BABY during School??

IrishMama · Nov 9, 2011

Oohh, I want to get in on this thread just for curiousity's sake (not because I'm considering having another baby while in school ). I'm tempted to leave it at that and let those who have been there reply. BUT, I went back and did my pre-reqs at night and worked during the day when my second was 10 weeks old. I had a master plan to cram in a third (baby) and would start nursing school while working (it was a special program for those who work in a healthcare facility) when the baby was 6 weeks old. I got wait listed for that program and was accepted to start when my youngest was 6 months old. We ended up moving and now I'm waiting to hear any day now on this program.

Good luck! I'm very interested what people have to say. I've heard a lot of "have the baby" before or after, but not during the semester :).

MissKayRN · Nov 9, 2011

Only you and your family can make that decision. My only advice to you would be to contact your nursing school and ask them how much will be expected of you; ie: how many clinical hours you will be doing weekly, how many hours of school, how many hours of work/homework, etc. and use that information to help gauge your family's and a baby's needs.

TeenyTinyBabyRN, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2011

I don't have any children, but I went to school with a lady who had 6 young children, and two who had their babies while in nursing school. One of the later ladies finished school and the other did not. It is all up to you and what you think you can handle. Personally, I don't think I could have handled even a pet at that time. I felt like nursing school was the only thing I had time for.

You just have to evaluate your life and if you think you will have time for it. The lady with 6 children said the only reason she could handle it, was because her husband would take care of the children while she had hours of uninterupted homework/study time. Take a look at the help you will have. You will need pleanty of study time. Good luck!

Munch · Nov 9, 2011

I can't tell you what to do(or even what I would do if I were ine your situation) but what I can do is share you a success story(about someone close to your situation) that I indeed witnessed myself firsthand.

My sister is in her early 20's and just had a baby boy, she managed to have the baby two months early in July(due in September) lucky break having the baby two months early(being sarcastic of course) but thankfully he was born(naturally but with an epidural) with the only health problem was being underweight(thankfully his lungs and everything were developed thanks to cortisone shots and a low birth weight as to be expected ). But school was out in summer, she had a nice two month maternity leave and wen(she" back graduate school in September..in addition to grad school she also has an internship working with the liver transplant team(she is going to be a social' worker and landed an internship working with the psychological team, interviewing possible liver transplant candidates and seeing if they can psychologically take care of their new liver). She just gets assigned to the people who need a transplant who have a psychiatric diagnosis. Anyway her boyfriend works the evening shift(he's a restaurant manager) when she has school/internship and she takes care of him during the evenings..and when she is off from school(she doesn't go to school on Monday's or the weekends) she stays home with the baby and her boyfriend goes to work during the day. They both got lucky that her boyfriend has a flexible work schedule. If for some reason my sister has to go to school a day she's normally supposed to be off or the other way around...her boyfriend gets called into work when he's not supposed to be working, her boyfriends retired parents or his sister watch the baby for a few hours until one of them get home.

Sadly my sister is in Chicago so we are far away..but the boyfriends parents always are willing to help out. Even if my sister and her boyfriend want to go out they practically beg to watch my nephew!

You said you have 1 child already...and you are in your 7th month of school..two children can be more work but if it is something you really want you can make it work. Family members if you have any might be willing to help out. Schools/Jobs can have day care centers sometimes even at a much cheaper price than an outside daycare center.(Plus you can spend breaks with your child OR children and heaven forbid if you have a personal emergency with yourself or one of your children you are just footsteps away from the center). Two of my schools and the hospital where I am employed at now had/have excellent daycare centers(both of my schools daycare centers ALWAYS had a waiting list and the hospital sometimes has a waiting list). Also there are outside daycare centers and private nannies or mannies..being a nanny isn't just for females!/ or sitters(always check references) but of course they are going to charge whatever price they want to and in some(NOT ALL) cases you get what you pay for.

I don't know you personally but if my sister can make it work than ANYONE can make it work..my sister used to be terribly irresponsible d school and hold down an internship without spending a dime on childcare. Whebut having a baby changed her. Even with being responsible she found a way to spend a good amount of time with her infant and boyfriend, go to gran I was close to her age(early 20's) I barely knew which way was up!

Kissa6190 · Nov 10, 2011

Thanks for the replies! I believe we have decided to have a baby now. Otherwise if we wait my kids would be at least 4 years apart and I want to get it over with! I appreciate all your comments. :))

Al.ginger · Nov 10, 2011

One of my classmates has a 7-monthsold girl plus 3-year-old boy. We a in the first semester. She is pulling it together so far.

I, myself, have a 18-month-old toddler boy. It is hard but manageble. My hubby want another baby so bad he is looking into adopting 0_o. But I'm not having another kid until I have my RN licence

VolunteerCPR · Nov 10, 2011

I faced a similar decision, and talked to the nursing department chair at my school who said that if I missed a semester to have a baby, there would be no guarantee there would be a spot for me when I came back (if none of the incoming students dropped), and said that only about 1/2 of the pregnant students in the program were successful at finishing. I would talk to your school to find out what they require in terms of doctor's notes, find out if your doctor will give you what they require, and find out if you'll be guaranteed a seat when you go back. If I missed more than one semester, I would have had to retake exams and revalidate all skills.... hard enough as it is without having to redo things. Not to mention daycare for an infant so you can go to school runs in the $250-$300/week range in my area and my school only offers daycare to children over 2.

Hope that info helps...

LWnurse · Nov 11, 2011

It's doable, I'm currently in that exact situation and I'm 3 weeks away from completing my first quarter. I have a 3 year old, and a 7 month old and let me tell you it's exhausting, cause you'll typically go to bed late, and get up early.. and you'll feel like you're not doing your best at being a mom, or being a student... but I am passing, my kids are thriving, and we're gettin through it! I just keep thinkin about how much better off we willb e in 2 years and they will have been too young to really remember any of it!!

Go for it you can do it! :)

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2011

...she says, posting at one in the morning!

krosho · Nov 11, 2011

It can be done! I started school with a 2 year old and 3 month old...2 years later I've added another one. If school lets you - take time off, it'll help. But even with 3 under 4 years right now, school is tough but manageable :)

jennys77 · Nov 11, 2011

I've had two babies in two years while taking my pre-reqs. I have a 3.7 GPA. My youngest will be almost 2 when I start the BSN program. My kids are amazing. I wouldn't change it. Some people can pull it off.