AMERICA | 28-year-old pregnant Lady gives birth while writing US Bar exam, shines across the world.
A determined 28-year-old woman named Brianna Hill has shown the world the power of perseverance by completing the Illinois State Bar exam while in labor and after giving birth.
Brianna was taking the first part of the two-day exam on October 5, 2020, when her water broke. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the test was being administered remotely, requiring participants to stay on camera throughout the exam.
“I started the second section, and 15 to 20 minutes in, I began having contractions,” Brianna recalled. “I had already asked for an accommodation to use the bathroom since I was 38 weeks pregnant, but I was told I’d be flagged for cheating if I left the camera’s view.”
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As soon as she stood up after completing the section, Brianna realized her water had broken. Despite the onset of labor, Brianna decided to continue the exam. “I was determined. I’ve never been pregnant before, so I wasn’t sure what labor would feel like. I thought, ‘I can do this,” she said.
She took a break to clean up, call her husband, midwife, and mom, and process what was happening. Afterward, she sat back down and resumed the test.
Originally, Brianna’s baby was due on October 19. She had graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in May and was initially set to take the Bar exam in July, but the exam was postponed due to the pandemic.
After completing the first day of the exam, Brianna and her husband, Cameron, went to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, Illinois. A few hours later, Brianna gave birth to the couple’s first child, a baby boy named Cassius Phillip Andrew.
The next day, October 6, Brianna was still scheduled to complete the second part of the Bar exam. The hospital staff, recognizing her determination, reserved a private room on the labor and delivery floor for her to take the test.
They even placed a “Do Not Disturb” sign on her door to ensure she had the necessary quiet environment. “There were all these professional women supporting me and my goals, even though I had just become a mother. It was their job to support me in that moment, and they did it so well,” Brianna said.
Brianna credited her accomplishment to her incredible support system. “My husband was amazing. When I told him my water broke, he said, ‘OK, we’re going to figure out how you’re going to finish this test,” she said.
”My mom, my midwife, and even my law school friends kept texting me, saying, ‘You’ve got this.’ I’m really thankful,” Brianna added. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “Life throws curveballs, but when I have a goal, I’m going to see it through.”
Brianna’s determination has inspired many, including her former professor, Miranda Johnson, who praised her on LinkedIn, saying, “My former student/advisee Brianna Hill (now a Loyola Law and Civitas ChildLaw Center graduate) and brand-new mom is a superhero!”
Looking ahead, Brianna will begin her career as a legal aid organizer in Chicago. She will focus on housing work, including eviction defense, subsidized housing, and landlord-tenant issues in low-income communities.
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