babies!

[bowlofmushypeas]

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My spouse and I are both MS4s and thinking about taking a year off for research/MPH/etc. We've been thinking about having a baby during that time, but aren't sure how feasible it will be having 2 interns being parents of a 1 year old. I know everyone says there's no good time for babies so to just do it, but most people also don't have to worry about couples matching, etc. However, it does seem like the hardest times, particularly for first time parents, are the pregnancy months and 0-12 months so it would be nice going through that before residency begins. Right now, we're having trouble putting all that in perspective and comparing this option to the alternative (likely, PGY2/3 for pregnancy through 12 mo old). Any advice?

 

[cjw0918]

If you will have an easy year of research (easier than being an intern anyway), go for it. The first 12 months of new parenthood is all-consuming. You can hopefully find an affordable daycare for your intern year. Most residents can.
I am an attending, and the new resident mommies usually suck at work for the next 6-12 months while leaning to juggle residency and motherhood. I don't hold it against them, it looks really hard. And they usually come back around and are good again, UNLESS they have another baby. After a second child, it seems very difficult for many of them to ever regain their focus. The residents who take extended maternity leave REALLY have a hard time coming back. Of course these are just my observations and certainly do not mean everyone is like this. Residency is just so demanding and such a mental, emotional, and physical grind, it seems difficult to combine it with new parenthood.
I waited until I was an attending to have kids, and it was a good decision for me. But that's me. I was also lucky my fertility held out. It's not easy to decide these things. Good luck.