Maternity policy and practice during surgery residency: how we do it.

Background: Pregnancy during general surgery residency has traditionally been discouraged.

Methods: In 2001, using an approved protocol, we anonymously surveyed 25 residents (PGY3 level or greater) concerning their experiences working with each other during episodes of resident pregnancy and maternity leave.

Results: From 1995 to 2001, 13 of 59 residents in general surgery were female (22%). While training, 6 of 13 residents reported 8 pregnancies with 2 miscarriages. Five residents (39%) gave birth to 6 children and adopted 1 child. Residents worked until the day of term delivery in 5 of 6 cases; 1 pregnancy was complicated by placental abruption at 33 weeks. Residents were off work postpartum for a median of 6 weeks (range 2-6). Nursing was universal for > or = 3 months but at-work problems with privacy and stress were frequent. On survey, all resident mothers believed they had been treated very fairly, and 94% of surveyed male peers stated that the coworker's status had no effect or a positive effect on their own work life. Fatherhood was reported to occur during residency by 42% of male respondents.

Conclusions: Parenthood during residency is frequent. The complexities of resident maternity can be handled with mutual safety, equity, and satisfaction by the residents and faculty of a surgical training program.