Pregnancy and Motherhood Experiences of Turkish Women Anaesthesiologists in Training and Work Life

To evaluate the experiences and perceived obstacles related to pregnancy and motherhood among Turkish women anaesthesiologists and to identify work-related factors associated with considering resignation during pregnancy.

This cross-sectional survey targeted female anaesthesiologists working in or trained in Türkiye. Participants responded to 39 items across five domains: (1) demographics and professional background, (2) fertility intentions and childbearing decisions, (3) pregnancy history and obstetric outcomes, (4) impact of pregnancy on training, work-life, and academic productivity, and (5) breastfeeding practices and workplace support. Responses were collected over a two-week period without reminder emails and subsequently analyzed.

A total of 334 women anaesthesiologists completed the survey; 55.7% had at least one child and 36.8% were childless. Among those without children, 41.3% still desired motherhood, and working conditions were significantly associated with uncertainty or reluctance toward childbearing (P < 0.001). 39.8% of participants delayed antenatal visits due to workload. Most participants (84.2%) returned early from maternity leave, and 75.5% reported reduced academic productivity during pregnancy or motherhood. Among those who breastfed or pumped at work, 47.8% discontinued earlier than intended, largely because of work-related constraints. Overall, 35.2% considered resigning during pregnancy, and work-related disruption of antenatal care was the only independent predictor of intent to resign (odds ratio 0.28, 95% confidence interval 0.12-0.61, P=0.001).

Turkish pregnant anaesthesiologists frequently experienced disruptions in antenatal care, shortened maternity leave, reduced academic productivity, and inadequate breastfeeding support. Working conditions significantly influence both fertility decisions and intentions to resign.