Studying for Step-1 while pregnant?

[zona.pellucida]

Thoughts?
My school does not have mandatory attendance except for some labs and PBL stuff. Do you think it is feasible to start a family in second year (delivery towards end of second year - June/July )? I am 29 btw and we decided it is best to have kids while in school rather than residency. My husband works from home as well.

I would really appreciate any other thoughts from you ladies who managed to study for Step-1 while pregnant as well. Thanks!

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[username456789]

With that kind of timeline, you would be delivering right about the exact time you took Step 1 where I went to school.

 

[DrTBone]

Thoughts?
My school does not have mandatory attendance except for some labs and PBL stuff. Do you think it is feasible to start a family in second year (delivery towards end of second year - June/July )? I am 29 btw and we decided it is best to have kids while in school rather than residency. My husband works from home as well.

I would really appreciate any other thoughts from you ladies who managed to study for Step-1 while pregnant as well. Thanks!

Hey ! I did it and passed but it was tough to study when I felt like I had the flu the whole time and couldn't drink any caffeine. Sitting through that test at 9 months was pretty rough too But I would do it all over again. Being pregnant is the easy part btw. If you get a nanny from day one or can have the baby's grandmother move in for a few months it'll save your life, since you have to heal and try to get some sleep. Also since your husband works at home you could prob do daycare. You have to have lots of backup plans so you don't miss days when your kid is sick. And you will be sick and have to go into work. Consider how much time you need off after delivery. If you have a c section you might want to take off more than one month. I haven't done residency yet so I have nothing to compare it too, but the baby's first year is going to be the toughest so plan accordingly. My son is 14 months and things have finally calmed down in my life, But I can't study on weekends while he's up from 6 am-8pm and I have had to do a lot of studying before he wakes up and after he goes to bed and not get any sleep myself. You'll be fine and it'll all be fun, I'm just trying to warn you when ppl say having a new born is hard it's an understatement. Having my son has been the hardest thing I've done, way harder than school. My advice is just plan ahead for full time help and enjoy !!!

 

[zona.pellucida]

Hey ! I did it and passed but it was tough to study when I felt like I had the flu the whole time and couldn't drink any caffeine. Sitting through that test at 9 months was pretty rough too But I would do it all over again. Being pregnant is the easy part btw. If you get a nanny from day one or can have the baby's grandmother move in for a few months it'll save your life, since you have to heal and try to get some sleep. Also since your husband works at home you could prob do daycare. You have to have lots of backup plans so you don't miss days when your kid is sick. And you will be sick and have to go into work. Consider how much time you need off after delivery. If you have a c section you might want to take off more than one month. I haven't done residency yet so I have nothing to compare it too, but the baby's first year is going to be the toughest so plan accordingly. My son is 14 months and things have finally calmed down in my life, But I can't study on weekends while he's up from 6 am-8pm and I have had to do a lot of studying before he wakes up and after he goes to bed and not get any sleep myself. You'll be fine and it'll all be fun, I'm just trying to warn you when ppl say having a new born is hard it's an understatement. Having my son has been the hardest thing I've done, way harder than school. My advice is just plan ahead for full time help and enjoy !!!

Thank you for that kind reply @DrTBone - Kudos to you for being a supermom! Was the prometric center really accommodating? If you don't mind me asking; are you happy with your score? Also, I know planning way ahead doesn't help, but do you think taking Step-1 after delivery, around July would be a better idea?

 

[psychhopefull2016]

When does your school sit for step 1? We sat in April so being due in July as long as there was no complications would be ok from a step standpoint. The issue would more be having an infant during 3rd year. One of my good friends became a dad september of 3rd year and made it work without a hiccup, but he was dad

 

[DrTBone]

I would definitely not take a test right after delivery. That was the hardest time of my life just to exist I would have completely failed if I had tried to take step 1 after lol if you're really itching to have a baby soon, what I did worked out ok and I'm not sure if any time would have been better. I didn't do so well on step 1 but I think I just don't test well. So hopefully you won't have similar issues. I prob got preg very end of sept then took boards very end of May did my first rotation in June even tho I didn't know if I would finish it lol and then he stayed in til early July. I think that adds up to 40 ish weeks ? Its pretty tough no matter what cause even if you wait to deliver until like after all the shelfs all the boards you still have to fly all over the country fourth year for interviews ..... So really anytime can work you just have to make sure you have family or a nanny or your husband to help if you have tests to study for or have to travel to take. The pe or whatever. Good luck!!!!! It's def worth it and doable

 

[DrTBone]

Also for comlex you don't have extra time for bathroom breaks but I did manage to finish and go to the bathroom prob 1000 times. You can get up as often as you want but it cuts out of your time. Its all pretty scary what school do you go to? I did pbl at LECOM Bradenton idk. How many schools do pbl

 

[icd22]

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[theSmurfette]

Don't discount baby brain! My 3rd child was born a few weeks into first year and I had difficulty concentrating long enough to comprehend the material in those last weeks leading up to their birth. After he was born, there was a stark difference in my comprehension. I can't imagine studying for Step 1 like that. I likely would have failed Step 1.

You could also end up on bed rest for the end of your pregnancy. And there goes your carefully planned schedule.

Babies don't like to come on a schedule. We tried for 6 months before I got pregnant. He was born 12 days past his due date.


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[DrTBone]

Well I thought thats what it was but I did about the same on step 2 so maybe its just me. Maybe i just never got my brain back lol. idk WOW i have no idea how you do it with 3 kids. Kudos to you smurfette!

 

[Tenk]

Sounds like a bad idea. Step one is literally the most important test you will ever take in your life. Why handicap yourself in any way whatsoever? Start after. (My opinion obviously)