Family planning

Hi! I'm new to this website and was hoping some of you could help me out. I'm a 3rd year medical student and am planning on starting my residency in Internal Medicine in a little over a year. I'm trying to figure out how difficult it would be to start a family life (ie. start having kids) during residency (probably my 2nd year). My question for those of you who can answer is, "do you feel like your medical spouse is free enough during the 2nd and 3rd years of internal medicine residencies to be a good parent?" What are/were the stressors? Any insight into what to expect would be greatly appreciated!

[fluffhead]

Are you a man or a woman? Is your husband/wife/SO willing to stay at home with your child(ren)? Can you locate your residency close to family?
Check out the archives. It's not easy, but it's doable.

[BonBon]

You might also want to check out mommd.com Very useful website also. (whether you are male or female, imo)

I am a man. My future wife is willing to stay home with the kids or perhaps take on an accomodating job, but only if it doesn't conflict with having a family life. We plan on living near supportive family.
What archives?

[DCJenn]

Hi-

First, welcome aboard. Second, if you want a huge number of opinions- just ask an open ended questions like "when to have kids". If you go to the "Attic" section you will see our archives. Also, in the parenting area we've discussed this (although never reached a consensus)

I think it's highly dependent on a number of factors that you don't know yet- where you will live, if your spouse will have a job, how intense your program ends up being, and whether you will want to start with a newborn after intership year. We knew lots of people who did things at varying times throughout the medical path. We waited until after residency- due to a number of circumstances. That said, it's worked out incredibly well.

Go, read, and come on by any time. (and send you spouse, too, since she will be the bearer of said children...)

Jenn

[SueC]

I'd say the fact that you are thinking about this beforehand, would indicate you probably can be a good parent even in the midst of your medical training. Second year is a perfectly good time to have a baby, intern year on the other hand would be difficult in my opinion.