Challenges of Motherhood for Anesthesiologists: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Medical specialties
• Anesthesiology
• Gender studies in medicine

Background:

• Female anesthesiologists encounter persistent career advancement challenges.
• Motherhood, including infertility and childcare, can exacerbate these professional hurdles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine personal and systemic barriers and facilitators to career advancement for anesthesiologists experiencing infertility, pregnancy, and childcare.
• To synthesize findings from existing literature on this topic.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of 22 relevant studies.
• Analysis of themes including pregnancy timing, parental leave, lactation, childcare, gender norms, job reentry, and work-life balance.

Main Results:

• Key themes identified: parental leave policies, lactation support, childcare and gender norms, job reentry, and work-life balance.
• Barriers include inadequate policies and societal gender norms.
• Facilitators involve supportive institutional structures and policies.

Conclusions:

• Clear parental leave policies, adequate lactation spaces, and protected break times are recommended.
• Addressing gender disparities in leadership and prioritizing physician well-being are essential.
• Institutions must develop equitable policies to support pregnant and parent anesthesiologists for career advancement and satisfaction.