Class/es and a Newborn...?

allnurses Guide · Jun 25, 2015

Personally, I'll just have to disagree that the first months are not magical. They were for me. I loved every minute of it.

I also postponed nursing school until my youngest was in 1st grade. I graduated at 40. There are many ways to do this and the timetable can be very flexible if you want.

As to pumps, the mechanical "Medela Pump-In-Style" was a godsend. For me, the manual breast pump was unwieldy and difficult to use so kudos to the mom who made that work. The mechanical pump got me 8 ounces in, at most, 15 minutes of pumping. And I could read a magazine or book while the pump did all the work. :up:

TiniestLights · Jun 25, 2015

GrnTea: That is a great idea- I have been meaning to look up La Leche League:).

TiniestLights · Jun 25, 2015

musingmom: You bring up some good points- we really need to get our childcare plan together. I am embarassed to admit we haven't really contemplated that too seriously yet. I wouldn't say we have tons of family options so yeah, we need to think about this seriously for the upcoming months. It will work out but wow, it is crazy how fast time has gone... :eek: . Thank you so much for your thoughts.

Spidey's mom: Go you- I bet your family was so proud of you! I am 33, so I am thinking you began your studies not too far from where I am. It is daunting but I really appreciate the perspective you and others have shared, in that life will move along, things will get done, and goals will be achieved as long as you keep working toward everything at the best pace for you and your life. And yeah, I have heard good things about that pump! I hope insurance will cover it... :uhoh3:

I just want to thank everyone again:up: You each have helped me get a grip on things- it is much appreciated.

augurey · Jun 25, 2015

As to pumps, the mechanical "Medela Pump-In-Style" was a godsend. For me, the manual breast pump was unwieldy and difficult to use so kudos to the mom who made that work. The mechanical pump got me 8 ounces in, at most, 15 minutes of pumping. And I could read a magazine or book while the pump did all the work.

First, I have to say I'm super jealous that you got 8 oz in 15 minutes! I was lucky to get that in 45 lol

I second Medela. I had the free style. Though because my pumping needs were different, I rented a hospital grade pump (which actually helped my supply). I just about wore the motor out on the free style because of the amount I had to use it. I had a hand/manual pump in the event that the power was out and the battery died, but also with my circumstances being a little different, I'm not sure a hand/manual pump would really be necessary unless you absolutely wanted a back up for pumping.

allnurses Guide · Jun 25, 2015

First, I have to say I'm super jealous that you got 8 oz in 15 minutes! I was lucky to get that in 45 lol

Using both breasts of course. :yes: I was overflowing .. .. . .

augurey · Jun 25, 2015

Using both breasts of course. I was overflowing .. .. . .

Same here lol but not overflowing. I think my issue was we had latching issues. All they would do in the hospital was push formula instead of helping me with getting her latched (or checking for tongue tie which was diagnosed at 8 weeks), so 48 hours after birth I asked for a pump. I wish I had thought to ask for one sooner as I wonder if that would have made a difference in my supply. I only had one nurse that really tried to help with the breastfeeding.

For the first month and a half I would only get maybe 11 - 15 oz a day (using both, and believe me I sobbed whenever I spilled any) and had to supplement with formula because I couldn't pump enough. Once I got the hospital grade, I was finally getting 30 - 35 oz a day and was able to stop supplementing with formula.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jun 25, 2015

I had a Medela manual and once the kid was about 4 months old I was getting 6-8oz in a ten-minute coffee break at work > into the floor fridge and dropped off at daycare on the way home. :) When her brother was 7 months I was getting 10oz at a crack, but he was a bigger baby :).

Found this resource online:

The Best Breast Pump | BabyGearLab

My manual was a lot like this, loved it.

Nuk - Manual Breast Pump Soft & Easy | Buy Online in South Africa | TAKEALOT.com

kariace · Jun 26, 2015

Well my older sister had her baby last year in January. The baby lived with me the entire year, 24/7 (of course my sister did too). And my sis was doing pre-nursing around this time (not to mention I had my own school work so I couldn't help out as often I would like) well it's safe to say my neice slept half way through the entire day (but not always nights), she was very manageable to day the least. But when she turned that dreaded 6 months was when it all went to hell and my neice needed more attention with everything, so my sister did cut back her school hours. She is now a year and is very stressful, even for me with no job or school work to do this summer.

CaringGerinurse525 · Jun 26, 2015

I personally wouldn't take those classes in the fall with a newborn. Maybe an online class would be okay. I take longer to adjust to things though so it took my husband and I awhile to get into a groove with my son. He's 14 months old now and sometimes I'm just really starting to feel like a mommy. A lot of the first months were spent just trying to survive! He did not sleep for the first seven months of his life unless he was being held or rocked to sleep. I was paranoid and wouldn't let him sleep in the bed with us because I was afraid to roll on him. So I would breastfeed and then get him to sleep and put him in the bassinet and got about 20 min naps before he was up all over again. I can't imagine if I had school work on top of that! I know some people that have done it though. Good luck! Enjoy that bundle of joy because it really does go too fast! I had post-partum anxiety that really affected my adjustment as well.

Lâ™¡vER · Jun 26, 2015

I did this and made As, although it was not my first baby. I feel like perhaps if it was I would not have been so successful.

augurey · Jun 26, 2015

GrnTea, that manual pump looks so much easier to use than the one I had. I used my manual a few times to make sure I could use it in the event I needed to, but I felt like it was very cumbersome. I want to say it was a Medela manual.

Oh, and if you do get a pump and Medela brand, for the breast shields, I would recommend getting Pumpin' Pals Super Shields.

I don't know if all brand of pumps have similar breast shields, but the tube part (on Medela's) that connected to the bottle are straight (unless they've changed in the last 2 years). I found that made it uncomfortable and pinched me. The Pumpin' Pals Shields go at an angle which really made a big difference in my pumping experience. I found them to be more comfortable. But then again, with my situation being a little different, it was necessary for me to have something more comfortable. You may find the ones that come with the kits to be just fine, but if not, I'd definitely recommend those other ones.

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jun 26, 2015

Congratulations! I absolutely love the newborn stage, btw--little babies feel soooooo nice to hold, smell delicious. Mine were all born w/ mops of black hair, and their heads always reminded me of kittens! To be fair though, colic and PP depression are not uncommon.

I had my first child on the first day of spring break. I went back to class two weeks later, so with spring break I missed a week of classes. The week I was back, I took two patho exams: the respiratory exam that I missed, and the renal one that was scheduled. (We had an exam every 1-2 weeks.) I'd worked out with the dept. that I would be placed in the clinical group that had theirs before my EDD. (Initially they told me they couldn't show me any favoritism; I replied that I thought of it more as a reasonable accommodation --my cohort was divided into 3-4 clinical groups, and did their shifts during a set timeframe.)

Instead of reading "Goodnight Moon" to her, I read my patho notes. :bookworm: :laugh:

That said, I agree with augurey--school will always be there. It was not easy at all, and my in-laws were incredibly helpful. I actually don't know any other in-laws who have been so willing to help.

I was working PT as a CNA, and went back to work maybe 8 weeks later, which added a whole new level to the stress.

I would like to have taken the semester off, but I had put in a lot work already. Plus we were dirt broke, and we needed to get me into the workforce.