Maternal wellbeing and pregnancy outcomes in anaesthetic trainees

Abstract

The importance of supporting and maintaining doctors’ health and wellbeing cannot be overstated. Combined with the undisputed status of work in medicine as both strenuous and stressful, pregnancy is a unique time during which the mother and unborn baby may be at risk of adverse outcomes. A narrative literature review is presented with a focus on studies of relevance to pregnancy in anaesthesia trainees, however much of the evidence is drawn from studies involving anaesthetic consultants, trainees in other specialties and pregnant workers in general. After a brief exploration into historical concepts in occupational hazards and adverse pregnancy outcomes, further discussion ensues on more recent evidence in relation to specialist training (or ‘residency’), the impact of work stressors and maternal psychological state on pregnancy outcomes and attitudes towards pregnancy during specialist training. Finally, occupational guidelines are considered along with the rationale for ‘pregnancy-friendly’ workplaces and suggestions for future research in this area for both the profession and employers.