Is anyone trying or thinking about trying to conceive during school?

Hooligan · Apr 21, 2003

Originally posted by PowerPuffGirl
First of all, whatever you decide to try, best of luck!

My main concern is that nursing school is stressful enough, do you want to add the additional stress of trying to concieve, perhaps thinking you are pregnant, and finding out that you are not? Or possibly having a miscarriage?

Thanks for your concern...and you bring up a valid point! I really don't think I'll have too much of a problem here...I'm going into this thinking that I won't be able to get pregnant right away so wondering about it or finding out that I'm not prego won't be too much of problem. As far as having a miscarriage goes...that would be tragedy at any time...and I think school would actually be a good outlet and place to focus my attention. I don't plan on my trying to conceive as being a stressful senario...quite the contrary...I feel that there would actually be less stress in actually trying to conceive because I would not be crushed each month if I find out that I'm not pregnant because I still have to finish school. However, If I wait till after graduation to get started I'm going to be so desperately hoping to get pregnant that it'll be a huge let down each month I don't conceive...Does this make any sense?

All I can say is that everyone has given good advice. Now the only thing I can add is that school will always be around. But your body might not. When you start hitting the 30's it gets harder to conceive. You can always have a child and go back to school. But they day you can't have a child... that's it!

I guess ultimately this sums up how I feel! Thanks!

~Bean

studentdeb · Apr 22, 2003

I won't be trying to conceive while going to school, but I did want to ease your mind about having a baby at age 34 or older. I had my daughter and 35 and my son two weeks before I turned 38. I had not problems what so ever and my kids are perfectly healthy. The only thing I can say is I am more tired now that I think I would have been at a younger age.

As far as going to nursing school at the same time, I can't answer that because I don't start until the fall.

Remember if it does take that year you mentioned, you might get finished with school and then still have that baby.

Whatever you decide, good luck and it will all work out.

colleen10 · Apr 22, 2003

Hi Bean,

I am 28, my husband is 29. We've been married for 3 years this June and I will be starting a 2 year ADN program this fall.

I wanted to let you know that when I was deciding to go back to school, starting a family was quite a consideration. Would it be better to go to school and wait on the family, or start the family and put school on hold? It was quite a dilemma with lots of financial and time implications. Finally, we decided that I would go back to school first and then start a family once I pass the NCLEX.

But then in December I thought that I may have some Thyroid and hormone problems and all of a sudden the decision came down to having children and putting school on hold. It turned out I didn't have any problems so now were back to going to school first. But of course my husband thought his super sperm could do the trick on the first try too!

Like another poster said, school can wait - your body can't. If you feel that it may take time for you to conceive and having children is very important to you than I think you would be making the right decision for you. I would find out from the school though, how much time you can take off between semesters and when you would be able to return. Just so you have an idea of what it would be like when you decide to go back and there are no surprises.

Part of the reason I don't want to start a family before school is because I know it will be extremely difficult going through a program while being pregnant let alone once I do have a baby but that is my decision and what works best for me at this time. It's really up to you and what your situation is as far as time, money, support system, etc.

I think that if you are comfortable with whatever decision you decide to make it then it is the right one for you and given your history I can see why you want to start now and if I were in your shoes (and I was for awhile) I would have started too.

Good Luck and I wish you well!

Col

RNIAM, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2003

Having been in school and this being my second semester I have to say. You would be better off to make one of two choices. Etiehr put off school and get pregnant or wait until your finished school. It is so hard to do this when everything is in order. I have no idea how a person would manage with moring sickness, weight gain. Lifting and moving pt's and so on. Whatever you decide I wish you all the best.

KaroSnowQueen, RN · Apr 22, 2003

I graduated from nursing school twenty years ago this August. I had a three year old, a two year old and was five months pregnant when I began the program.

It was hard, I did it, and I finished with my class. I think they were more lenient then, I went into labor on Monday of the finals week of the first quarter. My instructors brought my finals to the hospital!!!

We then had a week break, then a week with CPR and other things, which I missed and made up the end of the year. Then I missed three days the first week of the second quarter. So I had the baby, missed three and a half weeks of school and made it up at the end, but graduted on time.

It was hard, I cannot believe now that I did it, but it was worth it.

renerian, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2003

I had several friends who became pregnant during school and ended up dropping as it was to hard, very tired plus you could not miss any clinicals.

renerian

SC RN, RN · Apr 23, 2003

My story is somewhat similar to yours. I am 29, my hubby is 35, we have been married for 1 1/2 years. I have a child from a previous marriage ... I had him when I was 18 but had two miscarriages after that.

So ... I start Nursing school in August. And we are going to wait to have a child til I am done. Why? Because my husband wants me to give school 100% and our first child 100% ... and we both agree that I can't do both at the same time (and raise my pre-teen son!). Is it hard to wait? Heck yeah it is. I'll be at least 31 when we start trying ... 14 years after last having a successful pregnancy! Who knows how it will go this time? I worry sometimes but feel confident in my decision. (Well, okay, sometimes I don't but I get over it pretty quickly)

The best decision for you will be the one that you and your husband make together. Someone mentioned earlier a colicky baby ... you just never know what kind of child you'll get. You may be blessed with a peaceful baby or blessed with one that just wants to be held all the time or else it will cry. There are so many variables. Talk about this a lot ... go for walks and talk. Take drives and talk about it. Just give it a lot of thought. You'll figure it out. :)

renerian, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2003

SC RN good point. My second was a screamer from day 1. I did not get to sleep through the night till she was 2 years old. Horrible time.

renerian

rnmi2004 · Apr 24, 2003

If they have so many applicants and so few seats, you might as well start TTC now. In the meantime, are there any classes you can get out of the way? I agree with whoever said that you should check their policy about reapplying after taking a semester off.

nursemelanie · Apr 24, 2003

I am so glad I found this site. I have a 3 1/2 yr old son and am starting prereqs this summer, hoping to have them all done by next summer so I can enroll in the nursing program in fall of 2004 for spring and hopefully get accepted. It took us almost 5 yrs to get pregers with DS. I desperately want another baby and was debating on waiting till done with school or start trying now during Gen Ed classes. Who knows how long it will take this time to get preg, but I am almost 30 and didn't want to wait till I was a few yrs older.

Dublin37 · Apr 25, 2003

In my ever so humble opinion (hah!) What do you want more? I say go for those babes first, you'll never be sorry, and eggs (meaning ovaries) do get old, and not work so well. I had my first 2 kids at 30 and 33, and when we wanted #3, my eggs were done pooped out at 36. Nursing will be there for you whenever you want to go back. I Loved being a mom, and now I'm switching careers (from teaching) to nursing with my kids a bit older. It's great. Heather

Dublin37 · Apr 25, 2003

In my ever so humble opinion (hah!) What do you want more? I say go for those babes first, you'll never be sorry, and eggs (meaning ovaries) do get old, and not work so well. I had my first 2 kids at 30 and 33, and when we wanted #3, my eggs were done pooped out at 36. Nursing will be there for you whenever you want to go back. I Loved being a mom, and now I'm switching careers (from teaching) to nursing with my kids a bit older. It's great. Heather