What kind of work arrangement do you have?

I joined the department in my third year after graduation and have been working at the university hospital ever since. In my fourth year after graduation, I became pregnant, and during my pregnancy, I was given considerations such as exemption from night shifts to avoid physical strain. After giving birth, I took about a year of maternity leave, and now I work part-time from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM instead of full-time.
When I returned to work, the department head and many senior doctors were supportive and helped me by discussing the timing and work arrangement options.

Is it possible to balance work and childcare?

When I returned to work, I was initially concerned about balancing childcare, as my family lives outside the prefecture and I had no one nearby to rely on, and my husband was working away from home. However, at the university hospital, there are more ward doctors compared to other affiliated hospitals, and we work as a team. This has allowed me to be exempt from on-call duties, and when I need to take sudden leave, such as when my child is unwell, I am supported by my colleagues who willingly cover for me. I am truly grateful for this environment.
Thanks to the support of the doctors around me, I feel that I am able to balance my desire to work as a doctor with my wish to spend quality time with my child as a mother.
Although there are various ways to work as a female doctor with children, my situation is just one example. In our department, there are many doctors with different work arrangements, and the department is very flexible in accommodating individual life events. I believe this allows each of us to pursue our desired career path while adapting to our personal circumstances.