A recent study throws light on a surprising finding: doctors, especially those in their residency years, face more challenges during pregnancy compared to lawyers, another group with high levels of education.
Lilly Springer, a doctoral student at the University of Kansas, spearheaded this research which points out that despite their medical knowledge, physician mothers do not necessarily enjoy better birth outcomes.
Springer’s research, “Occupational Hazard? An Analysis of Birth Outcomes Among Physician Mothers,” takes a closer look at the pregnancy experiences of two professional groups: doctors and lawyers.
It reveals that doctors, surprisingly, have a harder time with pregnancies, experiencing lower birth rates, shorter pregnancies, and a higher chance of preterm deliveries.
This finding is particularly noteworthy because it challenges the assumption that doctors, due to their medical expertise, would naturally have better pregnancy outcomes. Instead, the study suggests the demanding nature of medical residency, which often coincides with women’s prime childbearing years, might play a significant role in these results.
The study compares not only doctors and lawyers but also looks into differences within the medical profession itself, examining outcomes for surgeons versus non-surgeon physicians. It seems that surgeons, with their physically demanding roles and long hours, might be at a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Springer, together with co-authors David Slusky from the University of Kansas and Anupam Jena from Harvard Medical School, also investigated the impact of work hour reforms by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) introduced in 2011. Their findings suggest that these reforms have not significantly improved birth outcomes for physician mothers.
Choosing to compare doctors with lawyers, Springer notes that both professions require extensive education and face similar stresses during the early years of their careers, which often overlap with the time many women consider starting families.
The research used Texas birth data from 2007 to 2014, providing a broad and diverse sample reflective of the U.S. population. This data helped Springer and her team to delve into the specifics of labor and delivery outcomes for highly educated women, highlighting the potential impact of demanding careers on pregnancy.
Springer, who focuses on health economics and gender economics, emphasizes that her study aims to raise awareness about the complexities of pregnancy and childbirth for professional women. She hopes that the findings will encourage a discussion on how to improve work environments for everyone, including pregnant women.
Responding to whether these findings should deter female physicians from having children, Springer firmly disagrees.
Instead, she believes that by highlighting these issues, policymakers and female physicians can make more informed decisions about their fertility choices, leading to a fairer and more supportive work environment for all.
In conclusion, this study sheds light on the need for ongoing attention to the work conditions of professional women, particularly those in demanding medical careers.
By understanding the unique challenges faced by physician mothers, society can take steps to support them better, ensuring healthier outcomes for both mothers and their babies.
