I'm thinking about trying to get pregnant and start nursing school? Yes or No?

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · Feb 11, 2005

I've been married for almost two years now and am starting to get the baby fever! I just appiled to the nursing program for the fall of 2005. For all the mother's out there, how hard is it to get through nursing school and have a child? My husband really wants to start trying now but I'm really nervous about how I'll be able to manage a newborn and nursing. Please let me know your stories and experiences!

When I started back in school I had a 1 1/2 year old and 5 month old twins. Its do-able, but if you guys can hold off just another few years you will do much better!

Now, if you just can't wait, you will have to learn fast about time management. Even while preggo you have to tell yourself that ok, this much studying has to be done by tomorrow so I can be caught up for the class, then make yourself go to bed by a certain time cause you will not have good rest pregnant and in school. As far as having a baby and studying, just making sure that you put them on a predictible schedule is worth its weight in gold!

It can be done, but nursing school is very stressful and if it can be put off than it would be better to put it off.

twinmommy+2, ADN, BSN, MSN · Feb 11, 2005

Oh yeah, and I need to add something.

While its doable, and many nursing students where I attend school including myself are mothers of young children, the time is not the only issue.

Babies get sick, do you have health insurance? Does hubby work a good job to support you, him and a child? It is a very bad feeling when you have to pull change from the sofa to buy diapers or formula.

What support do you have? Do you have other family besides your husband who is willing to chip in when you need a break?

What about childcare while your in school? Do you have a way to get to daycare during school if the day care calls and says they are out of diapers for the little one or if they pooped out of all their cloths or got sick? Is there someone there during the day that can take care of a sick baby (cause the day care won't) if you have to take a test that day? I had to do that one today myself. Poor hubby worked a full 2nd shift last night and had to wake up at 7am to watch the oldest with an upset stomach.

It is doable, but from experience it is so hard studying, going to school, coming home to three preschoolers and housework, making sure everyone has their doctors appt.s, dental, WIC, childcare subsidies taken care of. I do all of that. Hubby doesn't do any of that. And that is the reality of it sometimes. Not all husbands are going to be bright and shiny about taking care of things like that and if you want to go to school and have children at the same time its something you might have to face. Even if they did want the children to begin with!

None of this was meant in anyway to be negative, only to be realistic. I will never pretend to tell a woman what she can and can't do because in all honesty in the end its possible to do all this! But it is very very hard to do.

maria456 · Feb 11, 2005

Thanks for the advice and for the feedback.

It really helps :)

BEANURSE · Feb 11, 2005

Thank you so much for all of your advice! I definatley will not attempt to do both. My good sense told me it wouldn't be a good idea but I'm getting a lot of pressure from family and friends. I'm 25 and everyone is telling me I'm getting close to the age of being too old to have babies!!! I really appreciate all of the replys!

You have got to be kidding!!!!!! 25 is "getting close to the age of being too old" NOT!!!!!! I am 35 in my second semester of my program and am planning on having a baby when I get done (I will be almost 37 when I get done)...

My advise to you, as with most people that have responded, is DON'T DO IT! Nursing school is the hardest thing I have ever done....rewarding, but the hardest most time consuming thing I have ever done! You literally live and breathe this stuff.....no one is kidding when they tell you that!

Get your degree and then have babies! YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME to have children.....Just my :twocents:

~Kitty~ · Feb 12, 2005

I had the same thoughts that you did when I started school. Additionally, I have PCOS, so my biological clock is ticking away doubletime.
les

What is PCOS?

BETSRN · Feb 12, 2005

I've been married for almost two years now and am starting to get the baby fever! I just appiled to the nursing program for the fall of 2005. For all the mother's out there, how hard is it to get through nursing school and have a child? My husband really wants to start trying now but I'm really nervous about how I'll be able to manage a newborn and nursing. Please let me know your stories and experiences!

I would suggest either having your baby and waiting to start the nursing portion of the program until the baby is older (maybe take the pre-req's in advance) or get nursing school out of the way and then get pregnant.

Nursing school is very tough under the best of circumstances. You will work your butt off not only academically but physically and emotionally as well. That's not healhy for a pregnancy.

I started school when my child (then) was three. That was a good age.

SmilingBluEyes · Feb 12, 2005

PCOS:

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

http://www.pcosupport.org/