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hapa.pac

@hapa.pac

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EM Physician Assistant 🩺👩🏻‍⚕️ | FTM 👶🏻 | Hapa 🐼 | Foodie 🍱 | *Content not intended as medical advice- consult your provider*

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Has anyone else tried it??! I just learned there are other flavors but I had the lemonade and 10/10 recommend. I used the packet you mix with 10 ounces of cool water once at the obgyn office. I also found out it delivers more quickly on Amazon ($27 with prime). 🍋🤰🏻 #freshtest #glucosetest #26weekspregnant #gestationaldiabetes @thefreshtest by @hapa.pac

You live and you learn 😝 and yes, COVID is still around. I am an emergency medicine PA and I have seen positive cases recently. Protect yourself and your babies 🫶 #covidvaccine #flushot #physicianassistant #ftm #2under2 by @hapa.pac

Happy last day of PA Week! ⭐️ Can’t believe we have been PAs for nearly 5 years (even scarier to think that COVID was 6 years ago now). Thankful to be part of such a rewarding profession that has given me stability and work-life balance as well as lifelong friendships and so many other inspiring connections. Thankful and proud also for each and every other PA out there - you are making a difference although it may not seem that way as we go through what feels like the same thing each day at work. 🫶🫶 #paweek #physicianassistant #physicianassociate #emergencymedicine #pamama by @hapa.pac

Swipe for gender reveal! 🩷🩵 Sadly, there’s no more Bloomingdale’s here to get the blue vs pink teddy so this was our backup option.

⭐️ Part 2 of how I secured day shifts as an emergency medicine PA - (see last post for part 1)

It was tough. I had felt loyalty and had a good relationship with my current employer, but that meant a further drive. The new group sounded great, but only wanted to guarantee me day shift for 6 months since I was a new mama to breastfed. Well, I was thinking to myself - my husband works evenings and I’d like to breastfeed for 1-2 years, not just 6 months. And now with the divide my current employer can’t promise days either. What do I do? Do I switch specialties now to be home at night with my baby? I thought to myself - or do I just pay someone every time I need a night shift covered?

After a lot of back and forth, I expressed interest in coordinating APP students for our group and landed a leadership position as our APP Clinical Coordinator. I am so thankful and major kudos for my leadership team for getting this approved in 48 hours and supporting me. This meant my minimum hours to remain full time went down because I’m doing some work from home and meant - no night shifts. What a dream! I feel so fortunate to be able to stay in my preferred specialty and keep my career but still feel very present with my baby at home at least 20 days a month 🫶 I am also enjoying giving back to the PA (and NP) profession by teaching current students and I never even knew these leadership opportunities were available when I made the decision to go the PA route. This is what I call work life balance. 🩷

It feels serendipitous how everything worked out and I hope you too, listen to your gut. Go where you are meant to go, ask for those opportunities and prioritize yourself and your family when you need to even if it’s hard. #physicianassistant #worklifebalance #workingmama #gendereveal #emergencymedicine by @hapa.pac

Let’s talk about how I’m surviving as a full time emergency medicine PA mama of a 1 year old and 23 weeks pregnant with my second ✨ Key word is *surviving* no, I do not feel like I am thriving lol I am overwhelmed and exhausted most of the time but I do feel like we are still managing fairly well and my current position is a big part of it!

First and foremost, of course with the help of my husband and my mom with baby but let’s dig into how I manage to be at home with my little one every night while working in emergency medicine - I will say that everything fell into place and I am extremely fortunate to have secured a position working day shift in the ER. How?

Well, it all started a couple years ago when I had to follow my gut and move on from my first job as a PA. I was working days and nights - typical for almost every ER job and I didn’t mind it but I knew at some point I wanted kids. I asked outright - will seniority ever get me days? The answer was no. I said so 10 years in - I still couldn’t get days? No. Only leadership had schedule preference. That’s pretty normal though - I get it. The thing is, the leadership there was likely not going to change anytime soon so I had to move on to where I had more room for growth. Don’t get me wrong - I learned so much there and will be forever grateful for my experience.

A few of my friends worked for another ER that I switched to. At the time, there were enough dedicated night shifters where I didn’t have to work nights - AMAZING. Not in our contracts and could change but at the time, that’s how it was and it was great. Then came a shift, we lost one of our hospitals to another ER group when I was on maternity leave last year. It was my main site. 8 min from home. I had a really challenging decision to make as did many of us with the divide… stay tuned for part 2 in my next post since my caption is getting cut off 😓 #ftm #fulltimeworkingmom #physicianassistant #halfbaked #pamama by @hapa.pac

I am also terrified that if I go an entire 10 hour ER shift without pumping my supply will completely be gone… My milk supply was plentiful and slowly has declined throughout my second pregnancy but baby boy is not ready to wean and I’m going to keep giving him breastmilk even if small amounts until there isn’t any left. Just because I’m choosing to have #2under2 doesn’t mean he shouldn’t lose out on nutrients if I can still give it to him. I’m not going to lie, it’s more painful and I’m much less enthusiastic about pumping than before but I’m hanging in there. Still breastfeeding when I am not working and throughout the night too because I can’t bring myself to sleep train. We’ll see if we end up tandem feeding. That I’m sure is a real struggle. Anyone have experience with tandem feeding? Or can share their story on if their supply even lasted throughout the whole pregnancy? 🤔#breastfeeding #ebf #tandemfeeding by @hapa.pac

I forgot to mention - he does sometimes refuse the potty if he’s overtired, teething etc. it goes in waves but for the most part it’s been successful and I HIGHLY recommend. We started at 3 months! ☺️ #eliminationcommunication #pottytraining by @hapa.pac

Halfway to 2 under 2 🫣♥️🫶 #halfbaked #20weekspregnant by @hapa.pac

Yet the most challenging as well. A year full of joy and of watching you grow. A year of exclusively breastfeeding and waking up all night long. A year of the most amazing snuggles and love you’ll ever find. I am so lucky to be your mama! 💙 #ftm #breastfeeding #1yearold by @hapa.pac

Life lately ✨ We had a wonderful spring break having Callahan meet his Miami family for the first time! The most challenging part of the trip were breastfeeding on the plane (it’s cramped and full of distractions) and long car rides because he still hates the car seat. But it was a much smoother trip than I expected and so much fun ♥️

We are foodies so we are always eating tons on trips but a couple highlights are @jamaicakitchen (always our first stop in town) @mistero1pizza and the cheeseburger from @thejoycerestaurant 🤤 - we might have tried 3 smash burger spots that week 🍔😜

Callahan is loving and goofy, always blowing raspberries on our skin. Now 8 months and trying to climb on everything! Baby led weaning? Who thought it would take so much energy lol food prepping and the MESS! You’re telling me I have to clean this up 3x a day soon? Oh, and the anxiety of him possibly choking! 🥹

It’s been challenging to get work done… I find myself answering work emails and scheduling students with one hand on my laptop and one hand on him while he’s sleeping. He’s finally doing a little better with crib naps although they’re hit or miss.. it allows me to get a little bit more done. However, I’m constantly feeling guilty that I’m not being present enough with him or with my husband or work or posting enough to social media. I can’t imagine dividing my attention between another baby at some point! How do working mamas manage with several?? 🥲 #physicianassistant #postpartum #babysfirstflight✈️ #workingmama #ebf by @hapa.pac

I also tried my wrist braces I had from carpel tunnel during pregnancy, which didn’t help me. The hand doctor I went to did it as an ultrasound guided injection, which is super cool and means she knows exactly where she’s injecting! Learned about this in PA school and I had no idea how severe the pain can be and how much it can interfere with your life. So glad it’s resolved! 🙌#dequarvainstenosynovitis #mommywrist #wristpain #postpartum #physicianassistant by @hapa.pac

Starting solids can be daunting! This ice cream feeder set by @moonkie_official makes it easier and worry free.🍦 It’s also super cute and fun for your little one!🩵 #startingsolids #teething #babyledweaning #paidpartner #moonkie by @hapa.pac