I am 29 and my husband is 30. I am a first-year now, and I am doing very well in school - probably in the top portion of my class - maybe top 15 or 20 percent. I feel like I have down how to handle studying for tests the way my school tests us, and I am really wanting to have a baby. However, I am also on a military scholarship. Taking a year off isn't in the books for me, and I don't really want to anyway - I want to go straight through, because of just how I learn and compound information anyway. I think it would work best for me. Anyway, my school does have required attendance at class three times a week, but it mainly PBL, so I am thinking a baby next year wouldn't be the worst idea. I am nervous about having it 3rd or 4th year, as I have to do some required aways with the military, and the requirements for traveling when pregnant are weird. It just doesnt' seem possible to avoid having my baby right before intern year starts because of those rules, and I'm not willing to leave my very newborn for 80 hours of work a week.

And I'm worried about 3rd year, because God forbid I end up on bedrest - I can't just LOA because of my scholarship. I am worried about that a lot. So I want to avoid that year.

Sooo...my husband and I are talking about having a baby at the beginning of April next year, which is before my last test, and my baby would be about a month old when my school releases us for six weeks of board study. We would hire a full-time nanny to help me. Is this insane?

I would only run into "baby with a test" for the last section of school, and I think my study group would help me out still. I am also in very good shape, so I think I could bounce back after delivering fairly quickly and with the help of the nanny still do well on that last test. It would just be balancing a newborn with six weeks of board study - that's where the nanny would help with me managing time with the baby while studying and some without.

Am I completely insane? I told my husband in a perfect world - I'd want to wait til second year of fellowship (I'm fairly certain I will do IM and then fellowship in two fields of consideration right now), but he said under no circumstance can we wait to have our first child til I am 37. I admit it is not really what I want either.

I need some perspective here. Help!

PS - how do you do medical school without caffeine?? !!!

Southernmd-It seems like that would be a good time for you to try for a baby-things to consider though-
1) Will you be ok with leaving your almost 3 year old for 80 hour work weeks when you are an intern
2) What to do if you don't conceive in the one or two cycles you are allotting yourself
3) Do you want more than one child and if so, what kind of age gap would you like to have

Another option may be to get pregnant toward the end of intern year. If you are doing IM the schedule usually lightens up mid second year and third year/fellowship would be an easy time to have children. That would mean first pregnancy around 33 or so-better than waiting until 37!

Good luck!

And to your PS_I don't drink coffee and did just fine (I did use diet coke though!) And one serving of caffiene a day is ok!!

I did it! It was my second baby though. I would actually recommend trying for earlier. Board study with a 1-month-old is asking for trouble. Even the best sleepers usually don't sleep through the night until about 2 months old. For both kids, I was actually most tired between 3 and 7 weeks, not immediately. The fatigue just accumulates. I had my baby in December, took a test 2 weeks later (I could have postponed but chose not to), had a couple of weeks off for Christmas break. I didn't do as well as usual on the first 2 or 3 tests after she was born, but who cares? By the time board study came around, baby was sleeping 12 hours straight and I was back to normal, just busier of course!

So I would actually recommend a middle-of-second-year baby instead. Your school should let you take the first test after baby at a later date, no? Remember, Step 1 is much more important than any of the tests you take in second year. Granted, you'll be weaker on those subjects when you study for Step 1, but you can catch up then. Also, this gives you a cushion if you're not able to conceive right away... then you're back to your original plan.

And caffeine - well it's harder but I took my one serving a day and tried my best to be more efficient! If you're at the top of your class now, I wouldn't worry about it too much. Your ranking might drop but sounds like you have a good margin! And you won't care nearly as much about your grades once you stare into that adorable little face! Good luck! PM me if you want

You will probably do fine on your Step One if you are in the top of your class already, I agree with BE above. You are going to have to accept doing "ok" though because once you have a child mediocrity will sound pretty good...sorry to put it so bluntly but being a just a good physician will sound just fine because your passion will be directed elsewhere from the moment you deliver your beautiful infant...good luck and yes, I would not wait too much longer. Go for it!!!

I agree with the suggestion to consider shooting for earlier - I suspect lecture years your school may be pretty flexible about eg letting you defer an exam or two.

Also, if you're thinking of breastfeeding, keep in mind that the USMLE isn't very generous about supporting breaks for pumping these days - so particularly early on when your milk supply is still being established it might be really hard to do long periods with minimal chances to pump...

Why does he not want to wait until you are 37?

Thank you for all the replies!

He doesn't want to wait til 37, because we want 3 or 4 kids (he plans to stay at home). I don't want to have kids past 40 either. I want time with my husband to start before I am in my mid-sixties (empty nest). I also would like to not start with my first pregnancy seeing a high-risk OB due to age. I don't mind doing it for the latter ones, but I'd at least like to be in the lower risk category for the first one!

We are in serious discussion still for this time frame. I will post with what we decide! I love this forum - you guys are great! Thank you so much for the detailed replies.

I can't imagine just having one serving of caffeine, but I'm sure I could detox and get used to it prior to getting pregnant to go ahead and get the headaches out of the way when I can at least deal with them better.

And yes, my priority will of course be with my child. It will probably be good for me. I'm unfortunately a gunner, but I am a helpful gunner that is known in my class for helping out the struggling with resources and tips, so hopefully I am not that annoying. I think a baby would help mello that out too!

I agree with the post about breastfeeding/pumping-I had to take my FP board re cert while lactating and it was not pleasant-not breaks for that-it is a timed test and such-I was just happy she was five months old at that point so I could go 5 hours between pumps!

I agree with BE, go with as early in 2nd year as possible. Your grades in the preclinical years don't matter a lick compared to Step 1 and your clerkship grades. I had a baby just before 2nd year and the timing was pretty good. It's hard to leave her now that 3rd year is taking up so much time, but infinitely easier than it would have been if she were a newborn. Good luck.

And mellowing is a very good thing!

And....many women have babies, mellow out, and STILL get good grades.

Very true asunshine, very true I think the key is not to *expect* that you will stay at the top of the class after having/mothering a child. But if it happens, well good for you! Doesn't make you a bad mom either!

Ok guys - newest plan....

Get pregnant next month ( WOWOWOW) - and give birth over Christmas. Time it so I give birth around 12/18 or so, and then induce a week early and test early (I know my school would let me do), so I can control the time. (I'm not Type A typical med student gunner or anything...lol). Obviously, this is if the baby is healthy and green means go. Then go back a week late, which I know my school would let me do. This gives me four weeks at home. Hire a live-in nanny. My personal study group already smiled and gave their thumbs up to me and the baby studying with them with the Ergo.

This would alleviate prego during boards, and it would alleviate pumping during intern year problems. I would have a 2.5 yr-old. Who would learn to use Skype. And come see Mommy with Daddy for five minutes to get a good night hug.

Thoughts??? Again, I am 99.9% sure I am going to go IM.

Hubby and I looked and searched, and Christmas is honestly the only break that I'm not going to be either consumed with Step 1 or consumed with Step 2. And then my school has this fun activity of community medicine, which puts me 45 minutes away when I'm not doing either one of those, rotating or in classes....so really - this is the biggest break I get til - second-year of residency. Honestly.

Oh - just in case you doubt my gunner-ness...yes, I have already charted my fertility days, and I am fertile during a time period that times me giving birth around 12/18-12/20. It's amazing I have friends being who I am.

Southernmd-I hope it works out for you in terms of TTC! Good luck-we will be on pins and needles for you! Do you think your Dr would induce a week early?

LOL about child using Skype-my DH used to bring the baby to my call room so I could nurse her when I was on for the weekend. I had another friend whose hubby moved into her call room with the baby and slept there so she could nurse him. There are so manyc reative ways to do this! Good luck!

Ok, so I think we are going to start TTC NOW! I had my last glass of wine tonight. I wanted to talk to it and pet it - I know I will miss it! And I had a salad with bleu cheese in it! Bliss!

Please reassure me this does work itself out. Nanny is still the plan. I met with the Dean of Students, and they even reassured me to stop worrying - they would accommodate me. I know in my heart this is the right decision, but why is it so stressful to be a woman in medicine trying to "have it all"? Hubby is ridiculously supportive - pledging to do whatever it takes to make it work out. We have plans to move this summer to accomodate a live-in nanny...Things that will work are there, but why am I so nervous when my heart says go? Is this the type A in me that can't stand not having every single plan in place ahead of time? I remember applying to medical school - I knew what to do, what I needed, and when to submit it, and I was one of the early submitters with all of it. It felt so good to check things off a list that I planned ahead to do/have. Kids are NOT like this!

Tell me that things do work out...I am nervous, but we are going for it! I have determined I'd rather let the school accomodate my pregnancy than the hospital during shelves/rotations, because it really is easier since I am on PBL/only 3X a week class schedule. All systems plus hubby say go, but I think I am just nervous! What if my child thinks I am a terrible mom? Ok...when they are self-aware enough to think.

Southern-you don't need to say goodbye to blue cheese as long as it is pasteurized (I ate it, and sushi that was fresh during my pregnancies !!)

Kids supposedly don't form lasting memories until age 3, so whenever I yell at the younger ones I try to remind myself of that!)

Docmom - thanks for quick comments! Made me smile!

And YAY on blue cheese! I have also found that spicy V8 is a nice antidote to substituting for Diet Dr. P. I have weaned down to one cup of coffee a day. I can't believe I have even done that. This will be a fun journey...I'll keep you guys up to date. Our goal is to not lose that two weeks at xmas I still have as a second-year to spend with a baby/giving birth. Goal = pregnant with a due date before the end of Christmas break. Then I'll start plotting rotating the in-laws and family members in and out. PS - I can't wait to mellow. I am seriously too type A. Sidebar: I want to go into internal medicine with a fellowship in ID or Hem/Onc...my Dean said the way I plan and plot - I should be an anesthesiologist. So unexpected - here's to third year with a little one trying to figure out my life!

Just relax and enjoy TTC! It will all work out for the best

So I didn't conceive this month. My period started yesterday, and I was incredibly disappointed.

My non-med friends I confided in about this just don't understand. They are telling me how it can take so long to have a baby (I know this already), and that I need to just be patient and it will come when it comes.

That's all fine, but there are plenty of times that are not ideal for it to come due to my school schedule + the fact I'm on a military scholarship (can't travel when I'm over 20 weeks). So I have narrow windows. I also would prefer to not miss lots of time on Step 1 by having to run out and pump as a brand new mom. Six months out from giving birth and taking Step 1 next year was my ideal. We are kicking it up a notch next cycle with ovulation strips, a cervical mucus increasing supplement (i'm chronically rather dry anyway), Softcups aid to hold the sperm near my cervix after sex etc. However, I can't help but feel frustrated. I feel like it is just so much harder to time a baby and actually conceive when you are in medical school or a similar situation somewhere else.

Does anyone have any tips/encouragement/help?

I'm pretty dejected right now. We did all the right things. Sex during fertile days and everything.

hang in there. conceiving isn't one of those things you can control 100%. take some time for yourself, have a glass of wine, maybe get a massage. and try again next month!

Agreed, mai tai. The statistic I've heard repeatedly is that, assuming normal fertility, each cycle you try you have about a 25% chance of succeeding. Being stressed out about it is not going to help any, though I totally understand where you're coming from. Try not to think about it too much (easier said than done!) - whatever happens will happen and you will figure everything out. Good luck

Southern-it can be incredibly frustrating. NBP is right-with normal fertility there is about a 25% chance of conception each cycle, when timed correctly and everything. Our TTC stories-

Child #1-we were at an all inclusive in Aruba, said what the hell, let's start trying, had unprotected sex once or twice and got pregnant

Child #2-planned for, TTC for three months with charting and another three months with charting and ovulation predictors-pregnant on the 6th cycle, just as I was getting ready to make an appt for secondary infertility. It was also a very stressful time in our lives...

Child #3-charted 1st cycle, ov predictors and charts for the next two cycles and got pregnant on the third try. Less stress in our lives-I think that has a lot to do with it....

so the moral is...go away and stay drunk for you fertile week (just kidding !)
Just letting you know you are not alone in the frustration. You will make it work, whenever baby decides to come...
hang in there! Have you checked out fertilityfriend.com?

Thank you guys for your encouragement! On the positive note, I spent the day with an OB as part of our community medicine. I'm just a first-year, so these preceptor type experiences are still new to me. I delivered a placenta today by myself. I also gathered cord blood prior, and I was able to feel for the placenta to start the delivery of the afterbirth. It was incredible. I had thought I would go OB from the start of premed, and I had changed to thinking only IM and subspecialties. After a very satisfying day of office + delivery + time with the amazing OB I was with, OB is now a contender again. I loved it! Surprisingly, being around pregnant women when I was not pregnant was NOT awful, but delightful. I loved it! Helping them felt great!

Maybe next month is my time...I'm crossing my fingers!

Oh, and I had spent 5 semesters with a neonatologist and in the OR with high-risk deliveries from that perspective...the OB perspective IS really different. Today made me feel better. I'm happy about that. Also reading your messages really brightened my day. Thank you for your support.

I'm energized and ready to try again.

I had a baby b/t MS1 and MS2 and I started school with an 18m old. It has worked for us and I am about your age. I am studying for Step 1, as we speak, the only thing that I would consider is the amount of sleep deprivation that you are likely to be experiencing post partum and as you study for your Step 1. As a first time mom, that really packed a wallop for me. You may get lucky and have an awesome sleeper, in which case you can probably handle the nightly feedings and then get right back to bed. I wouldn't count in that though and if it happens then you will be pleasantly surprised. You may consider hiring a night nanny (if you can swing it financially) for those few weeks just before step 1. I don't say this to dissuade you, I just didn't grasp the level of sleep deprivation that comes along with having a newborn, so I thought I'd share so you can prepare.

Best of luck!

well...I guess I should have read this whole thread before posting. Sounds like my advice is a mute point since you will have a live in nanny. Try to not stress, statistically speaking, your time will come!

About to start the famous two-week wait. Crossing my finger for this month, as we would still have hit within the months to allow me to be home for two weeks over Christmas with the little one. Thank you guys for all the support!

I am supposed to start tomorrow....I think I have a faint line on a pregnancy strip from today. I'm scared I'm just crazy and it is an evaporation line, but it looks pretty line-like to me! Hubby is making me wait til Saturday a.m. with first morning urine to test again. I really hope I didn't get a faulty test strip -I'm afraid I"ll be really disappointed!

Ooh, that sounds exciting! Can't wait to hear after your next one! Saturday isn't too far away, though I know it must seem like it... Good luck

Just took a second pregnancy test. The kind where you look for a + sign if you are....


got a faint + sign on this one too!

I THINK I AM PREGNANT!!!!!

Oh - I obviously didn't wait til Saturday. I couldn't pay attention to adrenergic receptor antagonists pharm studying to save my life, so I went to CVS.

It's probably not helping my pharm grade, but I am SO EXCITED!

"puts the diet dr. p away and grabs some juice instead"

From what I remember, even the faintest smidge of a line means that yup, you're pregnant! CONGRATULATIONS!

Five positive pregnancy tests later plus a husband in happy shock = I have an OB appointment on Wednesday for pregnancy confirmation and toxoplasmosis antibody tests (I have cats). I'm so excited! And my boobs hurt. A lot. And I feel very bloated. And I had to get up and pee twice during class today already. This doesn't bode well for my 4.5 hour exams each block, but I'm sure I'll deal. I'm so excited!

Congratulations! How exciting!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

I can't remember the exact number of tests we went through, but... I sure remember the "faint line!?!!??!!!"... no... can't be... maybe? maybe mabye?? "Let's buy 3 more different brands and try all of them!" days. They were right =).

Congratulations!!

We're not the type to hold this in for weeks and weeks, so we told the parents over the phone last night, and they are thrilled. Confused on how I'm going to manage this and be a medical student, but thrilled.

I already decided I'm just going to instigate the midday nap. I am about to start studying from 7 to 12 today, nap, and then study til 5 or 6. I think I can do this if I just stay focused. I know it is going to get hard, but I'll appreciate any tips on beating the hormones (puking, sleepiness etc.). I'm in neuro right now, so I have to stay focused and plugging away, and then I'll be in another tough block right after (my school year goes til the end of June). However, it just turns out, that when we get to discover the sex times right at the end of school. So there is motivation to keep going and finish strong!

Please post any tips for dealing with school and pregnancy my way! I'm already clinging with white nuckles to my one serving of caffeinated coffee a day! Anybody have any favorite body pillows for during tests? Any way to combat the pukey so you aren't running out of class or anatomy lab to throw up? Did everyone double glove in the anatomy lab? Wear a mask? Um....I'm sure I'll have more questions, but I'm so excited and nervous and excited!

Oh, and we used preggo test #6 - Clear and Blue Digital - to register a "pregnant" response to email the parents a picture etc. They loved it!!!

Oh last question (sigh, right)....when should I switch to a rolling bag instead of a backpack? My school is PBL, so I literally go to class for three hours three days a week with a bajillion books. It is heavy. A lot heavy. My husband is already worried. At what point are you not supposed to lift things?

Oh, and if there are any OB's on the board...please tell me that it is just aspartame to avoid and not sucralose. I'm a Splenda user, and I'm terrified I'm hurting my baby, but I just really don't want that much sugar in my coffee in the a.m. or my juice. But I'll do it if sucralose is bad.

Congratulations!!! Good luck!!

Your excitement brings back such fabulous memories!

I know everyone's pregnancy is different, but I suspect most likely you'll find this easier than you expect. It actually never occurred to me to stop carrying my backpack... so I just used it full weight up until the day before I delivered (the last day I went to work). As for exams - for my shelf exams, which are assigned seating, the ladies in the office took it upon themselves to make sure I was always on an aisle in case I had to get up and use the restroom several times.

Finally, I didn't do this when I was pregnant since I was a third year then and just in clinic all day, but just in general when I have to study but am sleepy, I used to love going to my gym (quiet and light-filled) and setting a treadmill to some slow walking speed (often up a slight incline, if you want to make it harder - but not too hard, since you want to be able to keep it up for an hour or two!). Then I'd do flashcards / read for a full study session. It kept me awake, kept me at least a little active even when I was too busy to sneak in my normal full workout... and kept me from checking my email every 5 minutes when I got bored, too!

First congrats. Second, take a deep breath and RELAX! Talk to your anatomy professors about exposure. You may not get nauseous at all, so don't worry about it until it happens. I never used body pillows for tests or anything. I carried my older child all the time (30+ lbs) when pregnant with my second. I suspect most second-or-more-times moms carry way more than your backpack. If you have no complications, you can just continue your normal life. CONGRATS!!!

I was about to say the same--I'm planning on lugging my 29-pounder around until the day I deliver! What else is a mom to do?

Re: anatomy lab. I double gloved and wore an N-95 mask (although formalin probably even gets through that anyway). I casually backed off when we were doing deep dissections, especially the ones where we were digging around in fat or other juicy things. And I skipped a lot of anatomy lab, too.

If you haven't already, get your flu and H1N1 shot (non-nasal spray kind) post haste! I read about this only after I had been pregnant twice, and wish I had learned more sooner!

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/301/3/324

"The finding that exposure to influenza during pregnancy may be an etiologic factor for schizophrenia may lead to new understanding of the pathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of this devastating condition. For example, vaccinating women of childbearing age against influenza might help prevent some forms of schizophrenia."

Great advice guys!

I am fortunate that I already got both flu (i'm a huge pro-vaccine advocate) in the fall, so I'm covered! Yay!

My bookbag has huge things like Purvis, Blumefield, Moore Anatomy, First Aid, my laptop, Robbins Big, and some small ones like High Yield, Clinical Neur Ridic Simple etc. I'm a little worried, because it all weighs a little more than what you guys have described. Plus, I have to trek it up two flights of stairs. I may just go ahead and roll bag it, because I'm a paranoid freak already.

And I'm definitely going to wear a mask and double glove in lab! I think I'm going to tell my anatomy prof I'm pregnant, so he understands and can also advise me per anything he thinks (or understands why I'm not as gung ho into digging as everyone else).

Also, I am supposed to do work with an HIV doc this summer in the clinic and do case reports. Please tell me I can still do this with the exception that I avoid patients with CMV. And I will wear a mask and not touch any patients. I'll be a silent observer with my mask and gloves on.

Thank you for all your support! I am so excited! I am already sick of peeing every five minutes, but the baby TOTALLY makes up for that!

Hmmm. Working with the HIV doc in the summer is the only thing you've mentioned that I did worry a bit about when pregnant. Here's my initial thoughts - avoid eg being around the total mystery patients (you know, the "we'd better do an LP and send it for every screen, because we've got no idea but we think it's bad..." patients) and be REALLY into universal precautions - plus, your OB will do a screen when you go in initially for whether you're already immune to things like parvo and CMV, and then you can tailor how careful you are some in response to that.

I actually turned out to be CMV negative, and did nearly my entire set of core third year rotations while pregnant despite that (including all my core peds and IM) - I just told everyone exactly what I was worried about and asked them to help me avoid patients with any at all risk of such illnesses.

You'll have the TORCH infections DOWN by the end of this year, I can tell =)!

Oh man, I'd ditch the books before the backpack! But then again, I never had the time to read from that many books in one school day. If I needed to, I used the ones on reserve at the library or the online versions via elsevier or accessmedicine.

Yeah, unfortunately, during our group, we use all the books, and are constantly switching back and forth between them since we don't get slides - we just do like 1500 pages of reading every block, and our tests comes from that. Gotta lug them.

On the upside, my summer is still intact. I won't be able to see the CMV+ patients, but I will be able to do rounds, clinic and the high-risk HIV+ OB clinic with the doc wearing protective gear of course. He wants me to be tested for CMV and toxoplasmosis, which I already intended on doing anyway. Plus, I get to be a part of this research project, as well as a few case reports, so I am still happy with my summer. Thank goodness!

PS - lugging the bookbag was really harder than I thought today. Is that weird for such an early pregnancy? It didn't just didn't "feel right." I really do think I'm going to have to switch to a rolling bag. I'm still going to try to not broadcast the pregnancy til I'm at least 9 weeks or 10 weeks, though. We'll see if I can hide it from my small med school sorority!

My guess is that the backpack not feeling right was more psychological/related to increased bodily self-awareness, rather than an actual physical effect of early pregnancy. Not to say that it's not completely valid! You can justify switching to a roller bag by saying that the backpack was killing your back and you decided not to put up with it anymore. You may get teased some, but who really cares?

For later in pregnancy, I got a back support pillow (I bought one on Amazon rather than dish out the dough for something expensive) and was very happy with it. Most of them have a strap on the back for securing them to chairs. I didn't find the strap very useful for that purpose, but if you have a roller bag you can put the strap around the bag handle and carry it around with you that way. If you switch to a roller bag AND carry the back pillow now though, you are definitely going to get raised eyebrows. My back didn't hurt any more than usual until sometime in the second trimester, so hopefully it won't be a problem for you.

One other thing - I know it's tempting to tell people but if I were you I would make a really genuine effort to keep this from your classmates until at least the end of the first trimester. One reason is just that the first trimester is the most unstable. Not that you should worry, but it would be truly awful if something happened and you had to tell EVERYONE. A more relevant reason though is that, if your med school is anything like mine or the other ones I've heard about, news travels very very fast and secrets are impossible to keep. You definitely don't want the administration hearing about your pregnancy from your classmates! Just my two cents

Thank you - great advice. The back support pillow was something I was going to use in the fall during MS2. I'm just a planner.

I am really going to try to keep it a secret. By telling the HIV doc, because I had to, plus telling a trip coordinator that I had to pull out of a mission trip, plus by telling the pathology prof I trust in order to properly handle lab the way she thinks I should....honestly, I just don't expect a miracle. My school is literally like a sorority. I don't want anything bad to happen either! My sister never had morning sickness in her pregnancy, and we seem to be similar in that respect (random, huh - as in, we compared birth control reactions and had the same ones), so I'm hoping I just get the heartburn she got too, which will help in hiding it.

You guys are the best! I probably come off as a control freak/OCD crazy person!

This is kind of turning into a diary of sorts, but I hit five weeks yesterday. It is so exciting! I can't wait til I get to hear the heartbeat on April 27! I find myself worrying that the baby is not ok, because I haven't seen the heart beat yet, but I know it is just my own worry. I'm sure everything is fine- this is just another version of the waiting game. I've also discovered this awesome sparkling water, La Croix, that has no sodium, no caffeine and no artificial sweeteners. I don't think my class has caught on yet, because it looks like a soda, and I drink it all the time (like I used to with sodas). I plan to tell them right after my next test, which is right after the heartbeat confirmation around the 9 week mark. I'm so excited to meet my baby already. I have a gut feeling it is a girl.

Keep us posted! So excited for you!! I remember that wait...how are you going to hear the HB?

So excited for you, and hope all goes well in the coming weeks.

I was in school almost until delivery and lifted a heavy backpack the entire time. Not sure if that was the smartest idea but it made a great counter-weight to the bump in front.

Docmomof3 - you know, I have no idea. We haven't had that section in med school, so I really am not sure. I think some sort of sonogram? I really don't know - I'll be 9 weeks, so whatever that means I get? ??? I wish I had had this in school already so I knew more! Does anyone know what you get at 9 weeks???

I also decided I'm going to prestudy this summer for pulmonology, which is the block I'll be delivering in, so hopefully that will make passing our difficult tests with like 12 subjects under that umbrella doable. A third year shared that tactic with me who also gave birth last year during second year for her. She said it made it easier on her to do that.

I actually switched practices to a doctor that our chief in family med (who I am good friends with) likes himself better than the one I had initially met with. I didn't have a great feeling about that one, so I now feel better being paired with one that a doctor I trust really loves (and used himself). That appointment is at 9 weeks, and I was told by the practice that I will get an ultrasound, which is exciting!

I'm fighting nausea and pretty much the feeling of dislike towards food/any drink right now. I am normally a super healthy eater, but it seems the only thing the baby wants is fried foods. This is NOT normally how I eat, and I desperately want to eat the salads/grilled chicken I am used to, but the very thought of these things now make me want to vomit.

Do you guys have any tips? I don't know how to cope with this. I found myself eating french fries last night, because it was literally the only thing I could tolerate. Trust me, I've tried forcing healthy foods I am used to eating on myself i.e. oatmeal for breakfast and black bean soup for lunch - I literally wanted to vomit afterwards. This is ridiculous! My baby is the size of the lentil bean, and it is controlling my entire daily food intake!

Any tips on nausea also? Going to the anatomy lab makes me literally want to hurl at this point also.

Hello, I am new to this board as an aspiring med-mom. I was pregnant during my undergrad with both of my kids. I used the pillow!

The nausea was downright debilitating for me at times. I managed with a lot of sparkling water beverages like La Croix or Perrier -- worked wonders for the nausea as long as I kept sipping throughout the day. You can purchase the cans which are perfectly portable.

Personally, this "food aversion" as I always called it--exactly what you are describing--begins to wane by the end of the first trimester. I was back to most of my normal foods by second tri. Most people talked about cravings, but for me it was the aversions that were so bad.

Anyway, hope that helps...no tips on anatomy lab though, sorry!

I also craved French fries like crazy!!! First trimester only though. I think it was the salt I was craving. Don't worry

I love La Croix! I've been buying and drinking that, but I think the baby is catching on to the fact that this might be a healthy choice, as it is quickly becoming rejected now.

I am drinking the berry flavor right now (against the baby's wishes). LOL.

Now I want fries again. YUM. There was an interest group meeting for a specialty I don't even want to go into, yet, I stayed for the meeting to get the free pizza today.
I am acting like an alien! Thanks little lentil bean!

Anatomy lab was fine for me until I hit 8 weeks, then it was the suck until about week 14.

I survived by using Vicks under my nose and reapplying liberally every 1/2 hour or so. My tank mates assumed I was just not as into the lower belly/limb portion, until we had to start telling people (cuz I am as big as another mom-to-be who is seven months!). I was so excited to feel well enough to dig in and work on the facial dissection and removal of the zygomatic arch, it was almost scary!

I lived on Apple Sauce, String Cheese, and Roasted Chicken breast subs from Subway for those six weeks. Then, magically, around week 14, I could eat like a real person again. According to the 'What to Expect When you are Expecting' App for my iPhone (FREE app, BTW) my little one is the size of a turnip. Guess I will be checking those out when I actually make it to the grocery store next!

Good luck!

My best nausea advice after everything else fails? One word: ondansetron. 2 med school babies, needed it both times, and worked like a charm - they're now thriving 1.5 and almost 4 year olds.

I used ondansetron too, and it was a total life-saver - I never would have been able to leave the house without it.

An important thing to remember about nausea during pregnancy is just as eating certain foods can make you nauseous, so can an empty stomach. I found, during my pregnancy, that if I ate a little bit, I would feel a little better. I used to keep some crackers or cookies (and of course water - don't get dehydrated!) near my bed so I could eat a few minutes before getting out of bed in the morning, and I found that this really minimized the nausea. I also found that eating full meals was difficult, but grazing on whatever I could (crackers, ice cream, pizza bagels - not the healthiest foods, but ones I could tolerate) during the day whenever I felt like it helped me prevent having an empty stomach, while also giving me the calories I needed.
Another thing that many books will tell you is that during the first few months, it's important to eat whatever you can keep down, even if it's not the healthiest foods. You'll have time during the rest of your pregnancy to eat in a more traditionally healthy way, but now it's just important to get calories in your body and make sure you don't lose too much weight.
Good luck!

Another tip about nausea - constipation can definitely make nausea worse! Not everyone gets constipated during pregnancy but a lot of people do, even if it isn't as talked about as nausea. Try to use a fiber supplement (you can mix powder in with water or juice, or take a pill if you can handle swallowing one at this point). If constipation is a big issue, your doc will probably okay docusate (colace), but obviously check to be sure. Just thought I'd share since it was an issue for me, and getting things moving definitely helped with the nausea. Sorry for the TMI!

just have to add that a lot of prescription prentatals (e.g. prenatal-19 and se-natal) include colace.

Prescription prenatals? I am just taking some from the grocery store! Am I in trouble? My doc appt is next week - should I ask for these kinds? Am I hurting my baby by not being on the prescription kinds? ???? Worried now!

Also my family doc doesn't like prescribing Zofran and Phen. for preggos. Is this a popular wave of thought among a portion of docs? I haven't been to the OB yet (switched practices - this next doctor has never seen me), so I'm going to ask him for them, so in the meantime I asked my family med doc, who is quite prominant at my medical school also for what it is worth, and I have worked with him some - he is very good as a doc - why are some docs not into prescribing them?

No no no - I don't think you're going to hurt your baby by not taking prescription prenatals! My OB did recommend omega-3 fatty acid supplements, though, which I took - the data does suggest some benefit. There's specific info on how much of what type to get (which almost no prenatals that include it reach), but I can't remember it at the moment...

Gracious no, prescription prenatals aren't any different. Just cheaper with my insurance plan Some people will argue that prenatals aren't even needed with a balanced diet.