I became a mom and a doctor in the same 24 hours

Now this is the mother of all flexes. 

One member of the class of 2023 took home more than just her diploma on graduation day — she also walked away with a brand-new baby. 

“POV: You become a mom & a doctor in the same 24 hours,” bragged new mommy and medical degree-holder Hannah Paige, from Greensboro, North Carolina, in the closed captions of her viral TikTok testimonial. 

“And that’s on girl power,” added Paige in the caption of the praiseworthy post, which has garnered 1.1 million views, punctuating her pride with the unity-fist emoji. 

In the video, the seemingly superhuman scholar — who, per the hashtags used in the post, received her doctor of nursing practice degree from the University of North Carolina this month — shared a montage of snapshots from her labor, delivery, recovery and receiving her regalia hood at the graduation ceremony. 

The trending clip ends with a photo of the smiling brunette cradling her newborn son while donning her cap and gown. 

However, Paige’s Herculean effort to walk across the stage just after welcoming a kid isn’t widely recommended. 


TikTok user Hannah Paige, celebrating the birth of her son in a hospital bed before graduating with her doctorate in nursing later the same day.
On TikTok, a woman named Hannah Paige revealed that she welcomed her first child and received her doctorate in nursing in the same 24 hours.
hannahpaigern/Tiktok

TikTok user Hannah Paige holding her one-day-old son after receiving her doctorate in nurse practice from the University of North Carolina.
Online fans of the powerhouse mother applauded her for having a baby and walking at her graduation on the same day.
hannahpaigern/Tiktok

In fact, according to New York Presbyterian’s Frequently Asked Questions page, birthing moms typically remain under medical supervision for 48 to 96 hours postpartum. 

“The average length of stay for a patient with a vaginal delivery is approximately 2 nights, 3 days,” reads the site. “The average length of stay for a patient with a cesarean delivery is approximately 3 nights, 4 days.”

Research has found that there is a higher risk of hemorrhages, infections, sepsis and pulmonary embolisms right after giving birth. 

However, a June 2021 study from the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group found that there is little to no difference in the health outcomes of women who were discharged from the hospital six hours after giving birth compared to those who remain in a medical facility for up to five days. 

The risks notwithstanding, virtual fans of Paige’s successive feats showered the new doctor and mom in praise.  

“This is the most badass thing I’ve ever seen,” cheered a dazzled commentator. 

“I don’t think Ive ever been so proud of someone I don’t know,” said a separate admirer. 

“No one except women will understand how unreal amazing this is … YOU GO GIRL,” added another. 

Other equally awestruck spectators in the comments shared their personal tales of delivery-to-degree heroism — much like the 23-year-old mom who gave birth and went back to work the next day, or the woman who went into labor during her shift at a nightclub and almost gave birth inside the hot spot.


TikTok user Hannah Paige holding her one-day-old son after receiving her doctorate in nurse practice from the University of North Carolina.
Social media commentators on Paige’s post recalled times that they, too, had to give birth and immediately get back to business.
hannahpaigern/Tiktok

TikTok user Hannah Paige received her doctorate in nurse practice from the University of North Carolina just after welcoming her son.
Although it’s traditionally uncommon for women to leave the hospital right after giving birth, a recent study found that it’s not eminently dangerous to the new mom.
hannahpaigern/Tiktok

“When I had my daughter the nurse asked when I was graduating nursing school and I was like ‘today.’ Best feeling,” one woman wrote. 

“Girl! I graduated with my FNP when my son was 2 weeks old and I was still recovering haha I cannot imagine 24 hours! You’re amazing,” another commented. 

“I had a c-section, 3 days later I was walking across for my bachelors!!,” exclaimed a fellow working mom.

“We earned that walk!!”