When to get pregnant?

Nurses General Nursing

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I searched the forum already (didn't come up with much) and thought I would ask this to the new crowd here on AllNurses.

I have a 5 yr old daughter from a previous relationship and my husband is anxious to have one of his own. We are both Certified Medication Aides and he should be done with LPN school early next year. I plan on entering RN school in Fall 2010. He wants to have a baby when he becomes a LPN but I'm wondering when it would be best. After the first year of school when I could take the NCLEX-PN? After I graduate? However, I am worried about having a baby in my first year as a RN but I guess that would make the most sense.

I know there is no "best" time, but please provide your experiences on when YOU felt it was better for your family.

The people that you are not hearing from here are the ones that got pregnant in nursing school and had to drop out. Professors tell you not to get pregnant because they know the drop out rate is about 2 or 3 who don't make it to the one who does. However, people do get pregnant in nursing school and get through it so the choice is yours. I don't blame you for considering your husbands sensibilities. However, he is not the one who will be going into labor during clinical so I think you should do what you think is right for YOU!

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Specializes in LTC, home health, addiction, hospice.

We were told the by our instructors, "do not get pregnant while in school" because as noted before, there are things in clinicals you can't do. And then if you have morning sickness and dr appts you risk attendance problems. Good Luck to you!!

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Pregnancy & childbirth are amazing and wonderful experiences--if all goes well. Your entire focus will alter, though. You really have to consider how your lives will be affected. I'm a student (pre-nursing). I had my son in Nov. School is easier when pregnant rather than when the baby comes. I am expecting to start NS in the fall and dread putting him in daycare. :(

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Specializes in RN: L&D, LPN: Med/Surg, CNA: MedSurg/LTC.

Thanks for all the replies! As much as we don't want to, I think we'll wait till we graduate from school.

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Specializes in OB/GYN, Peds, School Nurse, DD.

Oh,man. I wouldn't plan to get pregnant any time soon if you're planning to become an RN soon. Nursing school is incredibly intense, like nothing you've ever done before. It requires your nearly-undivided attention for weeks and months on end.

I had my kids after finishing nursing school. In fact, we waited until we were both working professionally, had bought cars and a house. When we did get pregnant we were financially ready and we had established ourselves in our careers.

If its the age difference you're worried about, stop worrying. Lots of people have kids many years apart. Mine 1st and 2nd are 7 years apart. I had #2 an #3 at 38 and 40:eek:. I don't regret it at all. My kids get along beautifully, without fighting and they really support each other's interests. There is almost no competition and no whining! Yay!

My sister's kids are 14yrs apart--she's basically raising two only chldren. But you know? it works. Big bro is in college and attends Little bro's soccer games and rides him to school. They are happy as mudpuppies.

Seriously, seriously consider whether getting pregnant now will help you reach your goals. Nursing and motherhood are not exclusive, but nursing school can put a TREMENDOUS amount of stress a new mom. Best of luck!

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Specializes in LTC.

I think that this is really up to you and your husband. I go to school with a lot of women who had children during or right before nursing school. All of those people as far as I know are still in the program and doing well.

I would at least have the baby before I started nursing school or give myself a semester or two to get used to nursing school before I had a baby.

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Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.

I had my daughter right after the LPN portion of the RN program I was in was finished. I passed the LPN boards just fine right before she was born, but I never went back to finish the RN portion. It's been one of my slight regrets for the last 8 years (more in the first few years than now), but I had to take care of my baby, which I never once regretted. I can finish the RN part any time. She needed ME when she was a baby. Heck, I've since had 2 more children since and can't stand the idea of daycare, so I work at home. Different strokes for different folks.

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Interestingly enough this subject just came up in a conversation this week. A distant family member is graduating from a ADN program this week. I was talking to her mom who informed me the new grad is two months pregnant. She sat for her LPN NCLEX last year and is already working as an LPN. She is going to continue at her present job. Her mom informed me she waited till the very end of the program to get pregnant on purpose, the program was very intense and she is positive she would not have made it had she done so sooner.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

LOL there is a debate going on about this up in the student forum as well. Must be baby fever lately. :p

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Specializes in ICU.

I had to chime in here... because I got pregnant in nursing school. First year. Got pregnant with TWINS.

Anyway,, I was sick as hell,, and had to drop out just before they were born (a month early) because I was freakin HUGE. (they were both 7 pounds,, each.)

Well, it took another five years before I could go back to school because I had to get a job to take care of these kiddos. My husband's income wasn't enough.

So,, my advice would be to wait,, unless you are prepared to drop out. Your children will always come before nursing school. Your health will always come before nursing school.

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Specializes in Psych..

I read the thread in the student forums about this topic, and now this one. I debated replying, but I'll go ahead and share.

My experience was bad. I decided to try for a baby during nursing school. I had a miscarriage during my OB rotation and it was horrible. I still wonder if my being stressed by school somehow contributed to what happened, and I feel guilty.

I'm glad lots of people had happy endings, with a baby and their license, but sometimes that's not what happens. I just wanted to add a different perspective.

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