Help!! Pregnant

[cardsNmom]

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Hi SNDers,

My husband and I just found out that I am pregnant😍😍. Though a joy, I am scared about the implications during residency (My due date is 8/23/07). I am a M4 and have applied for IM. I hear I can get 6 weeks off but that is such a short time esp if I have to get a C/S. Does anyone know if I can get more time off during intern year to take care of the baby??? Thanks!

 

[Shah_Patel_PT]

Hi SNDers,

My husband and I just found out that I am pregnant😍😍. Though a joy, I am scared about the implications during residency (My due date is 8/23/07). I am a M4 and have applied for IM. I hear I can get 6 weeks off but that is such a short time esp if I have to get a C/S. Does anyone know if I can get more time off during intern year to take care of the baby??? Thanks!

Congrats! I'll let the "aprogdirector" answer your Q.

 

[Adcadet]

While awaiting aProg's response, my guess is that you should tell your program as soon as you match, but NOT before.

 

[mig26x]

Im not the father is that what you are looking for!!

 

[neuroticchica]

First of all, congrats! That's awesome news!

My non-personal experience (I have three friends who were pregnant at the beginning of intern year -- one in FM, one surgery, one anesthesia -- btw, the only one who kept it secret was the surgery one, but I do understand why people may tell you to do so.) is that there are not fixed rules, but that it is specific to the program. All 3 of my friends took 6-8 weeks off. Also, I don't want to rain on your parade, but beware that while you are "taking extra time" you are forcing your co-interns to pull your weight and they may not be too happy with you when you return which can lend itself to your possibly enduring some poor treatment by your co-interns. After all, some programs don't really have extra bodies to spare. I know one of my friends still hears things behind her back and finds people are less helpful to her. (However, she was in a program where her taking off time really did make her co-interns miserable -- more call and elective time taken away) However, again, I would imagine it depends on where you go and how much your joy causes others to be negatively affected (taking extra call, more jeopardy, less elective time.) Some places may be a bit more oriented towards family.

Regardless, I wish you and your family the best!

 

[NotAProgDirector]

That last post is so good, I really don't have much more advice to offer. Let your program know about the pregnancy well before they make the schedule. You are under no legal nor ethical requirement to disclose this to PD's, so unless the program's maternity leave policy will play into your ranking decision you probably shouldn't.

FMLA leave time is usually unpaid, and is not required for new employees (but often is allowed). faced with losing an intern for an entire year vs 2-3 months, most PD's would take the short leave.

 

[cardsNmom]

Thanks everyone for the wonderful replies, esp mdgrl2001 👍. I will keep you posted as to what happens

 

[MTgal]

Congrats! I am a mother of 3 with the last born in the beginning of my 2nd year of medicine. My program was more than accomodating. In fact we had 3 residents all pregnant at the same time. It took some creative scheduling but everything worked out well. Don't be afraid to take off as much time as possible and I would plan on working until the due date barring no complications along the way.
Best of luck in the match and let me know if you have any more questions 🙂

 

[eidolon]

First of all, congratulation! One of my very good friends gave birth during internship. She took all the same calls that everybody else did and our program is pretty rigorous. Feel free to email me privately if you have any questions.

 

[gwen]

congratulations!!! i think mdgrl took care of almost everything.

something i may have done had i been in your situation would be taking a year off. i don't know if that is practical for you or not (especially financially and whether your program would let you).

i've always wanted to work part time when i have kids (for the first 3 years)...so my suggestion would be to do research part time especially if you are planning on pursuing a fellowship at any point. that way, you can take care of your baby and get some research/publications in. then you could continue that research during residency and be all set for fellowship.

just a thought in case that is a possibility for you.

 

[mig26x]

maury: "mig26x, you are not the father!!!"

 

[H_Caulfield]

What I want to know is why employers, while hiring, are legally obligated to view something like "6 weeks off" as irrelevant. In all fairness, I think us men should get 6 paid weeks off to oogle at something and tell it how f**cking cute it is...

 

[MedStudent2007]

uh oh, looks like someone's daddy didn't get to tell "it" how f-ing cute it was. seriously, if you have nothing positive to add, just stay away. you troll onto too many places where you're not wanted.

 

[gutonc]

What I want to know is why employers, while hiring, are legally obligated to view something like "6 weeks off" as irrelevant. In all fairness, I think us men should get 6 paid weeks off to oogle at something and tell it how f**cking cute it is...

Ummm...we can. I'm in the middle of 4 weeks off right now and could do 2 more...paid...(plus 6 more unpaid) if I didn't want to finish residency on time.

If you're going to be an @$$clown, at least do it with some understanding of the facts.