Has anyone ....

mitchsmom · Dec 30, 2005

There are at least 3 students in my class who have had babies since we started (actually 4, but one is a guy and didn't have to carry & have the baby! :) )

One of them, I'm not sure if she's still on the full-time track but I think she is(our groups split up a while back);

the second stepped back to part-time (she had the baby right in the middle of a full-time summer semester and just couldn't do it - but no biggie, she'll just graduate in Dec. instead of April 29 - also her husband was activated to go to the middle east in the military right after she had the baby so a lot going on there);

the third had the baby and didn't miss a beat... 'A' student as a matter of fact. Read: She has a LOT of support and help from her husband and her parents.

I think a lot of it just depends on how determined and motivated you are and how much support you have, and what other responsibilities you have (do you have a job? other committments?). It can be done but it is harder and it is more likely that you may get held up somewhere along the line. What if you are really sick while you are pregnant? What if your delivery and recovery are complicated? What if the baby is sick? (unlikely, but it could happen). What if you decide that you want to be home with the baby?

Personally, I don't think I would chose to do it (I took prereqs all online at home while my last son was an infant; I started classes part-time after he was a year old... but that is just what worked for our family, not to mention that thankfully my husband's income supports us... everyone is different). But I also wouldn't chose to work full-time with an infant if I had the choice, so again it's just very individual. I have a friend who had a baby during her OB MD residency- probably not much beats that!

A LOT of it also probably depends on your program- I would not decribe my program's attitude as that of the traditional "boot camp" style nursing program. I would say that they are more accomodating than average judging by what I read here on AllNurses. The program in the town where I actually live (not my program), friends have told me that they are very down on anyone who has other (i.e. family) committments and not to "even THINK about getting pregnant in this program" and comments like that.

Good luck whatever you chose :)

det01 · Dec 31, 2005

I had a baby during the summer 1.5 years ago. It has been a struggle, but I am doing fine. I would have finished school in December but the military moved us (DH is in the AF) and now I will finish in August (I did not really lose any credits - I transfered from a Diploma program to a BSN program). I am not only going to finish - but I actually make good grades. It is doable, you just have to budget your time effectively.

I have also seen others do it as well. They tell people the same thing I do. You have to learn to budget your time!

Hope everything goes well for you and you get what you want!