I'm a Junior Doctor, and a Mum. AMA!

[theywillcheckhim]

I thought I might be a bit interesting since I was pregnant at 17.

I'm now working towards becoming a GP (hopefully), with the view to perhaps branch out.

Ask away!

You've done fantastically well if you had a baby so young. Did you stay at home when you went to university? How much help have you had from a partner/parents?

Hollow I didn't have the baby at 17. I miscarried (twice), and then left the man I was with due to it being an incredibly abusive relationship (emotionally).

I had my DS at 19 and got married 3 months before at 18.

I was always desperate to become a mum. I just needed to get it out of my system. And I'm glad I did have my son when I did, despite what people may assume.

I am a better Dr, I believe, as a parent. And I am a better Dr, I believe, because of life experience. In lots of ways I can emphasise and have a social background that allowed me to relate to a lot of patients in less than ideal situations.

I am just about to turn 30 now.

What's been your favourite speciality so far? And your worst? Where are you at now in your career?

Who does the childcare and housework in your household?

I ask because i think it's important to acknowledge help we have and that none of us can do everything. You can't be simultaneously examining patients and at your dc's school family learning sessions. And that's ok.

I love paediatrics, but I won't go into it. It's far too long a route to consultancy, for me.

Surgery is my ideal of hell.

Ruffle I'll be honest and say it's very hard. There are many times where I am certainly not 100% the best mum I can be.

And that's because I have to give 100% of myself to my work. I simply do not have 200%, it isn't possible.

But in my child's early years, I was always there. I couldn't have left him then, I don't think. It asks too much of you. DS was attached to my hip and breasts until about 2.5/3. Then he gradually just became a child uninterested by me.

I knew the time was right to follow my dream once he became old enough for school.

Oh, I do all the housework really! I'm extremely House proud in that sense. I must have everything a certain way. I feel extremely stressed if my house isn't how I like it.

It really irritates me when DH tries to help out

He knows not to wash any washing, that's for sure. That's grounds for divorce

How worrying do you think people asking for medical advice over the internet is?

Being on mumsnet you must see that a lot? Terrifying when anyone could claim to be a dr.

ok I think that's an interesting one, and I'm of the opinion that it depends.

Obviously certain things should just alert people to seek medical attention ASAP. Such as chest pain, heavy blood loss, etc

But things like "Does this look like eczema to you?" Seem harmless really.

And I personally think it can be helpful sometimes when you've seen countless medical professionals with no answers. If I remember correctly, that's how a distant relative discovered she had an autoimmune disease. Someone online encouraged her to push for certain tests

All the Jeremy Hunt stuff a few years ago, all the DM articles, all the attempts to drum up bad feeling against you... what was the outcome for JDs? I am not in the UK so lost track.

How did you manage medical school with a child? Do you think it has held you back in any way? I'm going back into second year in September and my Son will be 10 months old.

How did you manage FY1/2 With a small child, are shifts really as unpredictable as they make out ? Does HR show no mercy ?