Frontier Bound with infant?

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I am applying for Frontier FNP program. I really want to start asap. Only problem is I will have a 5-6 week old infant at the soonest available frontier bound date. I will be breastfeeding. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the schedule is like? I can't bear the thought of leaving my new baby for days so I would want to bring him to KY with me and bring a sitter to watch him during the day while I am in orientation. Is it like 8-4 days? Will it be feasible for me to stop and pump? Or is it relaxed enough that I could actually just bring him with me?

Haven't even turned in my application yet, I am just trying to decide if this is really a good idea or if it would be better to put it off until the next start date. Which I really don't want to do.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Seems like this would be a question to ask the school- not internet people.

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Rude and unhelpful. But thanks.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

How so? The ONLY reliable source of information is the school itself. Supposed someone said "Yes, I took my baby and no problem" and they had changed their policy (because it WAS a problem) and you show up with a newborn?

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I would never just show up with a newborn. Of course, if I get accepted, I would talk to the school about it beforhand. I haven't even applied yet, just something that I was thinking about this morning and thought it would be nice to hear from others who have been there.

Your tone came across as quite rude and condescending. If you wanted to not sound rude, you could have said, "I would encourage you to enquire with the school about this before bringing your infant."

Just because it is something I will ask the school, doesn't mean I also don't want the opinions of others. Suppose they do allow it, but some have tried it and would tell me it wasn't very feasible even though they allowed it. I would want to hear from them. But thanks for your non-constructive advice.

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I would never just show up with a newborn. Of course, if I get accepted, I would talk to the school about it beforhand. I haven't even applied yet, just something that I was thinking about this morning and thought it would be nice to hear from others who have been there.

Your tone came across as quite rude and condescending. If you wanted to not sound rude, you could have said, "I would encourage you to enquire with the school about this before bringing your infant."

Just because it is something I will ask the school, doesn't mean I also don't want the opinions of others. Suppose they do allow it, but some have tried it and would tell me it wasn't very feasible even though they allowed it. I would want to hear from them. But thanks for your non-constructive advice.

LMAO. DESTROYED.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

I didn't find the answer from PP rude or unhelpful. It was bare bones but honest and she answered before I did as I was thinking the same.

She just didn't give you all the 'fluffy stuff' you were looking for.

And to tell you, you're NOT being NETY'd nor bullied.

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Specializes in Hospitalist Medicine.

How much time until the next start date? If it's only a matter of a few months, why not wait until the baby is a wee bit older? A few months in the grand scheme of things isn't that long. Personally, I couldn't imagine trying to study and get through NP school while trying to care for a newborn and pump/breastfeed. That's just setting yourself up for a TON of stress. I'm not in any way trying to be rude in my reply. I just want to be realistic. There's a big difference between the demands of caring for a 5 week old on a demand feeding schedule versus an older baby who is on more of a regular feeding schedule. I would think you'd want to set yourself up for success and take a less stressful approach. Just my 2 cents :D

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I don't know about orientation but here's my experience w/ FNP school...I started FNP school with a four month old that I was pumping/breastfeeding and such. I was actually finishing my first master when he was born (went from graduating one and starting another). It is VERY difficult. I would pump while I studied and as soon as he would fall asleep in my arms I was on the computer trying to finish a paper. I remember having him up on a boppie pillow asleep while I had all my papers, books, and journal articles all around me trying to write a paper. I was staying with my mom for help while on maternity leave and my husband was in another state working. So my mom could watch him in the day time while I caught up on sleep or schoolwork, or if I had a live class session. And it's not just breastfeeding...you have to remember you also have to keep washing and sterilizing the bottles, the pumps, freezing the milk on top of taking care of a newborn. If you go to orientation make sure you have a fridge/freezer for the milk and you'll need a cooler to bring around to keep the milk cold if you plan on feeding him/her 100% breast milk. Another thing to remember is that everywhere you go you would have to bring all your pumping supplies. I would pump in the car while reading my notes... Anyway...now my baby is 11 months and school isn't getting easier and taking care of him isn't getting easier either. He no longer just sleeps after feeding...all he wants to do now is play. And if I have my laptop out all he wants to do is touch it. I've given up even trying to do ANY school work with him awake. I run errands but always have notes/flashcards with me. As soon as he is asleep in his car seat, I whip out my notes, book, cards, and study in the car until he wakes up. I also wake up 3-4 hours before he gets up in the morning and just stay awake studying. On top of all this, I am still working my 12 hour shifts. I get absolutely little to no sleep.

Anyway...that being said, I think you should do it now. I'm glad i did. I at least had one "easy" semester because even though I had to pump and feed him, he always fell back asleep and was in that "potted-plant stage" - which means that if I set him down in one spot, he'll stay there...now I can't even leave the living room without him crying for me. But he won't remember this time. And I would rather be done and have all the time to spend with him later when he can actually start having memories :) It's either you do it now, or wait until he goes back to school. I'm not gonna lie...IT'S HARD but doable. You really need to be motivated and have a STRONG support system.

Good luck!

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I'm actually going to be going to be frontier bound in May and my baby will only be a little over 3 months old. I'm super sad just thinking about being away from him for 4 days too. I also wondered about bringing him along, but decided against it. I will be bringing all my pumping supplies and cooler stuff! I'll be that person waking around with a huge bag of stuff and probably sneaking to my car to take pump breaks. Like Aik0 said, I'd rather go through this stress now rather than later when he won't remember.

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