Medicine vs Family

**coglanuk** · 25-07-2005, 01:13 PM

Hi Folks,

I am just curious to find out what strain, if any, becoming a Doc has on a persons family?

As a mature student I will be getting married and probably starting a family during my years at med school.

Does this mean my kids are going to forget what their pops looks like?
Will my wife be neglected and hostile?!

On a serious note; is it difficult to balance?

Do you often have to work nights? 36 hour shifts?

Also if anyone has info on what the family demands are during the first few years of being a Doc then i'd appreciate the info.

Many thanks,

Cog

**LoohooZooher** · 25-07-2005, 01:21 PM

yes good question - i'd be interested to know more about this too, i am getting married next year during my first year as a med student, and we are certainly hoping to have children soon.
please make your posts *ahem* diplomatic so i can print them out and show them to my future wife....

**sunny** · 25-07-2005, 01:42 PM

The 'Parents at Medical School' forum would be a good place to start. I'm starting a GEP course in September and I can't help but worry about the 'tick-tock' of my biological clock!!

TC · 25-07-2005, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by coglanuk

Hi Folks,

I am just curious to find out what strain, if any, becoming a Doc has on a persons family?

As a mature student I will be getting married and probably starting a family during my years at med school.

Does this mean my kids are going to forget what their pops looks like?
Will my wife be neglected and hostile?!

On a serious note; is it difficult to balance?

Do you often have to work nights? 36 hour shifts?

Also if anyone has info on what the family demands are during the first few years of being a Doc then i'd appreciate the info.

Many thanks,

Cog

The caveat to the following is that I don't have any kids or plan to get married any time soon.

Firstly, as a medical student the hours are not that horrendous. Obviously, the workload can at times be very demanding - but there is still plenty of time for social activities so your kids can see you.

You may do a couple of nights during your medical school career but that is it.

So you still have 4/5 years to see your kids before they forget what you look like. ;-)

On a more serious note - I have just had my rota for my job as a PRHO. Whilst in my first week - I start on take 0800-2200 and then the next day start 7 nights (2030-0830 which is usually later after post-take round) - that is just a bad start. In the year you do 4 blocks of 7 nights and various amounts of on call (but not that excessive). There is plenty of time to see the kids (I am fortunate enough not to have any - lol). Obviously there will be slight variations on this from Trust to Trust but not only minor ones.

Furthermore, flexible training is the big issue being tackled by the post-graduate deaneries at the moment. In 5 years time, there will be ample opportunity to do part-time/flexible training - so you may get to see more of the kids than you actually wish ;-) - lol

Good luck.

**coglanuk** · 25-07-2005, 02:14 PM

Thanks for the info.

If 12 hour shifts and the occasional night shift/on call duty are the worst of it, then I think I'll have enough time to annoy the OH and teach the kids bad habits.

**yazoo** · 25-07-2005, 03:58 PM

Originally Posted by TC

On a more serious note - I have just had my rota for my job as a PRHO. Whilst in my first week - I start on take 0800-2200 and then the next day start 7 nights (2030-0830 which is usually later after post-take round) - that is just a bad start.

In at the deep end!

But you're finally starting work!!!

The very best of luck.

**Frank's mum** · 25-07-2005, 07:11 PM

On a more diverse tack, it took me four years to get pregnant, add that to 9 months of pregnancy and I would have finished med school before the baby arrived!

In my opinion, you can't plan these things too carefully, the best laid plans will always fall apart, especially when there is a baby involved. So far I have managed to study and be a mum to a four year old, but I personally wouldn't want to be having a baby while at med school (I'm too old now and would be exhausted all the time), it would be a different experience for the Dads. The main issue I feel will be money. It doesn't matter how much you have, they little bighters seem to find ways for you to spend it. Finding the time to enjoy it all is easy.

Alison