Obstetric experience of female medical practitioners as patients

The objective was to investigate the obstetric experience of South Australian medical practitioners, and in addition, to assess whether the reported increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes among medical practitioners in America occurs in South Australia. A population-based postal survey of the entire registered female medical population of South Australia was carried out. Comparison was made with randomly selected individually matched pregnant South Australian control women. No significant increase in any complications was found when compared with a case-controlled group matched for age, parity, year of delivery, and social class. There was a strongly significant increase in their interest in pregnant women and empathy with the difficulties of pregnancy after their own deliveries. The reported increase in complications in American women may be due to the working conditions of those studied. Further assessment of obstetric outcome should consider the individual women's working conditions, including stress. The South Australian group in general reported more difficulties with the postpartum period than the pregnancy itself, and this is the area where more research, and practical assistance should be concentrated.