pregnant during medical school possible?

[shoe23]

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Is it possible to stay in medical school while being pregnant? I just got accepted. My husband and I were planning on having a pregnancy that will be due in the summer of MS1 and MS2.. but based on what I have read.. looked like people are talking about deferring school when pregnant. I am not being realistic about my planning? please share experience or stories if you have.. will help us out. thanks! 🙂

 

[seamonkey21]

Is it possible to stay in medical school while being pregnant? I just got accepted. My husband and I were planning on having a pregnancy that will be due in the summer of MS1 and MS2.. but based on what I have read.. looked like people are talking about deferring school when pregnant. I am not being realistic about my planning? please share experience or stories if you have.. will help us out. thanks! 🙂

I know of plenty of people who have had babies during medical school. I too was planning on having a baby while in medical school. Make sure if you are going to do it that you have a HUGE support network of friends and family who are willing to babysit or take care of the baby for an extended period of time. I chose my school location so that I was within a few hours of both my husband and I 's parents. It definitely will be hard, and know that it will make your life all the more stressful, however it can be done. The only thing I have heard people say is to wait until you are done with Gross anatomy before you are pregnant. I guess you have to wear a special exhaust system or mask when you are in teh lab since the fumes are harmful to the baby. You are already sick from being pregnant and having the smell of dead bodies just doesn't help the situation. Good luck! By the way, where are you going to school?

 

[swtiepie711]

Is it possible to stay in medical school while being pregnant? I just got accepted. My husband and I were planning on having a pregnancy that will be due in the summer of MS1 and MS2.. but based on what I have read.. looked like people are talking about deferring school when pregnant. I am not being realistic about my planning? please share experience or stories if you have.. will help us out. thanks! 🙂

I think you could definitely have a child during that summer- most schools have it off & students seem to use the time to do research/travel/chill - so why not use the time productively 😉
That said - it seems like it's pretty hard to time a pregnancy (having never tried, I don't know personally - just from what I have heard).
Also, you'll be heading into what I hear are the tougher years of medical school with a infant/soon-to-be toddler. Is you husband ready to step up with child rearing or do you have a great network of family/friends to help?
My mother had a toddler when she started medical school, and I know many other women have managed this. My husband and I are planning to hold off until after med school, unless something miraculous happens and I end up at a med school close to home and our parents could help w/ childcare. But then again - we're still pretty young and depending on your age/personal wishes about the issue/etc. this may be the best option...

Wow, sorry to ramble a bit - this has been one of my greatest concerns about being a doctor - it seems like there really isn't a "convenient" time to have kids until you're established in your practice, which for me will be much older than I want to be when I have kids.... But I figure, even if it's not convenient, we'll make it work! Best of luck to you with your apps and congrats to you & your husband! 🙂

 

[lilnoelle]

There are many women who have babies in med school. The only thing I'd advise is to be prepared to have to be flexible with your plans. If you have a problematic pregnancy, you may find it difficult to impossible to keep up with your classmates. Or if your baby is a preemie or has health issues then you may have to defer for a period of time. Be aware that anything can happen and be prepared for that, and you should be fine.
Good luck. I'm starting to get the baby blues myself, but since I already have two and don't think I can handle three while in med school, I have to close that part of my mind off for now. Thank God for depo provera. Otherwise I'd probably be pregnant by now. 😉

 

[JennyB]

I've also heard that it's possible during your fourth year because you have more freedom in choosing your schedule. You should check the MomMD website. They seem to have a lot of helpful information about this.

 

[evade]

I know of plenty of people who have had babies during medical school. I too was planning on having a baby while in medical school. Make sure if you are going to do it that you have a HUGE support network of friends and family who are willing to babysit or take care of the baby for an extended period of time. I chose my school location so that I was within a few hours of both my husband and I 's parents. It definitely will be hard, and know that it will make your life all the more stressful, however it can be done. The only thing I have heard people say is to wait until you are done with Gross anatomy before you are pregnant. I guess you have to wear a special exhaust system or mask when you are in teh lab since the fumes are harmful to the baby. You are already sick from being pregnant and having the smell of dead bodies just doesn't help the situation. Good luck! By the way, where are you going to school?

I second this. Plenty of women have babies in med school. Two women at my school had babies last year, and one of my classmates is expecting one in April.

I also suggest waiting 'till after you're done with anatomy, if possible. You'll have to wear a mask in lab, and those are danged uncomfortable (I wore one once when I was sick; the fumes were just too irritating). But hey, one of my classmates did it last year, and she did all right.

Good luck to you, OP!

 

[lilnoelle]

I second this. Plenty of women have babies in med school. Two women at my school had babies last year, and one of my classmates is expecting one in April.

I also suggest waiting 'till after you're done with anatomy, if possible. You'll have to wear a mask in lab, and those are danged uncomfortable (I wore one once when I was sick; the fumes were just too irritating). But hey, one of my classmates did it last year, and she did all right.

Good luck to you, OP!

The guy in charge of our lab acted like the mask wasn't something they require and that there isn't any evidence that formaldehyde has a negative affect on a fetus/embryo, but that most women where the mask just in case. We have a girl who's in her first tremester of her pregnancy and doesn't wear a mask in lab.

Keep in mind that for many women, pregnancy is the easy part of the parenting process. Pregnancy was a holiday for me in comparison to the first couple of months of having a child.

 

[honker]

If you are willing to wait, residency is often a better time to have children, unless you are in a general surgery residency. Taking time off in the latter years of resident training worked well for my wife when we had our first baby.

 

[shoe23]

I know of plenty of people who have had babies during medical school. I too was planning on having a baby while in medical school. Make sure if you are going to do it that you have a HUGE support network of friends and family who are willing to babysit or take care of the baby for an extended period of time. I chose my school location so that I was within a few hours of both my husband and I 's parents. It definitely will be hard, and know that it will make your life all the more stressful, however it can be done. The only thing I have heard people say is to wait until you are done with Gross anatomy before you are pregnant. I guess you have to wear a special exhaust system or mask when you are in teh lab since the fumes are harmful to the baby. You are already sick from being pregnant and having the smell of dead bodies just doesn't help the situation. Good luck! By the way, where are you going to school?

Thanks for the suggestions! I am accepted at U of Colorado and Wake Forest. I definitely have a huge network of relatives EAGER to help (the wanna-be grandparents). I just need to find the right timing. I haven't thought about gross anatomy lab... do most school finish anatomy at the first half year? hum.. I should check curriculum schedule....

 

[LJDHC05]

One of the second years here just had her second. It's definitely doable if Dad's going to be around alot/you can afford daycare/you don't really need to sleep.

 

[maestro1625]

Wake finishes anatomy by the end of the first summer (and thier lab doesnt smell bad either...)

 

[ms. a]

Like many previous posters have said, it's definitely doable. It's not a walk in the park, but it really isn't that hard. Everybody does stuff outside of school. The baby just sort of takes up your "extra-curricular" time (well, that and plus some). Several woman in my class have been pregnant and had babies at all points during our education. I have a four year old. We all just make it work. Even those of us who don't have family in town. There's always a way to make it work.

 

[nrut88]

The asian chick off the movie "Gross Anatomy" had a baby during med school. It seemed almost as if it had more of a positive effect than negative on her and everyone around her. But then again, it was just a movie. Great movie, in fact probably the best MS1 movie I've ever seen.

 

[HOLDENc]

The asian chick off the movie "Gross Anatomy" had a baby during med school. It seemed almost as if it had more of a positive effect than negative on her and everyone around her. But then again, it was just a movie.

b

 

[LolaGene]

Is it possible to stay in medical school while being pregnant? I just got accepted. My husband and I were planning on having a pregnancy that will be due in the summer of MS1 and MS2.. but based on what I have read.. looked like people are talking about deferring school when pregnant. I am not being realistic about my planning? please share experience or stories if you have.. will help us out. thanks! 🙂

I glanced over the other responses and I dont think this has mentioned but having a newborn during MS3 would be pretty rough considering rotations. A good friend of mine is a third year and he has to be at the hospital by 4am and is pretty much dead when he gets off (not to mention the 48hour shifts). So summer after MS1 could be a better idea than after MS2. And I 👍 the other post about getting sick in anatomy lab PLUS I dont know how toxic phenol is but formaldehyde fumes are EXTREMELY toxic (at least that is what I have been told in the lab). I know Northwestern has switched to phenol as a fixative but i dont know how many other schools do the same. Just something to think about. Plus, I know that some schools give time off for new moms. I read something about that on the Yale website. Good luck!

 

[WholeLottaGame7]

We have a woman in our class who's due date is tomorrow. Guess what else is tomorrow? Oh, that's right, our anatomy final. She's going to take the test, then go have labor induced at 5, assuming she doesn't pop it out during the practical or something. Talk about a stressful day.

Anyway, she's going to take a break and do her MPH next year, then join up for the rest of her MS1 year with next year's MS1 class. She talked it over with the faculty/administration, and they were very cool and accomodating with everything, apparently. I think that's the big thing. Can't speak for her social support, though everyone in the class has been supportive so far as I can tell.

Oh, and she talked the issue over with the anatomy professors, and it wasn't necessary for her to wear a mask or anything. Always her prerogative, though. Not many people actually wore masks, interestingly, the smell wasn't terribly overpowering.

 

[akademiks1989]

We have a woman in our class who's due date is tomorrow. Guess what else is tomorrow? Oh, that's right, our anatomy final. She's going to take the test, then go have labor induced at 5, assuming she doesn't pop it out during the practical or something. Talk about a stressful day.

Anyway, she's going to take a break and do her MPH next year, then join up for the rest of her MS1 year with next year's MS1 class. She talked it over with the faculty/administration, and they were very cool and accomodating with everything, apparently. I think that's the big thing. Can't speak for her social support, though everyone in the class has been supportive so far as I can tell.

Oh, and she talked the issue over with the anatomy professors, and it wasn't necessary for her to wear a mask or anything. Always her prerogative, though. Not many people actually wore masks, interestingly, the smell wasn't terribly overpowering.

cool story.

 

[mcssnc]

I was planning to do the same thing as well. At some of my interviews, however, it was suggested that the best opportunity would be during the third year of med school when clinical rotations start and there is more flexibility.

 

[DrZeke]

Regarding the MASK THING

At one school I went to, they told us all about how their anatomy lab had cameras so that people could watch dissections later online, and also that pregnant people in the class could do the same. I think they actually advise at that school or perhaps it's common that pregnant women not be in the lab. If something is that toxic, I'd gladly watch the dissection from an overhead camera.

 

[Frankie.A]

We have a woman in our class who's due date is tomorrow. Guess what else is tomorrow? Oh, that's right, our anatomy final. She's going to take the test, then go have labor induced at 5, assuming she doesn't pop it out during the practical or something. Talk about a stressful day.

Anyway, she's going to take a break and do her MPH next year, then join up for the rest of her MS1 year with next year's MS1 class. She talked it over with the faculty/administration, and they were very cool and accomodating with everything, apparently. I think that's the big thing. Can't speak for her social support, though everyone in the class has been supportive so far as I can tell.

Oh, and she talked the issue over with the anatomy professors, and it wasn't necessary for her to wear a mask or anything. Always her prerogative, though. Not many people actually wore masks, interestingly, the smell wasn't terribly overpowering.

where do you go to school?

 

[avhart]

I am wasting time and found this thread. (I'm an MS3.) No women in my class have had a kid during med school (and none have kids from before, either). I would say that while being pregnant and having a kid during first year is possible, 2nd year (at our school at least) is the worst year in terms of academic stress and amount of time spent studying. Then comes MS3, which obviously means zero flexibility in terms of time at work. Those aren't really conditions ideal for parenting a 0-2 year old. There's really no good time, but I think the idea of taking time off to get an MPH (or MBA or do research or whatever) might be a good thought with planning to have the kid prior to the start of that year. Of course, you know what they say about the best-laid plans of mice and men...

Sadly(?), this is much less of an issue for men. Men in my class have wives popping out babies left and right! (But the wives also stay home with the kids and do all the housework and childrearing...)

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

Is it possible to stay in medical school while being pregnant? I just got accepted. My husband and I were planning on having a pregnancy that will be due in the summer of MS1 and MS2.. but based on what I have read.. looked like people are talking about deferring school when pregnant. I am not being realistic about my planning? please share experience or stories if you have.. will help us out. thanks! 🙂

I don't have the machinery for pregnancy but I think your pain tolerance will come into play. I've seen a whole range of patients and the ones that have a higher pain tolerance are the ones that can remain calmer under stressful situations. I'm sure the first and second years will be difficult enough without having a person inside you but if you can work through those hormone fluctuations and the kicking and the gas and the hunger it probably won't be a significant problem until your water breaks. That being said, your baby may have you bed-ridden due to nausea and that'll definitely put a toll on your study time. No way to tell but to go through the process.

If you want anecdotes, I remember reading an article about women who were pregnant throughout their MS1 year, where they went to class right up to delivery and were back in class after one week.