The Challenge of Becoming a Surgeon-Parent

Despite a majority of surgeons having children and many institutions having policies in place intended to support pregnant surgeons, obstetric complications remain high for both childbearing surgeons and childbearing partners of surgeons. Halix et al provide a first-of-its-kind survey of both childbearing surgeons as well as surgeons whose partners gave birth to assess obstetric complication rates, identify risk factors among the groups, and assess the cultural context of these complications related to the field of surgery. Despite a majority of surgeons having children and many institutions having policies in place intended to support pregnant surgeons, obstetric complications remain high for both childbearing surgeons and childbearing partners of surgeons. Halix et al provide a first-of-its-kind survey of both childbearing surgeons as well as surgeons whose partners gave birth to assess obstetric complication rates, identify risk factors among the groups, and assess the cultural context of these complications related to the field of surgery.