A study conducted at a large institution explored the experiences of physician trainees with pregnancy and parenthood to inform policies that support them. Interviews with 28 trainee parents, predominantly women, revealed five key challenges:
- The timing of training creates obstacles for family planning due to factors such as parental age and geographic limitations for support.
- Trainee parents often depend on assistance from partners, family, and fellow trainees.
- There is widespread misinformation and a lack of transparency regarding parental leave policies.
- The work environment significantly hinders trainees’ ability to meet breastfeeding goals.
- Inadequate and unreliable childcare options, including issues related to cost and availability, are prevalent.
The findings suggest that improved communication about parental leave, breastfeeding support for faculty, on-site childcare, and financial assistance for childcare and breastfeeding equipment would benefit trainee parents. These insights highlight important implications for institutional policies and underscore the need to enhance the wellness of trainee parents during their medical education.