Baby Due Last Semester

bitter_betsy, BSN · Oct 12, 2021

You are assuming that you have a perfect delivery and that is what everyone hopes for. As long as you aren't set on this and willing to retake the semester (and retaking the semester is actually an option), then you won't have any issues. We were only allowed to miss 2 clinicals - even if we had to make them up - 3 got us dismissed no matter the reason. What happens in your case if you miss 3 or 6? How do you make those up - or can you?

You need to know what all your options are and how to proceed. It may be best to not take the course if you aren't positive you can complete it. If you start it and can't finish it - is that an automatic dismissal? Babies are not predictable - they come when they want and they aren't always healthy even if they have been up to that point. Even an unmedicated lady partsl birth comes with the potential for tears and repairs. Where is your clinical located? Can you lift/turn do the things you will need to do after having a baby? What if you have a c-section? Can you go to clinical and say - sorry - just had a baby - can't do my job today. Even pushing someone in a wheelchair doesn't fall into the "don't lift anything heavier than your baby" category.

Please think about all the possibilities and to have solutions if that particular scenario happens. I know you want to finish on time with your cohort. Is that even a safe thought? Also - are you sure its 1x a week during your final semester? We worked our preceptors schedule - 3 12s whatever their shift was - even if it flipped day to night or vice versa.

I know pregnancy alters your hormones. Put this on paper. Think rationally not emotionally. There is a whole lot more at stake here than graduating on time. Your baby's health, your health and the effects on your healing time. Really think about this from the outside.

amsol18 · Oct 12, 2021

5 hours ago, bitter_betsy said:

You are assuming that you have a perfect delivery and that is what everyone hopes for. As long as you aren't set on this and willing to retake the semester (and retaking the semester is actually an option), then you won't have any issues. We were only allowed to miss 2 clinicals - even if we had to make them up - 3 got us dismissed no matter the reason. What happens in your case if you miss 3 or 6? How do you make those up - or can you?

You need to know what all your options are and how to proceed. It may be best to not take the course if you aren't positive you can complete it. If you start it and can't finish it - is that an automatic dismissal? Babies are not predictable - they come when they want and they aren't always healthy even if they have been up to that point. Even an unmedicated lady partsl birth comes with the potential for tears and repairs. Where is your clinical located? Can you lift/turn do the things you will need to do after having a baby? What if you have a c-section? Can you go to clinical and say - sorry - just had a baby - can't do my job today. Even pushing someone in a wheelchair doesn't fall into the "don't lift anything heavier than your baby" category.

Please think about all the possibilities and to have solutions if that particular scenario happens. I know you want to finish on time with your cohort. Is that even a safe thought? Also - are you sure its 1x a week during your final semester? We worked our preceptors schedule - 3 12s whatever their shift was - even if it flipped day to night or vice versa.

I know pregnancy alters your hormones. Put this on paper. Think rationally not emotionally. There is a whole lot more at stake here than graduating on time. Your baby's health, your health and the effects on your healing time. Really think about this from the outside.

Yes, I mentioned in my post that this plan is only if I have an uncomplicated birth but I am prepared (and happy) to drop it if there is any signs of distress for me or my baby. I won't push myself past unreasonable limits for this! But it would be nice to hear that aside from all that could go wrong with that plan, I may be able to pull it off.

I won't be torn if it doesn't work out but like I said my partner is very involved as well as my family and they all wanna make it happen for me! I think it is best for my growing family too because I am a young, first time mom and we will struggle enough financially if I put this last semester off.

My clinical coordinator came up with a plan that even if I take 6 weeks off after delivery to recover and bond, I may still be able to reach all clinical hours required as long as I participate in 2 12 hour preceptor shifts for the remaining 6 weeks of the semester. That is also on the table. Who knows.... I will come back to the forum if I make it through! ?