3 months pregnant looking into Nursing School

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Has anyone attended nursing school while pregnant? What were your experiences? Do you think it's a bad idea to go to school while pregnant? Were you dropped from school after giving birth? How many days did you miss? Did you go right back to school after delivery? Did your school give a certain amount of days off due to having a baby? Please help!!!

I am 3 months pregnant, due in September 2014 with two children ages 8 & 12 years old. My fiance and I agreed it was okay for me to attend school while pregnant. I have a healthy pregnancy with no complications. I really want to get a kick start on my education. I was looking into both RN and LVN programs in Dallas, Texas. Since we do have a third child on the way, I was leaning towards a LVN program so that I can get back to work soon and bridge to RN to gain more experience in the nursing field. I would love to hear anyone's feedback on this who has been in this situation or know of someone who has been through this and your/their experience.

Have you completed your pre-reqs already? I did mind while pregnant with no issues. :)

Have you completed your pre-reqs already? I did mind while pregnant with no issues. :)

I started pre-reqs years ago and they have expired since it has been over 5 years. So I was looking towards the LPN/LVN program here in Dallas because it does not require pre-reqs and one RN program here does not require pre-reqs here (it costs more money to go without pre-reqs) but I was worried on how I would do in school.

That is so awesome that you were able to finish with no problems. That gives me so much hope! What did you do once you gave birth and was your school helpful?

I'm blessed to have a super supportive husband. He's a police officer and had the option to switch to a schedule that worked well for us. He is off the days I'm in school besides one but I'm home before he has to go in.

@amberdawn85 Did you deliver before or after you graduated? How was your experience in school while you were pregnant? Did you have to take off several days?

I don't believe schools will excuse you from school when you go into labor and have the baby. So my suggestion is that you don't go to school for Fall 2014. (if you are going to a college with semesters). However you should be fine going to school now if you have a healthy pregnancy. If your going to do a program like LPN I would talk to an advisor to see if you can pick up where you left off just incase you need to take time off (when your in labor) because most programs are 1yr+ Or see if they have part time that might be an option for you for when you but its all a risk because you never know what could happen during your pregnancy. I didn't go back to school until my daughter turned 1...It seems like you have the support of your husband plus your other children are old enough to do things around the house and help with the baby. I'd go for it...but think it though. Good luck

Will you be willing to stay in isolation rooms to take care of infectious patients? How about ADLs when you are 9 months pregnant? How much time will your program allow you to miss from clinicals (most require you to call in dead before approving time off)?

Lots to consider.

Good luck!

I don't believe schools will excuse you from school when you go into labor and have the baby. So my suggestion is that you don't go to school for Fall 2014. (if you are going to a college with semesters). However you should be fine going to school now if you have a healthy pregnancy. If your going to do a program like LPN I would talk to an advisor to see if you can pick up where you left off just incase you need to take time off (when your in labor) because most programs are 1yr+ Or see if they have part time that might be an option for you for when you but its all a risk because you never know what could happen during your pregnancy. I didn't go back to school until my daughter turned 1...It seems like you have the support of your husband plus your other children are old enough to do things around the house and help with the baby. I'd go for it...but think it though. Good luck

Yes I've been thinking long and hard. That is true, anything can happen during a pregnancy. I do have a ton of support, just unsure of what will happen after the baby gets here. Someone from the program will be calling me today, I'm going to ask about the attendance policy since it is a 13 month program (not at a community college).

Will you be willing to stay in isolation rooms to take care of infectious patients? How about ADLs when you are 9 months pregnant? How much time will your program allow you to miss from clinicals (most require you to call in dead before approving time off)?

Lots to consider.

Good luck!

I definitely don't want to call in dead ;) I've heard before that the school allows a certain amount of days to miss without violating terms of federal financial aid. I'll see how it goes today.

Specializes in Behavioral Health.

I started my LPN program August of 2012, found out I was pregnant in October 2012. I was actually pretty devistated. I thought I was going to get kicked out of my program I had worked so hard for. I had to jump many a hoops to stay in. I was constantly at my OB's office getting letters stated I was allowed to be at school/clinicals and that I had "no restrictions".

I made straight A's during my program, never missed a day, played into all the BS hoops. Had a perfect pregnancy (no morning sickness, no gestational diabetes, no HTN, nothing!). I also worked full time as a manager of a Pizza Hut as well. Working til 2 AM 4 nights a week to pay my bills and save money.

My beautiful son was born in June. I was in labor all day at school, counting my contractions during lecture (which funny enough was during my labor and delivery section). I had him on Tuesday afternoon via lady partsl birth and was back at school on Monday with full clearance from my midwife. I had 3 weeks of school left!

I was back in the hospital 7 days after delivery with a BP of 190/120, swollen legs and feet and a diagnosis of Post-Partum Pre-eclampsia and 25mg of HCTZ. I was crushed! I had a perfect pregnancy, delivery, everything!! I cried for 2 days!

I was not allowed back to school. Luckily my department head was a male and his wife had the same complication. He allowed me to come to school on lecture days as long as I kept my feet elevated and took it easy. I was not allowed at clinicals (for liability reasons). He allowed to me to walk with all my friends at graduation with the understanding that I had to make up my 6 clinical days I had missed. It took a while to get that set up but I was so relieved!!

I am not going to tell you it was easy going to school pregnant. In fact it was HARD, and I enjoyed my pregnancy. I can't imagine if i had morning sickness or any complications!

I am just telling you my cautionary tale. It can be done and has been done many times.

Good luck with your endeavours.

I am about to start my RN transition program in May with a 2 year old. Oh vey!

I started my LPN program August of 2012, found out I was pregnant in October 2012. I was actually pretty devistated. I thought I was going to get kicked out of my program I had worked so hard for. I had to jump many a hoops to stay in. I was constantly at my OB's office getting letters stated I was allowed to be at school/clinicals and that I had "no restrictions".

I made straight A's during my program, never missed a day, played into all the BS hoops. Had a perfect pregnancy (no morning sickness, no gestational diabetes, no HTN, nothing!). I also worked full time as a manager of a Pizza Hut as well. Working til 2 AM 4 nights a week to pay my bills and save money.

My beautiful son was born in June. I was in labor all day at school, counting my contractions during lecture (which funny enough was during my labor and delivery section). I had him on Tuesday afternoon via lady partsl birth and was back at school on Monday with full clearance from my midwife. I had 3 weeks of school left!

I was back in the hospital 7 days after delivery with a BP of 190/120, swollen legs and feet and a diagnosis of Post-Partum Pre-eclampsia and 25mg of HCTZ. I was crushed! I had a perfect pregnancy, delivery, everything!! I cried for 2 days!

I was not allowed back to school. Luckily my department head was a male and his wife had the same complication. He allowed me to come to school on lecture days as long as I kept my feet elevated and took it easy. I was not allowed at clinicals (for liability reasons). He allowed to me to walk with all my friends at graduation with the understanding that I had to make up my 6 clinical days I had missed. It took a while to get that set up but I was so relieved!!

I am not going to tell you it was easy going to school pregnant. In fact it was HARD, and I enjoyed my pregnancy. I can't imagine if i had morning sickness or any complications!

I am just telling you my cautionary tale. It can be done and has been done many times.

Good luck with your endeavours.

I am about to start my RN transition program in May with a 2 year old. Oh vey!

Wow that is one heck of a struggle. I salute you for going along with the program and finishing. That definitely does give me something to think about before I start school. My pregnancy is healthy too but like you said you never know what happens after birth.

I'm praying with all the support I have from my fiance and two older boys including the school willing to work with me through the program that everything works out. Lord knows how much I want this and have been putting off my degree from raising my two boys alone from a previous marriage. Now I am restless and feeling like my life is wasting away without going forth with my passion for nursing. You've given me more hope than you'll ever know. Thank you so much for your post! ♥♥♥

Specializes in Behavioral Health.
Wow that is one heck of a struggle. I salute you for going along with the program and finishing. That definitely does give me something to think about before I start school. My pregnancy is healthy too but like you said you never know what happens after birth.

I'm praying with all the support I have from my fiance and two older boys including the school willing to work with me through the program that everything works out. Lord knows how much I want this and have been putting off my degree from raising my two boys alone from a previous marriage. Now I am restless and feeling like my life is wasting away without going forth with my passion for nursing. You've given me more hope than you'll ever know. Thank you so much for your post! ♥♥♥

There is always hope and where there is a will there is a way.

I look forward to having you join the ranks of awesome nurses.

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