Baby Due Last Semester

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all! I posted in the student subsection but I thought some experienced nurses may be able to give me advice on this matter in case anyone had personally gone through it... 

I am curious is anyone can offer any advice or words of encouragement. I am currently in my last year of nursing school and I am pregnant with my first child, due Feb 26th which will be during my last semester before graduation. I spoke with my midwife and he says that as long as I feel physically ready then I will be able to go to clinical and finish school on time and graduate with my cohort.

My clinical coordinator has not replied to my email but prior to me asking my doctor she was not so positive that I will be able to meet required clinical hours. My plan is.. that I will give birth to a healthy baby and take maybe 2-3 weeks to myself and my baby and then return to clinical so that I can graduate on time, for myself and my family. Granted that is if everything goes well and I have an uncomplicated, unmedicated birth. We are going to be having one 12-hour preceptorship weekly during the last semester so I will probably have to make up the 2 or 3 that I miss. Do you guys think this is logical or achievable? I will hopefully be on maternity leave at work so my sole focus will be that one 12 hour preceptorship weekly and the course work for the classes that semester. I need some encouragement! Or sense!!

Specializes in oncology.

Is Title IX what you are referring to?

2 hours ago, amsol18 said:

so I will probably have to make up the 2 or 3 that I miss.

Quote

 From Title IX

Excused Absences and Medical Leave – your school MUST:

Excuse absences due to pregnancy or childbirth for as long as your doctor says it is necessary.

Allow you to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before your medical leave began, which should include giving you the opportunity to make up any work missed while you were out.

Ensure that teachers understand the Title IX requirements related to excused absences/medical leave. Your teacher may not refuse to allow you to submit work after a deadline you missed because of pregnancy or childbirth. If your teacher’s grading is based in part on class participation or attendance and you missed class because of pregnancy or childbirth, you should be allowed to make up the participation or attendance credits you didn’t have the chance to earn.

Provide pregnant students with the same special services it provides to students with temporary medical conditions. This includes homebound instruction/at-home tutoring/independent study.

 

 

2 Votes
17 hours ago, londonflo said:

Is Title IX what you are referring to?

 

I will keep this on hand if our clinical coordinator gives me any trouble! Thank you!

Specializes in school nurse.

I have to thank you for making me chuckle with the title. At first read I thought it meant that your baby was due last semester...and that you were going really late...?

2 Votes

Hey gir! You can ABSOLUTELY do it! I was in the beginning of the 2nd of 3 semesters of my accelerated BSN program when I was due; I was torn whether to come back right away or to withdraw in good standing to join the following year's cohort. Among other things, it ended up being a choice of finishing school when he was 8 months old or a year and 8 months. After getting encouragement from my advisor and mostly my village (family and friends), I went back 10 days after he was born. I wanted to give myself a chance to not fall too behind the rest of the class.

I won't lie and say it wasn't a depressing time; he was our 3rd and I didn't get to breastfeed him that much; plus with the stress of school, my breastmilk never really came in. So I missed out on that bonding. Pumping wasn't realistic for me. I supplemented and just kinda breastfed when I could. Plus it was really hard to study and retain information after the delivery. I was a code OB in the ER on a Wednesday night (no meds, no doctor, just a labor and delivery nurse I call "Mom"!...but that's a story for another day LOL!!) But he is now a health 4-year-old boy, and I've been a nurse for almost 3 years! There was actually another woman due that February or March and I encouraged her to just come back and finish up too; and she did!

I'm glad I just went for it; but whatever you decide, pray about it and trust God to direct your paths. Be encouraged and may you have peace in the decision you choose. It's not an easy one, but however it turns out, it will be OK in Jesus' name. Have a blessed rest of the semester and all the best to you!

 

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