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!