She received life-changing news in the middle of surgery: ‘We just keep going’
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I’m [sharing my story] for the woman trying to go for all of it, all at once. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but we just keep going.
—@emilyinpaschool via Instagram
When PA student Emily (@emilyinpaschool on Instagram) walked into her first week of surgery rotation, she was eager to get to work. First thing, she was asked to scrub in on a knee replacement.
But, in the middle of the procedure, right before the cement was mixed, a doctor in the room paused to ask Emily if there was any chance she could be pregnant. Thus, a routine rule-out test before finishing a case that involved toxic chemicals changed her day—and her life.
"Within hours of my positive [pregnancy] test, it seemed like the entire surgical floor knew that one of the students had found out they were pregnant," she said in her Instagram caption.
The Instagram Reel, which captures her shock, humor, and candid reflections, struck a chord with healthcare students and professionals alike—many of whom know all too well the strain of balancing personal milestones with grueling clinical schedules.
From 'didactic year baby' to 'surgery rotation baby'
This wasn't Emily’s first pregnancy while in PA school. She previously gave birth to her daughter Lucy during didactic year—something she now advises against with endearing honesty.
"Concerned nurses and scrub techs asked how I was gonna do it in school," she said. “Compared to having Lucy during didactic year, [my second pregnancy] would be a freaking breeze.”
For many clinicians, her candidness resonates. The didactic year is notorious for its intensity: long lectures, late-night studying, and exams that leave little room for sleep, let alone pregnancy nausea or childcare logistics.
Clinical rotations, while still demanding, offer at least some flexibility and autonomy.
Related: Pregnancy during residency? It’s possible, but keep these factors in mindThe realities behind the post
Behind the humor is a moment that reflects a broader truth in healthcare education and practice: Reproductive realities don’t pause for training schedules.
From residents pumping between surgeries to medical students timing conception around Step exams, the intersection of medicine and motherhood is both common and rarely discussed openly.
Emily’s lighthearted take—posted with emojis, laughter, and gratitude—gives voice to the many women navigating similar paths. Her transparency also opens a dialogue about institutional support. Many healthcare trainees still face inconsistent parental leave policies or cultural pressures to “push through” rather than pause.
Emily’s audience flooded the comments with encouragement. "Love your story! I’m a PA and found out I was pregnant with my third when I was stuck with a needle at work and they had to run bloodwork on me….best surprise ever," said @grace.j.thomas.
'Creating for the woman trying to go for all of it'
Now more than halfway through her pregnancy, Emily says everything has been going well. Her message, though, goes beyond her own story.
By sharing her experience with her social following, Emily is trying to empower other career-driven women in medicine who are trying to balance it all—finding success in her career and at home, with her young family. “I’m creating for the woman trying to go for all of it, all at once,” she wrote. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but we just keep going.”
For healthcare professionals who’ve juggled long shifts, family, and ambition, that sentiment lands squarely. The post is deeply familiar: resilience, humor, and the quiet pride of just keeping going.
Related: Balancing work and home life is possible for physicians—with a little help