HELP: Starting shchool and getting pregnant???

Gompers, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2006

OMG! I am now a week late. I got one of the ept things and it's control strip came up and the test strip was faint, but it kept getting darker after the time. I've been working for 8 years to get into school and when it finally looks like i've been accepted and everything is lined up and now--THIS!!I've already bought the uniforms! Can I still go to school? What problems will I come across? Should I post pone school or pregnancy? i am 28 years old. I'm soooo worrried!! My husband and I are very careful with bc. Opinions please.

The faint strip might be a positive, but don't analyze anything after the time is up - they all get darker as the urine dries and can lead you to think you have a different result. My advice is to test again tomorrow morning with your first urine of the day, and use a name brand test like First Response or EPT because they typically require lower hormone levels to test positive than the store brand tests, thus giving you results earlier.

Honestly, if I were to choose between having a baby in nursing school or having one during my first year working after graduation - I'd pick school. You can always take a semester or even a year off if they'll let you and then you won't miss anything. Lots of nursing students are pregnant during school. But if you try and have a baby your first year out, it's much harder. The learning curve really starts AFTER school ends. You're dealing with orientation, new employee benefits, lack of built-up sick and vacation time (which you use for maternity leave - there is no maternity leave pay!), etc. It takes at least a year to feel comfortable as a nurse, and interrupting that is really rough. So I say go ahead, have your baby, and go to school.

Good luck!

OCstudent · Aug 13, 2006

I agree with Gompers. Having a baby now is much easier than when you're just getting on your feet with your career. Congratulations girl! I was in high school when I got pregnant and I remember taking that ept test and low behold...that faint line apppeared. I think I nearly had a heart attack! I kept re-reading the directions because in the pics it showed a really dark line but mine was really faint so I wasn't too sure if it was still a "+". Anyways, I went through my entire senior year pregnant and actually went into labor during my Advanced Placement Calculus AB exam - and I passed!!!

I now have a beautiful 4 year old daughter and she's just the best thing that ever happened to me. Until I had her in the hospital - I had no idea I wanted to go into nursing. :)

Take care and let everyone know how things go! (((HUGS)))

Sleepy_Princess · Aug 13, 2006

As long as you take care of yourself, there is no reason why you shouldn't be able go to school while you're pregnant. Like Gompers said, pregnancy during nursing school is quite common. (Especially since so many nursing students are already established and looking for a second career.) It shouldn't be a big deal as long as you don't make it one. You have to look at it this way... If you are pregnant, in nine months you will either have a baby, or have a baby and one year of nursing school under your belt. It's definitely possible to do both. Good luck!

shellsgogreen · Aug 13, 2006

congrats!:balloons:

i knew of two people who were pregnant when i started nursing school - and they're doing brilliantlly! hope everything works out well for you:w00t:

puggymae · Aug 13, 2006

Although I know people who breezed through pregnancy and nursing school I also know people who had to drop out due to complications in pregnancy. At our school if you have any restrictions at all you cannot go to clinical and that drops you out. Don't mean to be a doomsayer but pregnancy affects different people different ways - you may be one of those people who have zero problems or you may have complication after complication.

We will hope for the best!

jaky_speaks · Aug 14, 2006

I've been talking with my husband all day. Thank you all for your encouragement (either way) I'll get a accurate blood test this week. We think that the possibilty of school and being pregnant is not possible. My school dosn't let me do clinicals if I have any kind of restrictions (esp. pregnancy!) , so yea, it would boot me out. We are kind of a loner couple, we don't have a support system, so even if I delay school, I'd have a baby to care for that we really couldn't put into any kind of child care. It's sad to think that I can't be preg. and go to school, even though I know I would be a "trooper". But, I hope that this decision is best for the future of myself and any children I bring into it later. I really want to go to school....Just keep me in your prayers- Thanks again for your replys.

****now where is my comfort gallon of chunky monkey???******

wildmountainchild · Aug 14, 2006

No one else really came out and mentioned abortion as an option, although you seem to hint at it. I just wanted to say that years ago I got pregnant while I was getting my bachelor's degree. I wasn't married, was poor as dirt, and quite simply had no desire for a child.

I had an abortion and never looked back. I think in many ways society wants women who have abortions to carry guilt as punishment....I don't buy into that crap. The only time I ever think about the abortion is to think "Thank God I had the opportunity to make that choice!" It was the best for me, my future, and it was the best for the baby (no frazzled ,resentful, immature, single mother to ruin its psyche). And certainly not all single mothers are frazzled and resentful, but I knew I would have been.

Ten years have passed and I know with absolute certainty that I did the right thing. Now I have the means and maturity to raise a child correctly if I should so desire. I really do thank God that I was able to get that abortion. Now, as a nurse to be, I want to help ensure that all women get to make a choice.....not suffer a consequence. It seems people always say "Oh, it'll work out" in regards to babies and school or work, and sometimes it does. But a lot of times it doesn't (more in reference to young mothers here, where there is documented proof of life long poverty)

I feel that in reality way too many women have given up thier dreams (and a little bit of thier souls) in exchange for an untimely motherhood. After all, Moms almost always do the majority of the work. That's why planned parenthood is so important. With planning, anything you want can be achieved.

Whatever your choice is, my best wishes and thoughts are with you. Feel free to private message me if you want to talk further.

nursemama2be · Aug 14, 2006

I was pg when i started school... my daughter was born on exam day b4 winter break... and i went back to school when she was 4 wks old.. it can be done.. its far from easy but it can be done...

What ever you decide to do i wish you luck...

NaomieRN · Aug 14, 2006

You can still go to school while pregnant. My sister was pregnant while in her first semester of nursing school. It was tough, but she made it.

MarySunshine · Aug 14, 2006

Did the nursing school actually tell you that they did not allow pregnant women in their clinicals? I've never really heard of that.

I'm sorry for all the stress and I wish you and your husband well in this decision making time!

allnurses Guide · Aug 14, 2006

There were pregnant women in my nursing class too and they did very well.

I had an unplanned pregnancy at 43 and he is 5 now and the joy of my life. My oldest is 23 and was also unplanned. My life is wonderful with my children (the other two are 21 and 17) and I was also able to have a career.

My goal of course is to win the lottery and be a stay-at-home mom - funny how your priorities can change.

I chose my family over work each and every time.

steph