Beep, beep … beep, beep! It’s 5 a.m. when my alarm clock sounds to wake me for a busy day ahead. Naturally, I tap “snooze” and continue to rest for those 8 golden minutes until the next alarm. Depending on the day of the week and how many consecutive days I’ve worked, this order of events could continue for another cycle or two. But alas, I rise for the day. First things first, I grab my glasses and a cup of coffee. I then settle into my place at the kitchen table, where I review topics or patients for the day and simultaneously pump milk for my 10-month-old baby girl, Eleanor. Once my session is over, I prepare the bottles for the day and quietly continue getting ready while she and my husband sleep. My husband, Gregory, is a true gem and a wonderful father. He has helped me in more ways than he can imagine during my busy residency year. Because I need to be at the hospital early, Gregory dresses Eleanor in the clothes I’ve set out and drops her off at day care on his way to work.

Once at the hospital, the hustle truly begins, as it does for pharmacy residents all over the country. My year-long residency was extended by 2 months because of my maternity leave last fall. I’m currently completing my last rotation, which consists of rounding with the infectious diseases physicians I’ve grown to know well over the year. My favorite thing about infectious diseases is that you never know what the day is going to hold. Will it be a multidrug-resistant organism that we should treat with a novel antibiotic? An update to an Emergency Use Authorization for a COVID-19 therapy? Or possibly a patient who needs assistance obtaining antimicrobial treatment upon discharge? The days pass so quickly as questions arise and answers are provided. However, no matter what the day holds, I still have to make time to pump milk for Eleanor and check off additional residency tasks that are unrelated to my rotation at hand.

At around 4:00 p.m., I make my way to Eleanor’s day care. Watching that sweet face light up when I approach her and her friends in the “bye-bye buggy” is simply the best, so I try to work efficiently to arrive at that sweet pickup time. Once we get home, the fun doesn’t stop! It’s her snack time while I exercise and then her playtime while I cook. Suddenly 5:00 turns into 7:00, and all of that plus dinnertime and bath time are over. Once Eleanor has had her last bottle and snuggle for the day, we put her in her crib for (hopefully) a good night’s rest. It took her about 8 months to really start sleeping throughout the night, but once she started, we were able to sleep as well. It’s glorious!

At this point in the day, I have a couple of options: either work on residency assignments or go to sleep. Some days, I REALLY need the rest, but, as many postgrads are aware, residency is demanding, and sometimes getting work done is the priority. I believe that going through my first year of residency made me aware of the demanding nature of this type of training and helped me mentally prepare for the second year. I have always worked hard to manage my time effectively and deliver excellent results. However, having a child during residency has made this a bit more challenging! If I had to choose between losing sleep to catch up on work and losing precious moments with my sweet girl, I’d choose losing sleep every time.

Being a mother has been and will always be my greatest accomplishment and what fulfills my heart the most. I am unconditionally grateful for a residency program that has not only provided me an opportunity to become an infectious diseases pharmacist but also supported me during my journey of becoming a mother. Whether it’s motherhood, residency training, or anything in between, life happens, and life is meant to be lived to the fullest. My hope is for everyone to be realistic about what matters to them and to honor their dreams and aspirations with hard work and dedication.

If you have questions about residency training or motherhood, or if you simply want to say hi, please reach out to me on Twitter (@MadelineBelk). I’d love to meet you and stay in touch!

About the Author: Madeline Belk earned her Pharm.D. degree from the University of South Carolina. She completed her PGY1 residency at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and is currently completing a PGY2 in infectious diseases at Huntsville Hospital in Huntsville, Alabama. Madeline’s professional interests include promoting shorter durations of antimicrobial therapy, de-labeling penicillin allergies, and helping others understand bugs and drugs. In her spare time, she enjoys being with her husband, Gregory, and precious daughter, Eleanor, as well as staying active with spin and yoga.