babies and medschool

[Gauri]

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Hello, I'd really appreciate some experienced advise on this one....
Im 27 years old and back at medschool going to second year in Jan. I am completely passionate about being a doctor (thats how I can be back studying at my age) and I have just found out Im pregnant.
Any young mother students out there? Is it impossible? Is it just really difficult to study and bring up a baby at the same time? Is it better now than when Im 36 and doing 12 hour shifts in the hospital?
Thanks....

 

[Wifty]

It is definately possible!!! At the med school hubby is at, there are females that have had babies, and still not only stayed in med school, but done great!!

Alot depends though on the individual situation -
Do you have support to help watch the baby when it comes?
Is your med school a bit accomadating when it comes to taking time off to have the baby? (there are some that will not give makeup tests even if you miss them cuz you are in labor!)
Are you healthy enough and/or is your pregnancy easy enough to do school and be prego? There are ladies I know that were put on full bedrest at the start of their 2nd trimester....so no going to school.

And alot will depend on how you handle priorites when the baby comes. Getting straight A's might not be as important as extra time with your little one for example.

Congrats on going back though!! And congrats on being prego!!! 🙂 Both are life altering things.....and although stressful at times, both are wonderful and a way to get the most out of life.

With smiles,
Rebecca

 

[ErinG]

hey women!

I have a question for you- I will be starting med school this summer (MS1), and I am 28, and my husband's 31. We are beginning to think about having children, because we do not want to wait too much longer; my husband will be doing a post-doc while I'm in med school, so he's pretty flexible, and he begs me to let him stay home with the little one.
I am wondering if you have any advice about being pregnant/ having a child in the second year of med school (conceiving around May of first year-- having the baby around Feb second year). I know it sounds rediculous to plan to the last minute, but I do not see any alternative. I think first year is out of the question, but second year may be a little easier with a child because I do not have to do rotations second year. I'm wondering if my proposed schedule will interfere with boards. Anyone have any advice/insight?? I apologize for the questions, but I've been looking for someone with experience in this area!

I know the choice to have a child is an individual one, but I'd like to hear from someone who has had the experience and who can give me some advice, if there is anyone out there...

CONGRATS GAURI!!!
Thank you for any advice!

 

[k's mom]

First of all, ErinG, be very, very careful about deciding when and where you will conceive. It very, very rarely works out that well. You may well tempt fate too much and end up pregnant tomorrow, or taking years to conceive.
Second, you can absoutely have a baby in medical school, as long as you have the support you need (from your school and sig. other/family) THere are numerous women students who have had babies here over the past year and a half. Many took one semester off and/or joined the class behind them for clinicals, others, (one 3rd year and three 4th years) simply fit it into their rotations.
I suggest keeping in mind something mentioned before; don't expect anything to be "just the way you planned." You may plan on delivering a month after the boards, only to have your water break the night before, or plan on working through your pregnancy and end up so mentally and physically exhausted that you barely have enough energy to brush your teeth. On the same note, if you decide to take time off, you may end up sitting around twiddling your thumbs, anxious about all of the time you missed. For me, I worked full-time when I was pregnant with my son, then was essentially a SAHM during my second pregnancy (I'm one of those "can't-brush-my-teeth, I'm-so-exhausted" pregnant women) and I can tell you that my first pregnancy went much more smoothly because I was occupied (physically and mentally)

As for life after baby, just do what you have to do....like millions of other women. There is no perfect time to have a baby, and the first time you leave him/her with a sitter is hard...no matter if the baby is 6 weeks old or 6 months old. Essentially, the only difference I see between busting your rear at a low paying job that just barely covers the cost of 50 hours a week for daycare, and busting your rear in medical school is that with medical school you are giving yourself more options in life, fulfilling your goals, and setting an excellent example for your little one.
If you are concerned about the length of medical training, and/or decide to have more than one child during training, there are numerous residency programs that offer part-time track too, offering you more flexibility.

Whenever this question comes up, I always think back to an article Iread once written by a pediatrician who had five children during training. If I remember correctly, she had her first at the start of MS1, and her last a few weeks after her residency ended.

Piece of cake😀

 

[Hope 2 B A MD]

I had a baby this past summer at the begining of my 4th year. I had excellent support from the faculty at my medical school and was able to arrange my schedule so that I could have my son and not fall behind. I was lucky because I was still able to maintain my same level of activity during my 3rd year while I was pregnant. I was tired, but it didn't prevent me from doing any of my clerkships. I still rank near the top of my class and was inducted into AOA in the fall. I wouldn't change my decision to have a baby during medical school. It has been a great experience, however, I probably would not have been able to do it without the great support I received from my medical school, my husband and my family.