Babies, Bacteria, Boards, Oh My!

An Unexpected Beginning to Med School

By the end of four years in medical school, only 6.9% of students have children, according to the 2024 Association of American Medical Colleges graduation questionnaire. One week after orientation, buzzing with excitement about the journey ahead, I found myself staring at a pregnancy test that read “positive.” Ironically, it was a Saturday morning, and I had already promised my anatomy group I’d help finish a dissection. I panicked about the result, the future, the changes that were to come, and about my imminent exposure to formaldehyde. I realized my journey was about to take a turn I had not planned for, but at the same time, it felt like I was stepping into two lifelong dreams at once.

My daughter Charlotte came on April 23rd, exactly on her due date, five days after a major exam and three weeks before our finals. In an insane feat fueled by sleep deprivation and sheer determination, I completed the final exam with the rest of my cohort in order to ensure the maximum amount of time off for the summer with my daughter.

Juggling Second Year and Motherhood

The second year began, and I can attest that medical school and pregnancy were much easier for me than medical school and a baby. I was pulled 100% in two directions. It was incredibly difficult at first to manage both my home and school life. At home, there was a thriving baby who was learning, growing, and changing daily. At school, it was a demanding, fast-paced course load that did not slow down for anyone. I never imagined the ways in which I would be tested and continue to be tested, but I also never imagined the grit that I possessed that has kept me here and given me a new purpose.                                                           

From Lecture Halls to Lullabies

One of the hardest things about being a mom in medical school is something I never really considered prior to birth: the constant mental switch between two versions of myself. It is “academic” Adrian, who studies hard, loves cardiology, and struggles with microbiology, who got a text message that her daughter rolled over for the first time while I sat in a lecture hall. It is “mom” Adrian who sings endlessly, loves long stroller walks, and is trying to keep her household afloat whilst realizing she has quizzes due and lectures in need of a second pass.

The mental toll of switching modes leaves me feeling torn between two identities that don’t seem to come together as one cohesive person yet. From the moment I stepped foot into the Evan’s Center, I spent my time focused on studying, school, and the priorities within those four walls. Sure, I periodically check in and stare at pictures of Charlotte, but I try to stay in academic mode as much as possible. When I get home, the school bag does not get opened. It is now time for stories, songs, peek-a-boo, and bathtime. After my daughter is in bed, I wrap up my day back in academic mode with a final burst of studying. Switching back and forth, allowing each identity to exist separately, is the only way in which I have found that I am able to be efficient with my time.

Having a Strong Support System

Since having Charlotte, several people have asked me about family planning and how feasible it truly is to have a baby in medical school. Whenever I’m approached about it, my first question is always the same: “Do you have a support system?” My support system is the key that has allowed me to pursue my dream of becoming a physician. Between my mom watching Charlotte while I attend lectures and study, to my husband taking on the cooking and household chores, I am truly supported from all angles.

I could never accomplish any of this alone, and I am eternally indebted to those around me who are helping make this dream a reality. As far as family planning goes for anyone who may be considering a baby in medical school, I would tell them it is incredibly challenging, but it is definitely doable under the right circumstances. You need a rock-solid support system, determination, and flexibility. You have to find that balance that works for you where you still prioritize school, but maximize your time with your child, too. Mom-guilt is inevitable, but knowing that you maximize both the quantity and the quality of your time together every day helps me know I am doing my absolute best.

Balancing Motherhood and Medicine

My daughter is hands down the best thing that has ever happened to me. It sounds cliché or corny to say, but I barely remember life before her. In a lot of ways, I am really happy with the timing of her birth because medical school can sweep you up into this vacuum of sorts where life doesn’t seem to exist outside of it. You can easily lose parts of yourself in the grind. I do not worry about losing myself because I come home to the greatest part of me, smiling and squealing when I walk in the door.

I have a purpose and meaning outside of medicine, which helps to put everything into perspective at the end of a hard day. My daughter reminds me that while medicine is my calling, motherhood is my purpose, and both coexist to balance me and, in turn, make me a better mom and future physician. 

About the Author

Adrian Titzer is a second-year osteopathic medical student at the Marian University Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is currently interested in Pediatrics with additional interests in Cardiology. In her free time, she likes playing with her daughter, baking sourdough, and trying out new restaurants with her husband! Adrian is passionate about finding ways to foster better work/life balances and making careers in medicine achievable while also building a family.

About Franc Notes

Discover the voices of Marian University's health professions students through "Franc Notes", a vibrant, student-led blog that embodies our Franciscan commitment to community, reflection, and compassionate service. Inspired by the rhythm of "SOAP notes," it features weekly insights—from "DO Diaries" interviews with physicians to summer reflections and program spotlights—fostering collaboration across disciplines."