Female wanting to become a mother in medicine

[AC7]

To all of those female doctors out there...

So recently I have had a change of heart about my future. For most of my life I have wanted to be a doctor. Also for my entire life until recently, I have never wanted children. During the past few months however, I have changed my viewpoint on this and really want to have children and to raise a family. I know that it is possible to be a female doctor and have kids, but is it a heavy burden? Do you find it hard to juggle being a mother and a doctor? When were you able to give birth (in medical school, in residency, after you started your career)? How did that affect you? I want to be able to be there for my children and I do not want to be forced to be a mother who can only give birth at an older age. Like I said, being an MD has always been my calling, but I have been considering PA recently due to my change of heart. I would love to hear anything that you have to say about trying to make it in medicine and raising a family.

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[Xenops]

I'm only a pre-med, but my PA gynochologist is a woman with kids, and it has worked out well for her to work a couple of days a week and spend the rest at home.

As an MD, it depends on what you specialize in.

Personally, I am old- fashioned in the sense I believe that the best mom is the stay-at-home mom, and the best doctor either doesn't have kids or has a spouse to take care of them.

To each her own.

 

[487806]

To all of those female doctors out there...

So recently I have had a change of heart about my future. For most of my life I have wanted to be a doctor. Also for my entire life until recently, I have never wanted children. During the past few months however, I have changed my viewpoint on this and really want to have children and to raise a family. I know that it is possible to be a female doctor and have kids, but is it a heavy burden? Do you find it hard to juggle being a mother and a doctor? When were you able to give birth (in medical school, in residency, after you started your career)? How did that affect you? I want to be able to be there for my children and I do not want to be forced to be a mother who can only give birth at an older age. Like I said, being an MD has always been my calling, but I have been considering PA recently due to my change of heart. I would love to hear anything that you have to say about trying to make it in medicine and raising a family.

I'm a guy, but I know what you mean. There are actually many med students and residents who are currently moms right now. However, it is usually better in these cases for the spouses to take care of the children while you guys focus on med school. Don't change your future based on interest in having children. It's doable, but requires some delicate balancing and a dedicated spouse.

 

[Mataska]

I'm a guy, but I know what you mean. There are actually many med students and residents who are currently moms right now. However, it is usually better in these cases for the spouses to take care of the children while you guys focus on med school. Don't change your future based on interest in having children. It's doable, but requires some delicate balancing and a dedicated spouse.

+1. Couldn't have worded that last sentence any better myself 🙂

 

[MedPR]

I'm a guy, but I know what you mean. There are actually many med students and residents who are currently moms right now. However, it is usually better in these cases for the spouses to take care of the children while you guys focus on med school. Don't change your future based on interest in having children. It's doable, but requires some delicate balancing and a dedicated spouse.

This.


Alternatively, if you'll cook and clean up after me I'll be your daughter.

 

[wholeheartedly]

OP, there are some great resources on the web to learn more about the challenges of being a mom in medicine.

first there's a blog called Mothers in Medicine written by several moms in different specialties ranging from primary care to psych to general surgery to neurosurgery about the different challenges they've faced.

http://www.mothersinmedicine.com/

The non-trad forum here has a few parents as well and posts relating to kids.

Then there's this site http://www.mommd.com/forum/ that I skimmed through awhile back and it seemed to have good resources and discussions. (I don't actually have kids though so your mileage may very)

I also think there are a few blogs around about single moms who've done MD, not that that's what you want to go for, but it shows what can be done.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

I'm a guy, but I know what you mean. There are actually many med students and residents who are currently moms right now. However, it is usually better in these cases for the spouses to take care of the children while you guys focus on med school. Don't change your future based on interest in having children. It's doable, but requires some delicate balancing and a dedicated spouse.

This. I believe its very doable, but I would say more so during either a relatively easy residency or after. Regardless, have a dedicated spouse that loves kids or otherwise it will be a uphill battle.

 

[heliscomo]

I can't speak from my OWN life experience but I can tell you about my mom.

Both of my parents are surgeons and met during medical school. Got married in third or fourth year and then started making babies. Mom had 3 kids during her general surgery residency (me and a set of twins, so only two pregnancies). My parents have 7 kids and are both surgeons. My mom definitely had to make some sacrifices for this; she didn't complete a fellowship and my dad did. My dad also works full time and my mom is technically a full time employee but has more flexibility in her schedule and does not work 5 days a week.

I am just telling you it is possible to be a mother and a doctor. If she had only 3 kids instead of 7, it would be even EASIER. I am starting med school this fall and looking to my future I hope I can handle everything the way my parents have.

I have never understood when people think they can't handle a personal/family life and medicine because I have grown up with it. If my parents can do it, I don't see why I can't (assuming I find a supportive husband/father figure).

Good luck!!

 

[heliscomo]

Oh, also, I my parents did not have any support from their families (emotional or financial) during this time. We had a live-in nanny who took care of us during the day, but we did not have the extended family help that a lot of people would look forward to. So if you think you would have your family helping out, I would say you are lucky and this could be even more possible for you.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

Oh, also, I my parents did not have any support from their families (emotional or financial) during this time. We had a live-in nanny who took care of us during the day, but we did not have the extended family help that a lot of people would look forward to. So if you think you would have your family helping out, I would say you are lucky and this could be even more possible for you.

This is definitely true. If you don't have anyone to help you it will be a long hard road.

 

[ComfortCreature]

OP, there are some great resources on the web to learn more about the challenges of being a mom in medicine.

first there's a blog called Mothers in Medicine written by several moms in different specialties ranging from primary care to psych to general surgery to neurosurgery about the different challenges they've faced.

http://www.mothersinmedicine.com/

The non-trad forum here has a few parents as well and posts relating to kids.

Then there's this site http://www.mommd.com/forum/ that I skimmed through awhile back and it seemed to have good resources and discussions. (I don't actually have kids though so your mileage may very)

I also think there are a few blogs around about single moms who've done MD, not that that's what you want to go for, but it shows what can be done.

Also a good source for perspective from "Dr Fizzy" at http://doccartoon.blogspot.com/ She also writes for mothersinmedicine.

 

[mzarrowsmith]

To all of those female doctors out there...

So recently I have had a change of heart about my future. For most of my life I have wanted to be a doctor. Also for my entire life until recently, I have never wanted children. During the past few months however, I have changed my viewpoint on this and really want to have children and to raise a family. I know that it is possible to be a female doctor and have kids, but is it a heavy burden? Do you find it hard to juggle being a mother and a doctor? When were you able to give birth (in medical school, in residency, after you started your career)? How did that affect you? I want to be able to be there for my children and I do not want to be forced to be a mother who can only give birth at an older age. Like I said, being an MD has always been my calling, but I have been considering PA recently due to my change of heart. I would love to hear anything that you have to say about trying to make it in medicine and raising a family.

Don't change your entire life plan based on a few months of increased hormones. However, the PA route is definitely easier in terms of family; if you are totally content going that route, it would probably make things easier. Residency is going to be difficult without kids and even harder with them. But that doesn't make it impossible if you plan ahead and stay organized.

Regarding when to have kids, I'm sure it's been done every month of medical training, but 4th year seems to me to be the easiest. You can save up your leave months and easy rotations and take them all at once in the spring after you have the interview/ranking process out of the way. Only potential disadvantage here is that you'd be interviewing while very preggers. But, you wouldn't want to go to a program that doesn't like moms anyway, so probably a good litmus test. You could also take an extra year between 3rd and 4th year to have a baby and maybe squeeze in some research or something else.

One random thing, if you're serious about breastfeeding think about this when you pick a specialty. Things like surgery and EM are probably not going to be amenable to pumping due to the nature of the work, regardless of what the official policy is. Something with scheduled appts like FM, probably more so.

EDIT: I am not a female doctor, but I live with one. 🙂

 

[DrNosik]

Just make sure you have a good baby daddy because its going to be tough

 

[Titus Times]

Just make sure you have a good baby daddy because its going to be tough

yeah no deadbeats or playa playa mac daddies.

 

[Trastuz]

To all of those female doctors out there...

So recently I have had a change of heart about my future. For most of my life I have wanted to be a doctor. Also for my entire life until recently, I have never wanted children. During the past few months however, I have changed my viewpoint on this and really want to have children and to raise a family. I know that it is possible to be a female doctor and have kids, but is it a heavy burden? Do you find it hard to juggle being a mother and a doctor? When were you able to give birth (in medical school, in residency, after you started your career)? How did that affect you? I want to be able to be there for my children and I do not want to be forced to be a mother who can only give birth at an older age. Like I said, being an MD has always been my calling, but I have been considering PA recently due to my change of heart. I would love to hear anything that you have to say about trying to make it in medicine and raising a family.

I'm a single male pre-med but I hope to be a doctor one day so I figured I'd weigh in like the other 15 responders. I think it will be really hard. Hope that helps.

 

[MedPR]

I'm a single male pre-med but I hope to be a doctor one day so I figured I'd weigh in like the other 15 responders. I think it will be really hard. Hope that helps.

Lol

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[kimposibl]

To all of those female doctors out there...

So recently I have had a change of heart about my future. For most of my life I have wanted to be a doctor. Also for my entire life until recently, I have never wanted children. During the past few months however, I have changed my viewpoint on this and really want to have children and to raise a family. I know that it is possible to be a female doctor and have kids, but is it a heavy burden? Do you find it hard to juggle being a mother and a doctor? When were you able to give birth (in medical school, in residency, after you started your career)? How did that affect you? I want to be able to be there for my children and I do not want to be forced to be a mother who can only give birth at an older age. Like I said, being an MD has always been my calling, but I have been considering PA recently due to my change of heart. I would love to hear anything that you have to say about trying to make it in medicine and raising a family.

Not to be too nosy, but is it because you are in an ltr (long term relationship)? I felt the same for a while, wanting to be an MD and not have kids ever (just vicariously through my sister) but I'm currently in a serious relationship and the topic of marriage and kids have come up, although he understands my dedication to medicine has priority right now. I think women, esp career women, have this dilemma, and there are plenty of momma docs out there. Following previous advice, surgery may not be ideal, and you will definitely have to have non-nuclear family help. Best of luck to you. Not sure how old you are that you are concerned about this, but IMHO, if you can schedule a career that will be established by the time you are 33-35 YO, a family will definitely be in your future =]

 

[HughMyron]

Threads like this make me feel happy that I'm a man, and can have kids/marriage when I want. U mirin'? 🙂


Also inb4 Melissa Thompson.

 

[Catalystik]

+1. Couldn't have worded that last sentence any better myself 🙂

+2

 

[plumhill]

I'm definitely worried about this, but I take solace in the fact that my mom got her PhD, had been working for many years, and then had me (first child) at 40 and my younger brother at 42, both in the early 1990s. And we both turned out fine.

 

[speakwhales]

What's a mother in medicine? Is that a degree?

"I do not want to be forced to be a mother who can only give birth at an older age"

lol...

 

[OwlPower22]

If the Yahoo CEO can pop out a baby and then go right back to work the next day, I'm sure you can too. It all depends on your commitment and support system. I'm not even thinking about marriage and babymaking yet. Career comes first.

 

[kgpremed11]

If the Yahoo CEO can pop out a baby and then go right back to work the next day, I'm sure you can too. It all depends on your commitment and support system. I'm not even thinking about marriage and babymaking yet. Career comes first.

No.

 

[MelissaThompson]

I have been worrying about this same issue for several months...

I recently finally convinced my parents to shell out 5 grand to freeze several of my eggs while I'm still young so I can have baby anytime in the future.

Interestingly, a fertility expert even predicts in 10 years we can use stem cells from anywhere in our body to grow fresh new eggs!

 

[BigBear123]

Threads like this make me feel happy that I'm a man, and can have kids/marriage when I want. U mirin'? 🙂

Not really. Older paternal age is similarly associated with decreased fertility and an increased risk of abnormalities/disorders.

 

[MelissaThompson]

Not really. Older paternal age is similarly associated with decreased fertility and an increased risk of abnormalities/disorders.

decreased fertility doesn't equal to no fertility - it just means you gotta shoot your load more times to score one as you get older.

Yes - risks of genetic disorders also increase - but still very very small chance. So instead of a 1 in 10,000 chance of autism - you have 5 in 10,000 chance - a 5 fold increase is not as shocking if you view the stats as this way.

There are tons of 40 year old fathers - tons more than mothers. My father had me when he was 43 - I was the youngest child of 4. His sperm was good enough for me to become a future physician.

I think the poster meant having children while not interrupting their career for men..

 

[BigBear123]

decreased fertility doesn't equal to no fertility - it just means you gotta shoot your load more times to score one as you get older.

There are tons of 40 year old fathers - tons more than mothers.

I think the poster meant having children while not interrupting their career for men..

I understand. I'm just saying that I would not wait to have kids - whether you are a woman or a man - past a certain age if you can avoid it. The age of each parent contributes to an increased risk developmental disorders. It's not easy to raise a kid with autism, down's syndrome, etc. It's a high cost for the family, and a high cost to us as a society.

 

[kgpremed11]

I have been worrying about this same issue for several months...

I recently finally convinced my parents to shell out 5 grand to freeze several of my eggs while I'm still young so I can have baby anytime in the future.

Interestingly, a fertility expert even predicts in 10 years we can use stem cells from anywhere in our body to grow fresh new eggs!

Ok, I really suspect you're a very elaborate troll now. Some of the best trolling I have ever seen actually. You took the time to build up this persona as "Melissa Thompson" ( by the way most would be too smart to use their actual name) and you built a personality as a girl that is worried about balancing school and relationships. But freezing your eggs? Seriously? I suspect you are a fat bald guy pretending to be a girl. If you actually are real you're wayyyyy to paranoid.

 

[MelissaThompson]

Ok, I really suspect you're a very elaborate troll now. Some of the best trolling I have ever seen actually. You took the time to build up this persona as "Melissa Thompson" ( by the way most would be too smart to use their actual name) and you built a personality as a girl that is worried about balancing school and relationships. But freezing your eggs? Seriously? I suspect you are a fat bald guy pretending to be a girl. If you actually are real you're wayyyyy to paranoid.

....and how old are you?!?!

I turn 26 next month, and lets say I don't get in med school until next cycle - I start med school at 27 - graduate at 31 - finish residency at around 35-36.

For a woman with that kind of ambition - and wants to have a family - it is not unreasonable!!

 

[kgpremed11]

....and how old are you?!?!

I turn 26 next month, and lets say I don't get in med school until next cycle - I start med school at 27 - graduate at 31 - finish residency at around 35-36.

For a woman with that kind of ambition - and wants to have a family - it is not unreasonable!!

I turn 25 in march, so I'm about the same age as you but I'm not worried about kids. Kids are the farthest thing from my mind. You could always have kids during fourth year or during residency, I hear it has been done before. You could have kids now before starting med school or just become a PA if kids family life is that important to you.

 

[BigBear123]

....and how old are you?!?!

I turn 26 next month, and lets say I don't get in med school until next cycle - I start med school at 27 - graduate at 31 - finish residency at around 35-36.

For a woman with that kind of ambition - and wants to have a family - it is not unreasonable!!

Worrying about about things you can't control is just wasted energy. What if you decide to NOT do medicine, but still can't find a husband or start a family by your mid-30's?

When you're going to get married and have kids is one of those things in life you can't always plan. Just try to do what's best for yourself RIGHT NOW. If you focus on your goals and on bettering yourself I am sure good things will come your way.

Story: a post-doc in my lab thought he'd have his life figured out (as in wife, kids, good job) way before age 30. He had gotten an OD and PhD before that age. He just got married this past year at the age of 36! This is not to scare you - my point is that you never know what's going to happen in life.

 

[kgpremed11]

Worrying about about things you can't control is just wasted energy. What if you decide to NOT do medicine, but still can't find a husband or start a family by your mid-30's?

When you're going to get married and have kids is one of those things in life you can't always plan. Just try to do what's best for yourself RIGHT NOW. If you focus on your goals and on bettering yourself I am sure good things will come your way.

👍👍👍

But I never met a premed that wasn't at least somewhat neurotic.

 

[ktgk]

I'm a non-trad and am finishing my bachelors after taking off many years to stay at home with my kids. I have three, my youngest is 2 now. I plan on applying in 2014 and hopefully starting medical school in 2015. Honestly, I feel good about having my kids first. My youngest will be in 4K by the time I start and I won't have to feel so guilty about long hours, because my kids will be out of the home for 8 hours of the day anyway.

 

[phunky]

To all of those female doctors out there...

So recently I have had a change of heart about my future. For most of my life I have wanted to be a doctor. Also for my entire life until recently, I have never wanted children. During the past few months however, I have changed my viewpoint on this and really want to have children and to raise a family. I know that it is possible to be a female doctor and have kids, but is it a heavy burden? Do you find it hard to juggle being a mother and a doctor? When were you able to give birth (in medical school, in residency, after you started your career)? How did that affect you? I want to be able to be there for my children and I do not want to be forced to be a mother who can only give birth at an older age. Like I said, being an MD has always been my calling, but I have been considering PA recently due to my change of heart. I would love to hear anything that you have to say about trying to make it in medicine and raising a family.

Some specialties are very conducive to raising a family. I know Anthesthesiologists who only work 20 hours/week so they can be with their kids. Getting through med school and residency is the bigger concern.

 

[kimposibl]

I have been worrying about this same issue for several months...

I recently finally convinced my parents to shell out 5 grand to freeze several of my eggs while I'm still young so I can have baby anytime in the future.

Interestingly, a fertility expert even predicts in 10 years we can use stem cells from anywhere in our body to grow fresh new eggs!

LOL @ freezing eggs. I wanted to do that but can't afford it. Also, don't you have to pay for every year the eggs are kept frozen? And do you have ANY idea how much IVF costs???? Sure, half the regular price is paying for someone else's egg, but it aint cheap to do the hormone therapy and other lab stuff. But I'm sure you could do it if you aren't completely broke from med school loans or have a husband who makes 6 figs and can pay for the procedure.... =/

 

[touchpause13]

My understanding is that psych is pretty family friendly as well

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[CriticalCond]

I want to be able to be there for my children and I do not want to be forced to be a mother who can only give birth at an older age. Like I said, being an MD has always been my calling, but I have been considering PA recently due to my change of heart. I would love to hear anything that you have to say about trying to make it in medicine and raising a family.

Wow, this thread shows just how young some of you really are!

To the OP, I work in a hospital with PAs (all women) and female attendings (all mothers). All the PAs, and I know because I asked, chose to be PAs because of the lifestyle it provided for them as women versus becoming a physician. Obviously, you can be a physician and a mother, but some things you have in mind are going to have to give. If you do not want to be an older mother (i.e over 35) you have to decide if that's more important than practicing medicine. All the attendings I work with had kids after med school in their 30s. If you want to "be there" for your kids, you may not reach a level of achievement that you originally had in mind. Many (if not all) of the aforementioned attendings have familial support (parents or non-working spouses) or employ support (nannies) in order to have those kids. There are part-time docs that reduce their hours so that they can be home to raise families, but those are not people that will be heads of departments or chief researchers, etc.

Ultimately, being a doctor is a job. If you worked in another field, you would have to make these same choices; this is not unique to medicine. Granted, being a physician is more taxing on yourself and your time in your most fertile years, but fortunately, your compensation will be such that you should be able to afford the help you need to do both. Unfortunately, perhaps, that will probably mean missing a soccer game or several and bought instead of homemade baked goods. It's about priorities, and only you know what yours are for yourself.

 

[Daneosaurus]

Well, as a premed, husband, and parent (of two - both under 5 years old), I can tell you that marriage and kids are amazing. It's not scary, really, and I'm only 25. We got married before we were 20 and I was in the Marine Corps. Wifey is finishing her BSN and will support me through med school.

It's hard, but even harder for people like my friend who is know a surgical resident, who knocked a girl up in UG, married her, popped out another while he was in med school. They made it work. He's obviously very successful, and she is a great mom and wife to him. Support is key.

For me, I wasn't the best student in HS. But, being married and having kids forces one to put things into perspective. I now have a must not/cannot fail attitude, because too many people are relying on me. You make sacrifices. It's not so bad though, we have fun together - and a tight-knit group of friends. I still have time to socialize, study, go to class, volunteer, shadow, play with my kids, do "married people stuff". It takes time management, and you can't slack off, but it is certainly doable.

There are advantages to doing it young though. Namely, my kids will be in college (assuming that is their chosen path...IT BETTER BE) by the time I am 40. I'll still have many years of my career ahead of me by then, have had already done all the parenting stuff, and will have time to do a lot of things. Kids take energy and I certainly don't know how a 40 year old has that energy, as they wear my 25 year old butt out!!!

 

[Daneosaurus]

Wow, this thread shows just how young some of you really are!

To the OP, I work in a hospital with PAs (all women) and female attendings (all mothers). All the PAs, and I know because I asked, chose to be PAs because of the lifestyle it provided for them as women versus becoming a physician. Obviously, you can be a physician and a mother, but some things you have in mind are going to have to give. If you do not want to be an older mother (i.e over 35) you have to decide if that's more important than practicing medicine. All the attendings I work with had kids after med school in their 30s. If you want to "be there" for your kids, you may not reach a level of achievement that you originally had in mind. Many (if not all) of the aforementioned attendings have familial support (parents or non-working spouses) or employ support (nannies) in order to have those kids. There are part-time docs that reduce their hours so that they can be home to raise families, but those are not people that will be heads of departments or chief researchers, etc.

Ultimately, being a doctor is a job. If you worked in another field, you would have to make these same choices; this is not unique to medicine. Granted, being a physician is more taxing on yourself and your time in your most fertile years, but fortunately, your compensation will be such that you should be able to afford the help you need to do both. Unfortunately, perhaps, that will probably mean missing a soccer game or several and bought instead of homemade baked goods. It's about priorities, and only you know what yours are for yourself.

And this pretty much sums it up.

 

[CriticalCond]

Well, as a premed, husband, and parent (of two - both under 5 years old), I can tell you that marriage and kids are amazing. It's not scary, really, and I'm only 25. We got married before we were 20 and I was in the Marine Corps. Wifey is finishing her BSN and will support me through med school.

It's hard, but even harder for people like my friend who is know a surgical resident, who knocked a girl up in UG, married her, popped out another while he was in med school. They made it work. He's obviously very successful, and she is a great mom and wife to him. Support is key.

For me, I wasn't the best student in HS. But, being married and having kids forces one to put things into perspective. I now have a must not/cannot fail attitude, because too many people are relying on me. You make sacrifices. It's not so bad though, we have fun together - and a tight-knit group of friends. I still have time to socialize, study, go to class, volunteer, shadow, play with my kids, do "married people stuff". It takes time management, and you can't slack off, but it is certainly doable.

There are advantages to doing it young though. Namely, my kids will be in college (assuming that is their chosen path...IT BETTER BE) by the time I am 40. I'll still have many years of my career ahead of me by then, have had already done all the parenting stuff, and will have time to do a lot of things. Kids take energy and I certainly don't know how a 40 year old has that energy, as they wear my 25 year old butt out!!!

This is pretty much not related to the post topic, but a refreshingly positive perspective on fatherhood while both in and applying med school. Kudos, you're blessed to have such a supportive partner!

 

[kimposibl]

Well, as a premed, husband, and parent (of two - both under 5 years old), I can tell you that marriage and kids are amazing. It's not scary, really, and I'm only 25. We got married before we were 20 and I was in the Marine Corps. Wifey is finishing her BSN and will support me through med school.

It's hard, but even harder for people like my friend who is know a surgical resident, who knocked a girl up in UG, married her, popped out another while he was in med school. They made it work. He's obviously very successful, and she is a great mom and wife to him. Support is key.

For me, I wasn't the best student in HS. But, being married and having kids forces one to put things into perspective. I now have a must not/cannot fail attitude, because too many people are relying on me. You make sacrifices. It's not so bad though, we have fun together - and a tight-knit group of friends. I still have time to socialize, study, go to class, volunteer, shadow, play with my kids, do "married people stuff". It takes time management, and you can't slack off, but it is certainly doable.

There are advantages to doing it young though. Namely, my kids will be in college (assuming that is their chosen path...IT BETTER BE) by the time I am 40. I'll still have many years of my career ahead of me by then, have had already done all the parenting stuff, and will have time to do a lot of things. Kids take energy and I certainly don't know how a 40 year old has that energy, as they wear my 25 year old butt out!!!

👍👍👍 I'd say you are most definitely an exception! Good for you and your family!

 

[PennDippody]

I've met a lot of Doctor-parents and Doctor Duo - Parents and they seem to all have the same advice in this regard: "There is no right time to have children." Hired or family help is pretty common among duel income families of all professions. When the time comes, you will make it work. This is because priorities all change at that point. Fear not, though, these will be easy decisions as a result.

For what it's worth, I've heard, on more than one occasion, that the later or last years in residency (I'm sure exceptions exist) are generally looked at as a preferable time frame. Reasons included, more routine work load, full benefits to cover healthcare costs, and not burdening your future employer with the prospect of taking a few months off right out of the gate. I know the last one seems a little harsh but it kinda makes sense if you want to become a dependable asset early-on in practice. LOL, I think about an anesthesiologist I shadowed who had 4 women on his service that were all pregnant at the same time. Nothing wrong with it but I remember him often complaining about the how shorthanded he was at times. Kind of funny I guess. Fact is, women, and thus pregnancy, is a commonality in the workplace. It seems to me that, all things being equal, employers should simply expect that half of their employes will at one time or another be pregnant and plan for it.

Edit: Seper Fi, Daneosaurus USMC 03-08, here.

 

[TriagePreMed]

There is no denying that some people make it happen as well as there is truth in the idea that medicine is a very demanding career. I can only speak for myself as a man, but one of the reasons I would never go into surgery is because I want to ultimately have a family and spend time with them. Given that many women choose to have greater roles in parenting, I don't think it's unreasonable to look at PA as an alternative.

 

[Daneosaurus]

This is pretty much not related to the post topic, but a refreshingly positive perspective on fatherhood while both in and applying med school. Kudos, you're blessed to have such a supportive partner!

I thought I was posting in the "Scared to have kids" thread!!! But thank you anyways.

 

[silverturtle]

yeah no deadbeats or playa playa mac daddies.

 

[mvenus929]

http://www.mothersinmedicine.com/

You're not the only one with this concern. There is at least one girl in my class (I'm MS3 now) who is currently pregnant, and I know at least one girl in the fourth year class who is also pregnant. One of my preceptor's wife actually went through medical school and internship, then quit to be a full-time mother. Several of my attendings are mothers. Clearly, it's possible to have a good work-life balance.