EM Interviews and Pregnancy

[Flipchick]

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Hi all,
Does anyone know if there's a huge disadvantage to being 5 or 6 months pregnant during interview season, especially for EM residencies? I'm trying to decide whether I should let this affect my decision to have a baby at the end of 4th year, and I've found stuff on mommd and this forum about pregnancy and interviewing, but nothing specific to EM.
Any opinions on this?
Thanks!

 

[gimmedog]

As a disclaimer, I don't know a whole lot about this.

However, it sounds as if you will have a kid at some point during residency, and the programs that would discriminate against you for being pregnant don't seem as if they'd be particularly supportive when you actually have a kid.

Something to consider. Good luck!

 

[4thyr]

I do not have experience with actually being pregnant during interview season, but I had a young infant at that time. I was open with programs about the fact that I was a female resident with a baby, and I had had very positive responses from everywhere I interviewed (and I went all over the country to 17 places in all). I wound up matching at my first choice, and I don't think having a young child affected my application (but it did change what I looked for in a program). Fourth year was a great time to have a baby! I met one woman on the interview trail who was interviewing very pregnant (7 or 8 months), and she seemed to be having a positive experience too. Also, if you were 5 or 6 months pregnant you might still be able to hide it in a baggy suit if you felt better about doing it that way...but I agree with gimmedog, you want a program that is not supportive of a resident with a young child.

 

[EMIMG]

I really don't think that it matters when you get pregnant. Remember though, that residency can be very brutal with very unpredictable schedules and having time to be both a resident as well as a mom may be very stressing at times.

Also, realize that questions about personal life are typically off-limits during interviews. For instance, programs are not supposed to ask if you are married, if you have a family, etc. However, there are ways around this.....for instance, they can say something to the effect of, "Residency can be very demanding, and there are times where you may need to cover for someone at the last minute, or your shifts may run over several hours. Can you forsee yourself as having other responsibilities that may prevent you from working during these situations?"

 

[Flipchick]

Thanks for the great advice! It's great to know that this has worked out for other people.
Hey, since we're on this subject, how does taking a year off sit with EM PDs? That's another option we're considering.

Thanks again for responding!

 

[futrEDdoc]

I met a woman on the interview trail that was obviously pregnant - I have since had email communication with her and she got her first choice. I also know that one of the female incoming interns at U Cincinnati was pregnant on the interview trail and has since delivered a baby. So, at least two programs were unconcerned about a pregnant candidate.

 

[DrQuinn]

Can't comment on the taking the year off and how it sits with the PDs...

but I think EM Programs would be a little more understanding of the pregnancy issue (compared with Surgery or IM), as scheduling is a bit easier on your ED shifts than with any other program.

A positive thing about interviewing while you're pregnant is your bazongas will get bigger. And that's always a positive.
Q

 

[4thyr]

I took a year off (well, technically took an "extra 4th yr") to have my daughter during med school. This way I was able to spend a whole year with her before starting residency. I did, however, make sure to do a little research and some med school-related stuff (as well as applying and interviewing for residency) during that year. Spreading my 4th year over 2 years made it possible to have a light schedule while I was pregnant, and when I had a young baby. I was asked about this during some interviews, but no one seemed concerned about the time I took off. I explained that I wanted to have a child during med school and not while I was in resiency. I think this was seen as a positive thing. Hope this helps.

 

[Flipchick]

Good one, QuinnNSU, good one 😛

 

[DrQuinn]

Originally posted by Flipchick
Good one, QuinnNSU, good one 😛

Thanks, it made me giggle myself.

The comments you'll make as your last weeks of freedom before residency starts dwindle.
Q

 

[emdoc21]

One of my classmates is pregnant and due in November. She is starting a preliminary program this July and then anesthesia the year after. They told her that since the program is only a year long, she can't take maternity leave and should use her 1 month vacation. I don't know if all free-standing internships are like that, but it's definitely something to consider when deciding on programs.

 

[DrQuinn]

Originally posted by emdoc21
One of my classmates is pregnant and due in November. She is starting a preliminary program this July and then anesthesia the year after. They told her that since the program is only a year long, she can't take maternity leave and should use her 1 month vacation. I don't know if all free-standing internships are like that, but it's definitely something to consider when deciding on programs.

Yup, with the interns at the small DO hospital that I work at, the ones that had their baby used their one vacation month (well, two two-week vacations) for their maternity leave. The ones that stayed for the internship plus two years of FP or IM used ALL their vacation in the beginning of their internship year so they could have 3 months off, but then they have no more vacation throughout the residency.

But the great thing was when they started their internship in September, they had big honkers.
Q