids right away, but I'm just wondering if this is feasible. And if we don't have kids then, we'll end up having them when I'm in residency. Based on your knowledge of clinicals and/or residencies, at which stage would you advise someone to have kids? We like to think long term, that's why I'm asking this question now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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[beanbean]

Check out www.mommd.com. It can be a good resource.

Do a search on SDN on this topic. There are several excellent threads on marriage, pregancy and children for med students and residents.

I have three kids and am in my third year of med school. My girls are 9 and 7; my son was born 2 weeks into MS1 year and is now 2 1/2.

In some ways there is a bit more flexibility having children in med school rather than residency. The most important factor is "when is the right time for you and your husband?" There is never a perfect time. Med school, residency, and after all have their pros and cons in terms of having kids. With med school, first and second year kept me away from my kids less than a full-time job would have....lectures 8-12 and class/clinic two afternoons a week 1-5pm. Third year rotations force you to be away from home much more and fouth year depends on what electives you choose.

For me, the key has been support. I have a very supportive husband, family verey nearby who help, and an amazing nanny (fortunately my husband's job pays well enough for us to afford child care in our home).

 

[wook]

I will be entering med school this fall and my boyfriend and I are not sure what to do about our future. We want to get married within the next couple of years but that will probably be during my 3rd or 4th year. I know we'll probably have kids right away, but I'm just wondering if this is feasible. And if we don't have kids then, we'll end up having them when I'm in residency. Based on your knowledge of clinicals and/or residencies, at which stage would you advise someone to have kids? We like to think long term, that's why I'm asking this question now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I would think that this would be school dependent. I do know that someone from the class ahead of me (and is now an intern) already had a child when she started med school. She also had a child during either 2nd or 3rd year. It can be done, but you may want to discuss further with people (you trust) from the school that you go to.

Wook

 

[BigRedZippo]

Not that I have any children, but seeing my friends around me, it appears to be a lot easier to have children in medical school. There's more accommodation for sick kiddos on rotation and during classes. In residency, unfortunately, there is little leeway as the workload is so high.

 

[Pinesinger]

I will be entering med school this fall and my boyfriend and I are not sure what to do about our future. We want to get married within the next couple of years but that will probably be during my 3rd or 4th year. I know we'll probably have kids right away, but I'm just wondering if this is feasible. And if we don't have kids then, we'll end up having them when I'm in residency. Based on your knowledge of clinicals and/or residencies, at which stage would you advise someone to have kids? We like to think long term, that's why I'm asking this question now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hey there 🙂 I am nine weeks from finishing my third year and I am 30 weeks pregnant with my first child. We decided to have our first now, since fourth year is laid-back and pretty flexible at my school, and so that I won't have a new baby when I'm starting my intern year. We will probably plan to have our second after my intern year. There really is no "perfect time", if you wait for it you'll end up 35 years old and still finding reasons to wait.

It also really depends on how supportive your school is. I would try to find others who have had children and see how they have been treated. Some schools will say they are willing to accommodate but when push comes to shove they change their minds, so I would advise you to talk to other women at your school. Good luck!

 

[Pinki]

Not that I have any children, but seeing my friends around me, it appears to be a lot easier to have children in medical school. There's more accommodation for sick kiddos on rotation and during classes. In residency, unfortunately, there is little leeway as the workload is so high.

Bingo. BRZ hit on a good point - sick kiddos. My daughter was born fall of 2nd year, and this winter as a 3rd year, I've had to take off a couple of days when she or her nanny was sick. From what I've seen with the interns docs I work with, you don't get that kind of flexibility during residency, much less during intern year.

Also, the first year (of babyhood, that is) can be pretty time intensive. My hubby and I decided to have a baby 2nd year, knowing that class attendance was optional, I'd be able to stay at home a couple of hours a day, and that breastfeeding and pumping are way easier and more accomodating between classes or preceptor than it is running around the wards. I just happen to be super-too-pro breastfeeding, so I knew this was important to you.

And yes, whether your school is family friendly or not is a big determinant. I personally chose a school known for being excessively touch feely toward families - lactation rooms for pumping moms (I even pumped in the middle of Step 1!), a fair number of women with children or pregnant - although I was the first in our class to have a baby while in school! Now 3 other gals have a bump!

That having been said, if you're young, I'd wait until AFTER residency to start a family. (Point blank, I'm not young, so it wasn't really an option, and I don't have Madonna's super fertile 42-year-old ovaries!) Call nights are tough - I end up not seeing my daughter for 48 hours and planning away electives is tricky when you have to line up childcare in another city, or just not see your precious bundle for 4 weeks. Still, I'm a big proponent of the "you live your life regardless of what you do" philosophy - whether or not I was in medical school, I'd still have kids at this age. As a matter of fact, I think we'll try for another one soon - 4th year is also condusive to being a mommy if you don't do too many away electives and pick a cush schedule.

 

[MichiMO]

I am one of the three in Pinky's class sporting a bump (by the way...who else is pregnant...I thought I was the only one currently) and while I can't speak to being a mom in medical school (as of yet), I can discuss the joys of pregnancy in medical school. I got pregnant in Nov. of third year and I will say, not to be discouraging, it has not been totally easy. I had pretty bad morning sickness ("morning sickness" meaning 24/7 sickness) throughout my OB rotation and whenever I had call, I would begin spotting by midnight...which is more stressful than you can imagine...no matter how "normal" it is during the first trimester. There is also a huge fatigue factor, which was really frustrating, especially since I want to go into OB and wanted to impress. You basically have to except your limitations if you are going to be happy...which means calling in sick when you can't stop throwing up long enough to drive to the hospital and sitting whenever you can, no matter how "wimpy" you may feel on endless walking rounds. I imagine this same thing will apply once the baby is born.
(All that good advice aside, I am doing my 4th year sub-i in July 9-months pregnant in another city away from my husband just to get my letters to apply to residency without having to go back to rotations a month after my baby is born 🙂...so much for accepting limitations)
In hind sight, I wish my pregnancy had been better planned in terms of good rotations to be on while sick, good time to have the baby in light of residency apps. ect, but I still think this was much better timing than residency and I am happy to be starting my family at this stage in my life. I think I would have been completely stressed waiting until after residency and would have felt the need to pop them all out in a shorter time frame than I really feel comfortable with. It's not for everyone, but it is right for me and you can definitly make it work. I'll let you know how insain I am a year from now 🙂

 

[loveumms]

I give mad props for anyone with kids in med school. I have a dog and can barely keep up with his care. I am amazed at how moms/dads find time to do it all. I have several classmates who are parents and have talked to them about it - even though they say it is hard sometimes, they all say it was do-able. Just make sure you have really good support networks in place.

 

[Pinki]

I am one of the three in Pinky's class sporting a bump (by the way...who else is pregnant...I thought I was the only one currently) and while I can't speak to being a mom in medical school (as of yet), I can discuss the joys of pregnancy in medical school. I got pregnant in Nov. of third year and I will say, not to be discouraging, it has not been totally easy. I had pretty bad morning sickness ("morning sickness" meaning 24/7 sickness) throughout my OB rotation and whenever I had call, I would begin spotting by midnight...which is more stressful than you can imagine...no matter how "normal" it is during the first trimester. There is also a huge fatigue factor, which was really frustrating, especially since I want to go into OB and wanted to impress. You basically have to except your limitations if you are going to be happy...which means calling in sick when you can't stop throwing up long enough to drive to the hospital and sitting whenever you can, no matter how "wimpy" you may feel on endless walking rounds. I imagine this same thing will apply once the baby is born.
(All that good advice aside, I am doing my 4th year sub-i in July 9-months pregnant in another city away from my husband just to get my letters to apply to residency without having to go back to rotations a month after my baby is born 🙂...so much for accepting limitations)
In hind sight, I wish my pregnancy had been better planned in terms of good rotations to be on while sick, good time to have the baby in light of residency apps. ect, but I still think this was much better timing than residency and I am happy to be starting my family at this stage in my life. I think I would have been completely stressed waiting until after residency and would have felt the need to pop them all out in a shorter time frame than I really feel comfortable with. It's not for everyone, but it is right for me and you can definitly make it work. I'll let you know how insain I am a year from now 🙂

Hey YOU! I can't say who else is preggs, but you'll find out soon. Tucson gals, and I haven't heard from them since they were barely pregnant (and if they still are, you're the furthest along!) , so I hope all is going well with them. You'll do just fine - just make yours and your baby's needs known and you'll be suprised at how folks are really accomodating. Rub that belly for me and I'll see you around the hospitals soon!

 

[roja]

I got pregnant the middle of my second year. I finished out my last trimester on surgery. I breastfed and used a pump for 13 months. (through almost all of third year).

Its definately do-able. You just have to figure out when is best for you. There is never really a good time (even after residency... you are starting a practice, might do fellowship, etc etc.) you just have to have one when the time is right for the two of you. All else is mutable.

Good luck!

 

[Ypo.]

has anyone had their baby during fourth year and taken time off?
I've heard of people taking a year off after fourth year, but I'm not sure how the match works if you do that. Do you match first, then delay starting the program, or wait a year and then match (and does that put you at a disadvantage for matching)?

-Thanks!

 

[Flea girl]

has anyone had their baby during fourth year and taken time off?
I've heard of people taking a year off after fourth year, but I'm not sure how the match works if you do that. Do you match first, then delay starting the program, or wait a year and then match (and does that put you at a disadvantage for matching)?

-Thanks!

I have 2 kids. I had one before med school(undergrad) and my 2nd at the end of my 2nd year of med school. My good friend had her baby this past dec. in our 4th yr. She took 8 weeeks off. If you want to take a year off after 4th yr. you can not enter the match your 4th yr. Basically, you would enter the Match the year you are going to start residency. As far as I know you can not defer you residency for a year. Hopefully that made sense.

 

[Ypo.]

I have 2 kids. I had one before med school(undergrad) and my 2nd at the end of my 2nd year of med school. My good friend had her baby this past dec. in our 4th yr. She took 8 weeeks off. If you want to take a year off after 4th yr. you can not enter the match your 4th yr. Basically, you would enter the Match the year you are going to start residency. As far as I know you can not defer you residency for a year. Hopefully that made sense.

Hi-thanks for the info.

Wow-you had a baby at the end of 2nd year? I hope you don't mind me asking-did you take the USMLE before giving birth? Did you get to take any time off after the baby was born?

-thanks

 

[Flea girl]

Hi-thanks for the info.

Wow-you had a baby at the end of 2nd year? I hope you don't mind me asking-did you take the USMLE before giving birth? Did you get to take any time off after the baby was born?

-thanks

I took COMLEX 1 (DO boards) 34 weeks pregnant and was dx w/ preemclampsia the day after I took it and 3 days before I took USMLE. Needless to say I was put on modified bedrest, so I did not take USMLE. I took one week off after I gave birth, then had to attend classes for 2 weeks to finish off my 2nd yr. After that, I took 2 months off for maternity leave. At my school we have a summer session and then get a month off between 2 and 3 rd year. Sorry hope that was not too confussing. If you are going to be pregnant when taking the boards, I would recommend being in your 2nd trimester. That is the best trimester, not hugely pregnant yet but no morning sickness 😀 . I hope this is helpful!

 

[Ypo.]

I took COMLEX 1 (DO boards) 34 weeks pregnant and was dx w/ preemclampsia the day after I took it and 3 days before I took USMLE. Needless to say I was put on modified bedrest, so I did not take USMLE. I took one week off after I gave birth, then had to attend classes for 2 weeks to finish off my 2nd yr. After that, I took 2 months off for maternity leave. At my school we have a summer session and then get a month off between 2 and 3 rd year. Sorry hope that was not too confussing. If you are going to be pregnant when taking the boards, I would recommend being in your 2nd trimester. That is the best trimester, not hugely pregnant yet but no morning sickness 😀 . I hope this is helpful!

Yes, very helpful,thanks!