Is Anyone Pregnant & in School?

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jun 24, 2004

Oh, my. I went to school with a young lady who became unintentionally pregnant partway through the program. She managed to pull it off and did quite well, but I don't know that, given a chance to do it over, she would plan it that way.

I'm normally a pretty optimistic person. I did manage to work more than fulltime while going to school with a significant commute distance, and being married (without children.) I can tell you in all honesty that, since I am not superwoman, something gave, and in my case it was my marriage that suffered. Fortunately, we were able to work things out and are a stronger couple for it now.

You're saying you'd like to have another baby - so you already have at least one at home, plus a husband and school to manage. I'm interpreting that you have one year full time to complete your schooling? Is that too long to wait to have another baby?

And I know that it's not easy to have a baby when you are a new nurse, but at least that would offer a little more flexibility in your schedule.

Only you know what you can manage. How did you tolerate your other pregnanc(ies) from a health standpoint? How much outside family support do you have? Are you juggling all your responsibilities ok as they are right now? I would encourage you to take an unflinching look at your husband's ability to truly support you during your schooling (i.e. watching the kid(s) while you study, helping around the house, understanding that during school you are probably going to be very busy/tired/read: non-amorous .) How flexible is your child care situation? If the little ones are sick, do you or your hubby have to take off work to stay home with them?

Just some food for thought as you are making this very important decision. Best of luck no matter what you decide :). And congrats on being so close to your RN!

Energizer Bunny · Jun 24, 2004

I was pregnant during some of my pre-req's and it has taken me three years and yet another baby to go back. I couldn't leave my munchkin when she was that little. Being away from her as many hours a day as I would have had to would have broken my heart. I agree with everything Nurse Ratched said.

Altra, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2004

A girl in my class became pregnant (unintentionally) while in school and delivered her baby in early September. She has been able to stay on pace with our class only because her six weeks post-partum fell before we started clinicals. She is not married, but seems to have a great deal of support from her partner and her family.

Another girl in my class is newly married and anxious to start a family, but wants to wait until after school. However (she's shared this detail w/us voluntarily - not sure why :rolleyes: ) she & her hubby aren't using any form of birth control, so she's playing the "cross your fingers every month" game. To me this seems like making a decision by failing to make a decision, KWIM?

As another poster mentioned, only you know your specific situation and what you are capable of, but IMO you should think long & hard about whether or not this is really the best option. Making up class time & exams is one thing, but making up lost clinical time can be next to impossible. It's fairly likely that you will not be permitted in clinical for 2 weeks before and 6 weeks after delivery. That 8 weeks can sink you, and if your school has only one class rotation per year you'd be set back an entire year.

Good luck to you. :)

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jun 24, 2004

However (she's shared this detail w/us voluntarily - not sure why ) she & her hubby aren't using any form of birth control, so she's playing the "cross your fingers every month" game. To me this seems like making a decision by failing to make a decision, KWIM?

:eek:

Last I checked, wishful thinking wasn't working too effectively as a BCM .

Altra, BSN, RN · Jun 24, 2004

Last I checked, wishful thinking wasn't working too effectively as a BCM .

:rotfl: You're not kidding ...!

All_Smiles_RN · Jun 24, 2004

I became unintentionally pregnant when I started my pre-reqs. During the 1st and 2nd trimesters, it wasn't that big of a deal. When I hit my last trimester though, it got very difficult. I could just never concentrate. Maybe it was just me, but I was always off in "babyland" instead of focusing on algebra or A&P. My due date was supposed to be at the end of November (just before the semester's end). My professor's and I had made an arrangement to let me come back and take my finals after I had the baby. I had everything planned out perfectly. But low and behold, I went into labor 5 weeks early and it really threw my schooling off. I never finished my classes that semester and got F's because of it. Thankfully I was able to file an appeal because of my circumstances and get my F grades overturned, but I had to retake all of those classes. If I could turn around and change things, I would have either a) taken a hiatus from school during the end of my pregnancy and beginning of his life or b) have been more careful and not gotten pregnant in the first place, lol. What I'm trying to say is no matter how carefully you plan your schooling around your pregnancy, it doesn't always work out. My advice, having a baby while you're in school is probably not the best thing to do. But you've got to make that decision for yourself. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

...Jennifer...

neonatalRN · Jun 24, 2004

I am pregnant! I just finished my first year of nursing school, I was pregnant for almost the whole thing. I am due next week, and will go back to school this fall. It has not been a problem at all.

One lady in my class had a baby in September right after school started, she did fine. Another had a baby in February, and even came to clinicals the next weekend! There is one more in my class who is also due next week.

I say if you want to get pregnant, don't put it off. It doesn't have to be a problem.

Heidi

camay1221_RN · Jun 24, 2004

I got pregnant with DS second to last semester of clinicals. Graduated six months pregnant.

2ner · Jun 24, 2004

My husband and I have been mulling over the idea of trying to have a baby while I'm still in school. I figured with me not working...just going to school (but I am on an educational leave program so I get paid and have insurance). Our feeling behind the whole thing is that it's probably better to go for the plunge now, because once i'm working b shift, i won't have any time with them, not to mention while i'm in school it will just be for a few hours a day. I'd rather go ahead and get it out of the way before I graduate and since doc appts will be easier to get to. (crossing my fingers we can plan it while i'm out of school on break, now once I start to work after graduation, it'll be more difficult to get time off to go to the doc.

sorry for being long winded

nursecompassion · Jun 24, 2004

I am pregnant with my third son! I am due September 29th and classes start September 20th. I talked to my doc about being induced early and he said yes! So, after clinicals on the 24th of Sept, I will be heading in for an induction. (My previous two boys were also induced-----because they didn't want to come out!)

I plan on going back to class the 27th or 28th of Sept, my dh is a stay at home dad so we don't worry in that department.

Julee

EMTtoRN · Jun 24, 2004

We have decided that we would like to have another baby right after graduating. SO we have some planning to do hahahahah I am on Depo so I will go off 1 year before trying to get cycles back etc. I don't know if I could have another baby AND do eveything that I do now although I would LOVE to!