Session 119

In this episode, Ryan is joined by co-host Allison, as they tackle a question coming from a MSHQ listener, Grace, who seeks to know more about parenthood as a physician.

Grace is a premed student and she also wants to have kids and people think she is crazy. So this episode talks about how it is not really crazy to have a kids even when you’re pursuing your career as a physician. Yes, you can be a parent and a physician at the same time!

Parenthood is part of life and you just have to know how to deal with it. You can make it work. You can be a parent and a physician at the same time. You absolutely can do it!

Here are the highlights of the conversation with :

• Allison going through the pregnancy when she was out of residency (a conscious decision on Ryan and Allison’s part)
• The hardships of having baby during residency
• The ramifications of having a maternity/family medical leave –
• 12 weeks of unpaid leave
• Postponing graduation depending on the program (other programs have an elective time)
• There is no perfect time to have a child.
• More of a personal decision
• Know what the situation would be in your program

• Allison breaking the new after 16 weeks
• Make sure to let your boss know first.

• Patricia Arquette’s speech at the Oscar’s about also paying attention to women in our society
• Women are not being paid as much as men

• It will change your life forever (in a great way)
• Dealing with hormonal/physical changes while taking care of patients (during pregnancy)
• Maternity leave is important
• Allison having 13 weeks off (unpaid)
• The importance of joining a mom’s group/community to get that support
• The change in mindset
• A hard transition at first but it’s totally doable!
• Priorities have changed
• No more sticking around at work
• More no nonsense and you become more efficient

• Sleep deprivation as a factor: You can’t have too much caffeine when you’re pregnant.
• Having extended leave can help
• Coping with all the changes
• Taking one day off a week to spend time with your family
• Adjusting when transitioning back to work

• Exhaustion
• Support
• Dealing with the woman’s hormonal/emotional roller coaster
• First several months were very hard
• Not much you can do as a dad but to support
• Starts to get more fun after a few months

• 12 weeks unpaid leave
• A private place for you to use a breast pump at work

Links and Other Resources

• Episode 61 – Medical School Mom – Prioritizing Family, School and More
• Free MCAT Gift: Free 30+ page guide with tips to help you maximize your MCAT score and which includes discount codes for MCAT prep as well.
• Get us free on your device. Subscribe and listen to new episodes each week. Visit www.medicalschoolhq.net/listen
• Hang out with us over at medicalschoolhq.net/group. Click join and we’ll add you up to our private Facebook group. Share your successes and miseries with the rest of us.
• Listen to our podcast for free at iTunes: medicalschoolhq.net/itunes and leave us a review there!
• Any questions you want us to answer? Email Ryan at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or Allison at allison@medicalschoolhq.net or leave us a note at medicalschoolhq.net/contact