Shots in the Dark [Call Room]: IVF, Residency and the Illusion of "Perfect Timing”

The host of “Becoming Both” interviews her friend Vicky, a pediatric emergency medicine fellow finishing training, mom of [almost] two on her experiences with becoming a mom during her residency and fellowship.

The conversation focuses on Vicky’s journey building a family during medical training, the idea that maybe there really is no “right time”, and how surprising genetic testing results made IVF the best option for Vicky and her family.

She details the intense logistics of IVF during residency—timed shots, frequent early-morning monitoring, the need to disclose to chief residents, and fear of emergencies during injections—plus later pregnancy complications including preeclampsia and an induction during Match Week, and the stress of disclosing her pregnancy to a fellowship program after matching.

She talks about how her experience really brought to light the isolation, guilt, and secrecy that often enshrouds IVF during medical training and how much work still needs to be done to unmask the mystery and uncertainty of this process for trainees.