It was my last year of medical school and I just found out I was pregnant. I also found out on that same day where I would be going for residency.

I knew residency would be hard work, but I wasn’t prepared for what came next. The program welcomed me with open arms when I told them that I was pregnant. They rearranged my work schedule to accommodate my maternity leave and due date.

I thought being pregnant and being an intern would actually be doable. But I was wrong. Being an intern meant standing on your feet for several hours, not having breaks, and working up to 16 hour shifts per day.

While this was expected from every intern, it was particularly expected from me. Taking a break from standing and being fatigued from the pregnancy was used against me. I was perceived as unmotivated and uninterested in working.

Being a physician is hard work in itself, but no female regardless of their field of work should be evaluated differently for being pregnant.