Pregnancy During Residency
Scheduling Rotations
Complications during Pregnancy
Finding a Family Physician
Starting a family should give you the push to put finding a family physician
at the top of your list.
- Physician Health Program of BC is able to provide referrals to family physicians, for more information contact them toll free: or
- The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC has a searchable list of physicians by location and gender, noting those that are currently accepting new patients. You can access the search here.
- In Vancouver, the BC Women's Hospital has a list of Family Physicians accepting patients as well as Physicians accepting Maternity Patients.
- In Vancouver, the BC Women's Hospital has a list of midwifery clinics that support patients delivering at BC Women's Hosptial
Some of these physicians may also accept you and your family as general patients down the road. When choosing a maternity care provider, you may want to consider where they have hospital privileges (teaching vs. non-teaching hospital).
Workload
Residents have a unique workload, including long hours, potentially violent or hazardous exposures and physically demanding procedures. Accommodating t
he demands of residency with the physical changes of pregnancy can be tricky but not impossible. The current PAR-BC Collective Agreement includes a Memorandum of Understanding on Workload during pregnancy, that ensures if the resident's physician notes a reduction in work is warranted then the workload shall be reduced to the extent prescribed, including the elimination of call if necessary.
UBC also has a policy regarding Pregnancy in Residency. This policy specifically denotes that after 24 weeks gestation residents will not be required to work more than 12 continuous hours, and may opt out of duties to comply with infectious disease prophylactic measures.
Scheduling Rotations
You should meet with your Program Director as soon as you are comfortable doing so to discuss your training adjustments and expected Maternity Leave date. When you sit down with your residency director to discuss your upcoming maternity leave, it is a
lso important to review the rotations you will complete while pregnant. Be realistic about how you will be feeling during your first, second and third trimesters and consider moving rotations to best suit your physical state. Fatigue and nausea are common in the first trimester, most women feel quite well during the second trimester, and the third trimester is marked by fatigue, leg swelling and difficulty bending. Consider tailoring your rotations to make your heavier rotations during the second trimester.
It is worth thinking about the exposures we deal with during the course of our training and how they will relate to your pregnancy. You may choose to defer a rotation, for example, in pediatrics emergency during the peak of flu season to avoid excess infectious exposures. Think about rotations with increased infectious, radiation and toxic exposures and discuss these concerns with your program director and occupational health services at your local health region.
Talk to your residency director about what the department policies are regarding pregnant residents. Many departments will have a cut off point at which night call is no longer expected. When you discuss your end of work date, set a date that you are comfortable with but remind your director (and yourself!) that everything will depend on how the pregnancy unfolds. You may have to stop work earlier than planned or have lighter duties if there are complications during your pregnancy.
Complications During Pregnancy
Should you have to stop work early due to complications of your pregnancy you should be aware that, under the current PAR-BC Collective Agreement, this time should be considered sick leave, not maternity leave (See Article 9.01(E))
As per the Collective Agreement sick leave is six (6) months, or until your Long Term Disability coverage starts, whichever comes first.
If you have disability insurance you may be entitled to disability compensation through your insurer. Women generally pay a slightly higher rate for disability insurance due to the risk of pregnancy related disability leave so if you should find yourself in that position do not hesitate to claim — you have already paid for this situation. Consider arranging a research elective if you need to go on bedrest or reduced activities to minimize time missed from your residency.
EI Sickness Benefits
If your income is reduced by more than 40% while on disability you may qualify for EI Sickness Benefits.
According to Service Canada, Sickness benefits may be paid up to 15 weeks to a person who is unable to work because of sickness, injury or quarantine. As with maternity leave you are required to have worked 600 hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim to be eligible. You will also need a medical certificate from your physician to confirm the duration of your inability to work. The fees for the certificate are your responsibility.
A person who makes a claim for sickness benefits is not only required to prove to be unable to work but also that he or she would be otherwise available for work.
If you work while on sick leave your earnings are deducted dollar for dollar from your benefit amount.
EI Benefits can be paid for up to 50 weeks in a 52 week period, but biological mothers many be eligible for more than 50 weeks of combined benefits. For more information contact Service Canada at or visit your local Service Canada Centre
Termination of a Pregnancy
When a pregnancy terminates within the first 19 weeks of pregnancy, it is considered an illness under EI. If that is the case, EI sickness benefits may be paid as long as the qualifying conditions for sickness benefits are met. Please note you must use your employer paid sick leave before accessing EI sickness benefits as per Service Canada.
On the other hand, if the pregnancy terminates in the 20th week or later, the claim for benefits can be considered for EI maternity benefits if the qualifying conditions for maternity benefits are met.
You may also be eligible for sick leave or long-term disability under the Collective Agreement.
If your partner’s pregnancy terminates you are also eligible for compassionate leave of three (3) days, plus an additional two (2) days travel if needed. You may also be eligible for sick leave or long-term disability under the Collective Agreement.
The Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) and the Physicians Health Program (PHP) both offer services to support residents dealing with grief and loss. Both offer confidential 24-hour help lines and referrals.
Employee and Family Assistance Program – EFAP:
Physicains Health Program – PHP:
Day-to-day Advice
Remember to eat frequently; take your bathroom breaks. If you have not tried them before, compression stockings, especially on call, can make a big difference to leg swelling and fatigue. Prescription stockings are covered by the resident health plan but for 15-25 dollars you can pick up a pair from medical supply drugstores to see if they are helpful to you.
Pregnancy is tiring and you will require more sleep. Take naps in the evening if you need them and get into the habit of sleeping post call. You will have regular medical appointments throughout your pregnancy and the frequency will increase to once a week by the end of your third trimester. Talk to your program director about the best times to book your appointments. Some people find appointments right after half day, on post call days or at the end of the work day are the least inconvenient.
