So, here goes! :-)

Hi All!

I have been reading some of the other members journal online appreciating their experiences, so I thought I would start one as well!

I'm a 3rd year medical student. Becoming a doctor has always been my dream since I was little and I am loving being in the hospital this year! My husband and I have been married for a little over 2 years now. My dilemma now is whether to have a baby now or wait. My plan has always been to have a baby during my 4th year of medical school, and I defiantly feel that I am ready on every level that is within my control (finances, housing, maturity), but there are many things that I cannot account for that are medical school/residency related. It seems to me that now is the best time since I would have a lite 4th year to spend with my baby, but I do worry about Step II (ugh) and intern year. Being only 16 weeks into my 3rd year and having been on mostly laid-back rotations, I am not sure how intense a residency would be (btw, I am leaning toward peds). I am still young so I technically could wait, but again, I am not sure waiting till residency or after would be any better. Plus I get so exciting thinking about a baby! :-)

Anyway, we changed our insurance today from a HDP to a reg Deductible so that we can be prepared. I one month to 100% decide based on what I *think is a good timeline for 4th year, step, rotations, etc.

Till I write again! :-)

So, I started my OB/GYN rotation a week ago and really really like it! I could defiantly see myself in this profession. It is a lot of hard work, but it's fun! I love seeing the birth of a new baby! And I enjoy being there for the woman in clinic, and making her feel comfortable and taken care of. I <3 OB.
However, it is concerning how unhappy the residents are though. I guess it is because they work so much? Is it just that they are residents? I know OB/GYN docs have hectic lifestyles....I wonder if private OB/GYN docs are happy?

Well, this rotation lasts until christmas!!!

Btw, I have done IM (really enjoyed it) and psych (interesting, enjoyed) thus far.

Btw, I am totally going to gain weight this rotation! The students have access to the doctors lounge which has FREE ice cream, among other things! lol. [A certain number of students were sent to rotation through a private hospital with the residents so that's why there's free stuff.]

Just one week left of OB/GYN! I am looking forward to sleeping past 4 am when it's over

As hard as I tried not to, I have fallen in love with OB/GYN. Still haven't done peds yet though.

And in other news, still not pregnant. To my surprise, it's not as automatic as human physiology would have me believe.

Anyone have thoughts on OB/GYN residency and an infant?....The residents where I am are pretty intense/busy.

Hey Sunshine,

I'm a 3rd year medical student too. My first rotation was OB-GYN and I loved it too. I too noticed that the residents looked extremely unhappy and overworked. Since that rotation I've done Peds, FP, and OMM (Osteopathic Manipulation Medicine -- something DO students experience). I found that I loved FP and that FP residents can choose to sub-specialize in women's health. So... that did it for me... and I'm 99.8% certain I'm going into FP. The 0.2% is reserved for Surgery... I just have to find out if it's for me.

Good luck w/everything!

So, I'm now doing Family Medicine-halfway through actually. Wow, I can not believe how this year is just flying by!

So far, I really like Family Medicine too. I like the variety I see...i.e. Friday I treated DM, HTN, dyslipidemia (of course,lol), obesity, depression, 2 paps, 2 wet preps, one OB checkup, skin scraping for scabies, gout, arthritis, and the "biophysical profile." I have found that I like the 4y/o-40y/o population the best, so I don't know what that means as far as career choices. The downside that I have seen thus far though-pt who talk too much (only because there are time constraints) with too many problems, who won't accept my advice (i.e. smoking is bad) Mostly, it's a problem because you are suppose to interview, exam,and treat the patient in 15 minutes, as well as the paperwork. Anyway, just my thoughts so far....

So, another month went by and not pregnant. I was really hoping to be pregnant by this time for school scheduling reasons.... also, at this point, if I get pregnant now, I will be due the same week that I am suppose to be a bridesmaid in my friends wedding..... I'm wondering if I am not meant to have a baby at this time after all.

Ok! Finished Family medicine last week and overall enjoyed my experience. So I guess I'll add that to my list too, lol.

Hello all!

I started Peds this month! First off, I have to say that from orientation, I gather this will be the most intense rotation I have done yet. There are so many extra assignments to do, it's a little annoying to tell the truth.

BUT, I am in the NICU for 2 weeks and love it so far! Those babies are so tiny and cute. And I love to see the changes in them (in my "vast" experience of 4 days,lol). My staff is super nice as well as entertaining (he tells jokes and stories,lol). I am learning so much, so quickly. I like my resident as well, although only 2 of them are Peds and the others are MPeds. I feel so lucky to have a nice team. (I've been worried after hearing of some other students bad experiences.)

Maybe this is it!?! I hope I continue to like peds....

I haven't mentioned this previously, but since I was a little girl, I planned to do pediatrics, sub-specializing in cardiology, based on a childhood experience. But, I've been trying to me open-minded; because my desire for peds was not based on any clinician situational experiences.

If I end up not liking Peds when I get to clinics and wards, I'll be lost because I have liked everything else I have done this year as well, with OB/GYN topping the list---how would I choose?....

Well, now I am in the pediatric clinics for two weeks, which are enjoyable, but not nearly as much fun at the NICU. There is not much autonomy in the clinics...I do not even see patients by myself. It's strange going from doing everything, including A/P and having my plan actually used (FM)...to just shadowing basically. I also notice the peds residents have less autonomy than medicine residents (or at least in clinics so far). I hope this is not a general theme in peds residency.
Some clinics are better than others. Basically, if the staff takes the time to teach me something, I am generally happy, because I feel like I am not wasting my time just standing around.

Other than that, I am a little under the weather...I have a slight cold it seems. Hopefully, it will resolve soon.

Oh, and I also spent last weekend visiting a friend out of state (I flew there for the weekend because she is about to finish up her masters and I hadn't had the chance to fly out to see her yet). So, that was a lot of fun!!! And I started thinking that maybe I would like to move away for residency (I previously thought I would just stay at my home institution)....going away could be a new adventure!

Lastly, in baby news, no baby yet

Still here! On the in-patient service now, general peds team. I am having a lot of fun, a lot of hours-but enjoying myself! I had to work the weekend so I'll be on 12 days; but, then I'll have next weekend off....to study.

~Love seeing kids get better, and smile~

well, going to finish my peds rotation this week...and then the test :-0 I am sad to say that this past week has not been enjoyable...I'm doing heme/onc, it's long hours, sad times, and my team is not particularly helpful all the time.....

Anyway, I'm trying to stay positive...and not let the last bit of negativity characterize my whole rotation....

Started ortho ped surgery this past week. It's pretty cool, especially when they let me do something in the surgery.

We had a residency planning lecture this past week too...and man, there is a lot to do for 4th year and I feel very behind. I started working on my CV...and have a few people in mind to get LOR from. I guess that will be this weeks goal.

Other than that, Easter was ok...pretty good weekend, but then in-law drama at the end. I suppose it will always be an issue, trying to please everyone.

Finished by draft of my CV, met with one of the associate directors today to let him evaluate it....just finished the suggested revisions...so, now I'm set to give a copy to those I'm asking for LOR! yay!
(btw, it's two pages...I know it's technically suppose to be one...but there was no way it was going to be one page-possibly one a one-third...so, I just put everything and made it a full two pages. My associate director didn't seem to think it was a problem)

I'm pregnant!!!

Ok, so it's been a few weeks....this is my last week of sub-specialty surgery-I'm doing plastics currently...it's cool but the surgeries are long. I'm so tired when I get home after my 12 hour day. For the last few days, I keep getting nausea when I'm in the OR...I just try not to think about it-there's no point in leaving the OR because I'd still have to come back-and I'd still be nauseous when I got back. My attending is very nice, but I'm sure he wouldn't be happy about the student skipping surgery-there would be no one to hold the skin/fat/retractor, lol. Anyway, 6 weeks left! I start general surgery Monday.

Oh, yeah, I've defiantly ruled out surgery as a career for me!

In more exciting news....my first OB appt is Friday! I'll be approximately 8 weeks so hopefully I'll get an U/S! I can't wait!!! I'm so excited! I just want to see him/her on the U/S, hear my babys heart beat? Then, it will be real...

two weeks left of surgery...then the exam...I sure hope it's easier than people say. How do they expect students to study after a 14-16 hr day? I don't understand. General surgery is crazy. I get there at 5am and leave at 7-9pm-and this happens M-F plus the weekend if it's your weekend to work. Anyone who does surgery must REALLY love it...

Had my second OB appt! 8 weeks till I find out the sex of my baby...I just can't wait! HR=160 and everything looks good so far

Just an update....

Baby is officially 19 weeks old today! And about the size of a mango apparently. Last OB appt was July 1st and everything looked good. I had gained 2.8 pounds that month (right on target!). Heart Rate in the 150's and strong And the best news is we are having the gender ultrasound in two weeks.....and then we'll know whether we should be buying pink or blue! I guess that's really all there is to say!

Other than that, studying for step 2....blah. Glad to be getting it out of the way though!

It's a boy!!!!! yay! With his high heart rate I was totally surprised...I guess it really is old wives tales. We are so excited! My MIL sent us a doctor outfit onesie to open on U/S day...how perfect!

And on that note, I did no studying yesterday!!! Ahhh, my step 2 is tomorrow, wish me luck and say a prayer-I can't wait for this to be over

Step 2-check
AI complete-check
ERAS complete-check
LORs complete-check
Deans letter-pending
Step 2CS-PENDING
INTERVIEWS-PENDING

So, I've been trying to figure out a schedule for interviewing....I don't know what to do. No one interviews until November (which is when I schedule CS and my neuro rotation-meaning test at the end of the block...meaning, I have to actually study again this block) so I can maybe get two interviews in between Nov/early Dec because then I'm going to have my baby! Then I won't be able to interview again until January? Is that ok?-to interview so late? I would really like to interview at, at least my two home programs and 2-3 out of state programs! Plus if I interview before and after baby, does that mean I need two suits?

ok, so I haven't been able to get on in a while...first because I had no time and then because I forgot my password...I reset it but never received a new one...anyway, I haven't been able to get into my account and I've been wanting to post since early January-so solution: make a new name!

So, Baby Boy was born in early December! He is happy, healthy and growing. I can't believe how much I love this little man. Just when I thought I couldn't love him any more, he started smiling! Makes these nights of no sleep seem insignificant when he smiles!

So, I interviewed up until the end of January. I didn't do too many so it wasn't bad. There were obstacles interviewing both pregnant and with a newborn; overall, it worked out though.

Rank list were due last night-makes me nervous thinking about it. I have to thing "what is suppose to be, will be," otherwise I'll go crazy. It was difficult ranking programs because I didn't just consider what was the "best" program, or which one I liked "the most, or "gut feeling" but tried to consider all the logistics too!

Anyway, that's my update!

Well, medical school is basically over! I have a week left on my last required rotation and then a month of special topics! yay! I matched in pediatrics at my first choice

My little man is wonderful! He rolled over yesterday...at 4 months! He's so smart, lol. He's only done it once now...he usually gets suck and rolls back before actually getting on his tummy. He's learning!

Trying to figure out how all this is going to work when residency starts now :-0

Wow, I'm exactly one month from graduation....from being M.D. So exciting!!! It's all sun shine and flowers...until July right? lol, then I'll have to actually do something, know something?

4th year sure is nice. We're doing special topics now...getting lectures on professionalism, financial planning, etc. Nice.

And I must brag, my baby is rolling over like a champ now! He is such a wonderful happy baby.

Today, I'm wondering about moving again. I live just outside a major city, currently 35 minutes (without traffic) from the hospital, 60 minutes with traffic. I'm looking at adding a lot of time to my day with my commute. But, other than proximity to the hospital and also the city itself (from a social aspect), I can think of lots of reasons to stay where I am...family, equity in house, cost of living, and crime rates.