Pregnant and in nursing school... now what do I do?

hjh5673 · Oct 27, 2014

First off Congrats!

I just had my baby in April during the middle of the quarter. This is my second so I knew what to expect with pregnancy and that I had a good chance of bouncing back quickly. I was in class Mon/Tues/Wen and talked to the clinical director and had all my clinicals done for the quarter the week before I was due. I will say that being pregnant during clinicals sucked because the instructors would not let me do much as far as patient care. I was due on a Tuesday and when that came and went I met with the acupuncturist, had my membranes stripped by my midwife and drank a little castor oil based on her recommendation. I had my baby that Friday morning. I took one week off of school and was back 10 days after she was born. I hated leaving her and still do. My family came from another state to help the first week I was in school and my husband has a flexible job and was able to stay home most of the time. We do have an awesome nanny so when he could not be home she was in good hands. She is six months now and still completely breast fed. I am one of the lucky ones that breast feeding comes easy to. I do pump a lot, during breaks, lunch, and clinicals. It is not easy but possible.

SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP · Oct 27, 2014

Ask if you have the option of taking a semester off and then joining the cohort behind you. It won't hurt to ask. That would give you time with your baby and get used to being a first time Mom before going back to the rigors of nursing school. Personally, I couldn't imagine dealing with the sleep deprivation, stress, hormones, etc. while trying to keep up with nursing classes. I'd be a stressed out mess. However, that's me and I know my limitations. Only you can decide what's best for you.

Having said that, we've had 2 classmates give birth and 3 nursing Moms. One student had her baby on a Wed. and was right back in class on Monday. I call her Wonder Woman! She even got a 4.0 in the class :) However, it was her 2nd child and she had a big support system at home to help.

Congrats on your lil one and best wishes in whatever you decide to do

nowim clean · Oct 28, 2014

I promise you are not the first to face this we had a girl in my class. You may have to make up clinicals and they may allow you to do extra days before you due date. I am sure they have a plan just talk to your instructors early and get the plan in motion.

RookieRoo · Oct 28, 2014

No one has mentioned this so far, but I know that in my program previously several newborns have come to class with mommy! You could get a wrap, sit in the back, a nurse and hold baby during lectures could you not? When they're that little they just want to eat, sleep, and be held anyways!