Harder to have a new baby in school, or as a new nurse?

[MountainBikeChick]

I've searched a million posts on allnurses and elsewhere on the internet about having a baby in nursing school. Of course almost everyone says to wait! But what about those of you who waited to get pregnant until you were out of school (or in your last semester)? How was it to have a newborn as a new grad? I understand nursing school is hard, but I feel like the 'real deal' will be a lot harder, especially within the first year or so. I also know that with most facilities, it takes a year for FMLA to kick in for you to take maternity leave and to expect a job when you get back. And really, who wants to start a job only to take a few months off shortly after starting? It would take so much re-learning!

I'm young but my husband is 38 next month, and I want at least a few babies. (I grew up in a large family and feel like I'm meant to have a large-ish family.) I still have a little less than two years left in my BSN program and taking into account the wait for FMLA, that would be three years before we have a baby. At this moment in time, my ovaries are screaming that that is sooooo long!

So for those of you that waited, how difficult was it for you? Do you wish you had your baby sooner?

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

I finished my program pregnant with my first and has him 3 weeks after graduation. I applied to jobs while I recovered and started my first job when he was 14 weeks!

I have been working as a RN for just over 3 years now and will be going out on my 2nd maternity leave (am having our third) at my current job this fall!

My advice time your delivery to be during breaks or just after graduation if you are he'll bent in doing this during school (if you can--I know with the business of having babies things may not always go as planned). Otherwise I'd consider waiting until after school is over for the same reasons pp's have given.

Also something to consider, if you wait til after you get hired just know you many not quality for the 12 weeks of FMLA if you are jot working for a full year and do not have the 1250 hours worked banked.

[MountainBikeChick]

Thank you all for the great advice, and points that I didn't think of!

If we were to try for a baby, we would plan it so I would be due during the summer. Obviously pregnancies don't always go as planned, but that applies to nursing school or a regular job as well. I have an extremely supportive husband and a lot of family here in town, as well as a few friends who are stay at home moms that have already said they would be happy to watch my baby if I were to have one. (And they are genuine offers, not just trying to be nice! ) Based on everyone's advice, though, we will probably just wait until the last semester so I can give birth after graduation. I know men can have babies into their 70s, but that doesn't mean I want a 50 year old husband with a newborn! He's healthy and active (we are both mountain bikers, skiers, etc), but still. I guess I just need to write up a list as to why I shouldn't have a baby now and hang it up as a reminder!

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

I don't have kids however here are some things that I've seen:

Parents of small children will usually try to spend some time on campus to study because it's hard to study with children around who want your attention.

One girl had a child last semester and the delivery was complicated. She had a c-section a week before she had wanted to have a c-section and so she missed the final exam and the last clinical. She almost had a hysterectomy due to bleeding. She was marked as medical withdrawal and had to repeat the class. Luckily it was a six week class and she could take it with another clinical.