Carmel Curtis and Diana Rosof-Williams are medical students, and parents of small children. Here they give some practical advice on how to cope if you decide to have a baby at medical school
Your time as a medical student can be one of the most exciting and fulfilling times of your life, as well as one of the most stressful. Add pregnancy, childbirth, and a baby into the equation, and your coping strategies may be stretched to the limit. Having said that, being a medical student and a parent either with or without a partner can be done--we are here to prove it.
What to do when you see the little blue line
Most women will find out they are pregnant during the first trimester, when there are few physical signs other than perhaps fatigue or morning sickness. The decision whether to have the baby is difficult and highly personal, but people other than friends and family can help you reach a decision (see further information box).
If you decide to have the baby, resist the temptation to keep the news to yourself. This trimester can pack a real punch and you may need more understanding during this time than at any other. We both remember dashing off pale faced to find the nearest toilet, leaving both patients and tutors behind.
Make some allowances for the effects of fatigue, distraction, or hormones on your memory and concentration. Every woman is affected differently; therefore, tell your personal adviser, or your head of firm if that is more appropriate, as soon as you can. Discuss with him or her the time off from the course that you will need to take. Remember that if you are a clinical student, it may be possible to end with one rotation halfway throughout the year and to rejoin it the next time the subsequent rotation is offered. Alternatively, you may be able to fit your maternity leave into vacation time, but you will need a lot of support to return before your baby is 3 months old (the earliest age that childcare is usually offered).
Survival back at school
It may be possible to negotiate different on call schedules than your peers for your clinical attachments. Working weekends may not appeal, but if that is the only time your partner or friends can cover, this may be the best option. Many medical schools send students out to peripheral placements, often many miles away, and you will need special consideration if this happens at your school. If you find your head of year or adviser unsympathetic try to find someone at your medical school who will be an advocate for you. We found most people accommodating and helpful.
Take advantage of your more supportive colleagues who might be willing to swap on call rotas to help you out, and try also to take advantage of all the teaching that you are offered at the hospital, as evening study can become more difficult with a child to care for. Remember to organise family or friends to supplement your normal childcare around exams.
Childcare
Whether or not you intend to take a year off medical school, you will need to look for childcare sooner rather than later. It may seem absurd to search for a place a year in advance, but for some nurseries that is already too late. The number of places for children under 2 years is the most limited and you will need to research both private and council run nurseries. It is also worth asking if your university has any sponsored or subsidised childcare places for students at a local named nursery. We found that nurseries on hospital sites rarely offer places to non-NHS staff.
Other options open to you are childminders who will care for your child in their home. Your local authority will send you a list of those registered in your area. Employing an au pair is another option but they can legally only work 37 hours per week and you will exceed this if you work more than 4 days per week. Using a nanny is another option albeit a very expensive one; the internet is a good source of agency telephone numbers.
Firstly, find out what the policy of your medical school is regarding any special circumstances that might apply to you when applying for preregistration house officer (PRHO) posts. If you confine yourself to your medical school's PRHO matching scheme you may get more flexibility when choosing jobs. It is worth contacting the current PRHOs in the jobs you are interested in to find out how busy those jobs are. If you are going to apply to off scheme jobs, send your CV off well in advance. There are also flexible training posts on offer at certain hospitals for those students who wish to do a reduced number of hours over a longer period. Remember, no matter what job you choose you will need more flexible childcare to cover this busy year, perhaps combining a nursery and an au pair.
