Health dilemma + school clinicals = what to do??

[Amandaagain]

Hi all!

I am cureently having a health dilemma that is causing my husband and I to have to reevaluate our plan. I applied to start clinicals for a bachelors program this coming January. It will be 2 1/2 years to completion. We decided to put off kids until graduation (I quit a previous job to go back to school for this). The issue is we found out I have severe cervical dysplasia. I have had 1 procedure already (LEEP) and when the results came back she wasn't happy. I'm about to do a second procedure (cold knife) and once I heal from that she wants us to knock kids out so she can do a hysterectomy as soon as possible. We want 2 kids. The idea of this all getting pushed at once is intimidating. Has anyone had children/been pregnant during school? I'm scared to wait for kids, as things may progress in a negative way and may lose my chance at children. Should I push back school? Is this all possible at once?

[operations]

I appreciate that ... but it is a for sure thing.

Then I 100% say do everything you can to have those kids and nursing school can wait if it must. Make friends in your classes and have a good support network if you do try to press on. But at the end of the day, it's just a job. Family is your life.

[xxstarrynitesxx]

I am not entirely sure if this may be an option for you financially or otherwise, but you may consider looking into having your eggs frozen and using a surrogate down the line. I would imagine that you would be in more control of when you will have children and not put your health at risk. Children are quite pricey and I encourage people to consider the financial impact.

[LemonDrop1234]

I agree with the above. Consider freezing your eggs, if possible. Actually since you're married, might as well freeze embryos.

[cMullisRN]

I started my LPN program in mid-August and found out I was pregnant with my first child in November. We weren't trying, but weren't preventing either. Our program was only a year long and I was set to complete my final semester and have our pinning ceremony on July 31st. Guess when I was due...? Yep, same day.

FORTUNATELY, I had an uncomplicated pregnancy. I was in school full-time and worked full-time until I was 34 weeks, at which point I stopped working and just went to school and clinicals. My son was born August 4th.

Do I recommend it? Not really. Nursing school was exhausting enough without carrying around an extra 30 pounds of weight during an 8-hour clinical day (not to mention in the middle of a Georgia summer). But can it be done? Absolutely!

Looking back, I can't imagine having my baby and then returning back to school immediately. I have met people that have done it, but I was very lucky not to have to do that. Like others have said, maybe a shorter program would be a good idea for you. Or you could try to time it right where you could have the baby in-between semesters and take a semester off. Or you could absolutely be a superwoman mom and do it all. Only you and your husband can make that decision. Hopefully you have a great support system surrounding you who can help as well. Best of luck :)

[ILUVERNSG, MSN, RN]

Couldn't have said it better myself!

[BBP42]

I had one of my children during my RN program, they had an option to take a "medical leave" semester off and then waitlist for a seat to return the next semester and join the class right behind mine. A few people failed out of the program every semester, so there was a seat and I returned when my son was 3 months old and picked up where I left off. It was a little bit of extra work to get back to where I was with clinical skills but we did have skills lab to play catch up in. I was approaching 40 and really wanted one more child and the decision was right for me. I finished with honors and then took 3 months to enjoy my baby before getting my first job. Everyone's situation is different but I wanted to offer support and say it can be done.