I am not in residency, but I thought 8 weeks was enough with my first one. I work 65+ a week at work. I plan to take the same amount of time with my next one. I would imagine if you are working 80 hours a week, that would make things a bit different since you would really not have a whole lot of time seeing your baby once you go back to work.... It was weird. When I was at home, I was going stir crazy. Once I started working, I was going crazy not to be with my baby.

Assuming a successful interview season, I'll be starting a prelim or transitional year before radiology residency this coming academic year. Is it possible to have a baby during that year and still make it to my radiology residency the following year? I feel like this is a question I can definitely not ask programs!

@astrisize - Hmmmm. That's a tough one. So, in theory, it should be possible... assuming you have an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery, and are willing to take very little maternity leave (as in, 2-3 weeks - maybe as much as 4.5 weeks if you use all vacation and sick leave all at once - and then, of course, never get sick again for the rest of the year). The question is how much you're willing to accept (1) the risk that the pregnancy does not go as planned, and (2) having your baby with that little flexibility.

It's also possible that if this all happens once you're already matched into both programs, then they'll be ok with you eg finishing your transitional year a few weeks or a month late and starting the next program an equivalent amount late. But.... it's a gamble.

That's a tough one!!

I took 6 weeks. I wasn't in residency, I was doing research and working 12hr shifts in the cardiac surgery ICU. I worked until I had contractions at work at 39w, luckily 2 of us worked in the ICU and the patients were stable that night. I think it depends on you, I was bored at home and loved going back to work. I also had a very easy, peasy delivery.