Can I join the club? I'm a first year and thinking maybe 3rd/4th year.

Drey-
I agree with you, I initially thought about trying now (I am in my first year too and counting down the days of neuroscience left!!), because I have recently discovered not going to class and am home all the time, but I decided against. As I said in my previous post and was advised by someone else, you have to do well on boards. I feel such a weight off my shoulders since making that decision. We are going to start trying next March, and whatever happens, happens. I just want to be able to relax and let nature take it's course rather than trying to get pregnant during this teeny little window.

Emily-Sorry I missed your reply, but that sounds great! I am really looking forward to it. I am so looking forward to being done with this schoolwork garbage. I was ( and am) and RN in my former pre-medstudent life. I love the hospital and clinic and can't wait to get there!

Plum and Drey - I like the idea of a "club"! I will be so grateful to have a couple fellow med students to share this process with. No one else quite understands, I think.

Emily-
I know what you mean. I don't know how old you are (I am 27-28 in May) and many in my class are younger or not even married. That was my biggest hangup about coming to medical school, having a family. I am so lucky because I have an awesome husband who is an engineer and willing work part-time or stay at home for awhile, but I don't want to miss out on everything either. I am doing my clerkships in a community hospital where I think they would be very amenable to him bringing the babe in for short visits. I didn't ever want to go to a high stress cutthroat medschool, I just don't work like that. I have a few qualms about living on only love and loans, but hell there are out-of-state students (much more pricey) here who have wives who stay at home now with kids, so I think we are doing pretty good.
We are pitching the BC next March so nature can take it's course. I am really excited. What are your situations Emily and Drey? What types of medicine are you thinking? That is another thing, sometimes the culture in medicine is so workaholic. Like I'm bad for having a long term goal of working 3-4 days/week so I can be with my family. Grrrr!

I'm 23, and my husband is also an engineer (that seems to be a common theme on these boards, lots of medical ladies married to engineers) and he would also be willing to be a stay-at-home dad, although his doing that during fourth year amounts to financial suicide. (Although, as you mention, there are some guys in our class with stay at home wives)

There is one woman in the second year class that just had a baby, so she will have a newborn going into third year, but she seems to be reasonably sane, so she gives me hope.

I'd really like to do Emergency Medicine right now. I love the chaos and the variety. I also like the idea of no call....

We haven't made and absolute decision yet on when to start ttc. I"ll keep you guys updated.

Hi again!

Sorry it took me a few days to get back to you ... I had an exam this morning that consumed much of the last week. To help me out, my husband blocked several of my favorite time-wasting websites while I was studying.

Anyway, I am 25 almost 26 and have been married for the past 3 years to a PhD student. He should be finishing up in the next couple years. I am financially conservative (OK, cheap), so I know I won't be comfortable having a baby until he is graduated and has a grown-up job - I refuse to borrow more $$$ to pay for daycare/nanny. So we have some time yet ... in my dream world, I'd get pregnant sometime around September after boards, finish 3rd year and then take a research year b/t 3rd and 4th to ease into parenthood.

Right now, I am thinking oncology/cardiology. But honestly, I have no idea ... we'll see.

A.

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents... I'm 32, just finished 1st yr, have a 2yo daughter & a husband who travels for work...and for better or worse, we're thinking of having a second child, but if so, I'd probably shoot for being in the second trimester going into step 1.

First trimester is probably the worst for many women, as you may have morning sickness (I was lucky not to have it), or you may be overcome with exhaustion (that's what happened for me), etc. because your body is just getting used to the idea of being pregnant. Second trimester is the "honeymoon" trimester, and then third it gets harder to move around, get sleep, etc.

Hi HAM,

i'm a "rising" third year and expecting my first child in december. my husband and i were planning on trying to conceive in late spring/early summer, not knowing how long it would take to get pregnant (and we both want to have children sooner, rather than later for health reasons). well, we certainly got pregnant sooner (first month off BCP!) and while it was earlier than expected, it actually worked out great. i was in the morning sickness phase for the last month of school, but thankfully they were courses i was comfortable with. i ended my first trimester (and said goodbye to morning sickness!!!) by the end of courses and had time to study for my Step 1 (which i took on tuesday!!)

as far as rotations - i am choosing to do my medicine rotation first. i will be in my second trimester for the two inpatient months, then starting my third during my outpatient month. then i have "flex" time scheduled and will do my one-month core rotations until i deliver. the schedules for those (rad, neuro, psych) are pretty much 9-5, M-F. i'm then going to take a year off to do research - i could have planned to go right back after delivery, and squeezed everything in, but want the experience of staying at home and being with my child.

it is definitely do-able, and if you have any other questions, feel free to PM me!

best of luck!!!