Pregnancy and parental leave among plastic surgery residents in Canada: a nationwide survey of attitudes and experiences O n average, following the completion of a surgical residency, exiting trainees in Canada are 33.2 years of age. 1 The average age at which mothers in Canada had their first child was 29.2 years in 2016. 2 Therefore, residents who hope to start a family may consider pregnancy dur ing their training. However, surgical residents are in an undesirable position to start a family

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... ecause of their long work hours, the physically demanding nature of their work, specific occupational hazards and less flexibility in resi dency rotation scheduling. 3 A survey of members and candidates of the Amer ican Society of Plastic Surgeons found that 72.6% of women and 39.2% of men delayed having children because of the demands of training. 4 As there is an increased risk of both maternal and fetal complications related to deferred childbirth, especially after age 35, many plastic surgery graduates may find themselves conflicted between the demands of a professional career and par enting priorities. 5 With only 26 new trainees starting plastic surgery residencies each year in Canada, it can be challenging for small surgical programs like plastic surgery to accommodate parental leave. Starting a family during residency can be compli cated and situationally dependent, and it is important to understand the impact of the environment on this life event by investigating the experiences of resi dents and recent graduates across Canada. This study aimed to report the experiences, attitudes and perceived support of Canadian plastic surgery resi dents and surgeons with respect to pregnancy and parenting during training.