Navigating Pregnancy As An EM Physician

EM Pulse Podcast™

Pregnancy is common during medical training and in the early years as an attending physician, as these stages often align with individuals’ reproductive potential. The experience can vary widely depending on factors such as workplace dynamics, scheduling, and the physical demands of the job. But let’s be real – running around a busy ED while carrying extra weight, feeling nauseated (maybe vomiting), and managing all of the physical and emotional changes that come with pregnancy is a real challenge that many of us have lived. There are numerous considerations to navigate, from how we wish to be perceived as a team member to the risks posed by the workload on our bodies. Additionally, departmental or hospital policies may have financial implications that further complicate the situation. Join us as and Dr. Katren Tyler – EM physician and mother of two – as we break it all down.

This the second episode in our three part series on infertility, pregnancy and breastfeeding as an Emergency Physician. If you missed it, go back and check out part 1! And stay tuned for our final episode of the series where we’ll delve into some of the challenges surrounding breastfeeding and pumping in the ED.

Does your ED have policies to help support people through pregnancy? Share your experience with us on social media @empulsepodcast or at ucdavisem.com

Hosts:

Dr. Sarah Medeiros, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at UC Davis

Dr. Julia Magaña, Associate Professor of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at UC Davis

Guests:

Katren Tyler, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Vice Chair of Geriatric Emergency Medicine and Wellness at UC Davis

Resources:

Tips for Pregnancy EM Physicians, by Sandra Williams, DO (ACEP)

MacVane CZ, Fix ML, Strout TD, et al. Congratulations, You’re Pregnant! Now About Your Shifts . . . : The State of Maternity Leave Attitudes and Culture in EM. West J Emerg Med. 2017 Aug;18(5):800-810. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2017.6.33843. Epub 2017 Jul 17. PMID: 28874931; PMCID: PMC5576615.

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Thank you to the UC Davis Department of Emergency Medicine for supporting this podcast and to Orlando Magaña at OM Productions for audio production services.