In this episode of The Junior Doctor Series: The Unspoken Truth, I sit down with Lakmal and explore the deeply human side of being both a doctor and a mother. Lakmal shares how she looks after herself—through art, meditation, yoga, healthy living, and making sure she takes half an hour of "me time" each day despite being a mum, wife, and daughter.

She opens up about the challenges of working in Emergency Medicine while pregnant, including fatigue, lowered immunity, and the high-risk nature of the environment. She recalls her scariest moment: suffering an antepartum haemorrhage during a shift and needing to be transferred to another hospital. From this, she strongly encourages other doctors to take leave on time—at least six weeks before delivery.

After giving birth, Lakmal took six months off to prioritise bonding with her daughter, and later navigated the steep return to work as a registrar. She reflects on the importance of having a strong support system at home, part-time flexibility, and an amazing husband by her side.

Now, as a GP working part-time, she finds more balance, cherishes quality time with her daughter, and embraces the art of being both a mother and a doctor.

She also doesn't shy away from naming workplace challenges, such as dealing with difficult colleagues, and shares her philosophy as a senior doctor: respect your juniors, because everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses.

🌟 Her final message is simple but powerful: Be yourself. Treat your patients as patients, not just cases.

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