Anyone have a baby during their LPN program?

Blayde&Lily'sMom · Jun 14, 2005

I am currently pregnant with my 3rd child. My children will each be about 18 months apart and I start school in two weeks. I would say to at least wait until you only have a couple of months left in your class to even get pregnant, if you can. I am definatly not looking forward to coming home with my new baby and handing him/her over to someone else so I can go to class the next day. Not to mention that if you don't have family who can watch a newborn most daycares won't accept a child until 6 weeks. Depending on your program, mine is 5 days/ wk for 8 hr/ day X 12 months, and you can only miss 40 hours and then they kick you out. But I do beleive you can do anything you put your mind to, but some corners may have to be cut at home to get there. I've already come to the realization that I cannot be super-mom, wife, and pregnant while going through this program so I will have to ask for help. I just have to beleive that if God didn't want me to be pregnant and in school, He wouldn't have allowed it to happen! I wish you luck and hope that whatever is right for your family now will happen for you!!

bmw804 · Jun 15, 2005

I was pregnant during my first semester of the LPN program, but I couldn't finish. I hadd to take a break. I have two smaller children 5 and 2. It was gonna be hard finding someone to watch the kids. I was also working full time. I want to go back, but I am not sure if I want to complete LPN or BSN. I have been accepted into a BSN program for this fall. I would rather put all my energy into school instead of working and not worry about who will watch my kids. It is ery hard, but if all my kids are in day care or school during the day that is less worry for me.

LydiaNN · Jun 15, 2005

Along with everything else you have to think about, you might also want to consider the health exposures that become more problematic if you are pregnant.

L&D_2b · Jun 15, 2005

Thanks to everyone for responding. I wish I could wait to have another baby, but the deed is already done:) I was just hoping to still take my program since it is only 2-3 days a week for two years. I already have 3 children (2 of which are in school all day). Do you think I should still go? With the program being in a slower format, do you think I'll be able to finish?

Also, my husband is self employed, so he will be the one watching the two younger ones since he can "create" his own schedule for work.

Along with everything else you have to think about, you might also want to consider the health exposures that become more problematic if you are pregnant.

ane26 · Jun 15, 2005

Marci,

I guess I am in the same boat as you. I will be starting an LPN program in August and am early in my pregnancy. I do have a 6 m/o son. I think that I'll be ok, I am lucky in the fact that my parents are very supportive. They already babysit my son while I am at work. They also said we can stay with them while I am in school.

palesarah · Jun 15, 2005

Thanks to everyone for responding. I wish I could wait to have another baby, but the deed is already done I was just hoping to still take my program since it is only 2-3 days a week for two years. I already have 3 children (2 of which are in school all day). Do you think I should still go? With the program being in a slower format, do you think I'll be able to finish?
Also, my husband is self employed, so he will be the one watching the two younger ones since he can "create" his own schedule for work.

Well, it sounds like anyone could do it, then you could- it sounds like your husband is very supportive, nad having a strong support system is one of the most important thisng in getting through nursing school!

I started nursing school who was pregnanct and due towards the end of the first trimester, when we had classes twice a week and clinical once a week. She ended up delivering a few weeks early, missed one lecture while she was in labor, signed herself out the next evening for a few hours to come to lecture (hey, if anyone was going to be understanding of that, it would be nurses!), skipped that week's clinical, and was back the next week to finish out the semester then took a year off and rejoined the next year's group at the same place she would have been with us a year earlier.

That's what worked for her. I certainly don't think it could hurt for you to start school, as long as you have an excellent support system. What are your options for taking a semester or year off after the baby comes if want to? Or taking time off if you have pregnnacy complications and need to be on bedrest?

L&D_2b · Jun 15, 2005

The program I am set to start in a part time LPN program that only starts once every two years. So if I don't start in January, I have to wait 2 1/2 years for the next one to begin.

My husband is like "super dad", so that is the least of my worries. I know he can do it and he doesn't mind taking care of the younger two. But can I do it? That is the question. I want to be a nurse someday, but not as much as I want to be a mother. And I don't want to start the program and then drop out. I'm not sure if I can pick up where I left of or if I would be required to start at the beginning again.

Well, it sounds like anyone could do it, then you could- it sounds like your husband is very supportive, nad having a strong support system is one of the most important thisng in getting through nursing school!
I started nursing school who was pregnanct and due towards the end of the first trimester, when we had classes twice a week and clinical once a week. She ended up delivering a few weeks early, missed one lecture while she was in labor, signed herself out the next evening for a few hours to come to lecture (hey, if anyone was going to be understanding of that, it would be nurses!), skipped that week's clinical, and was back the next week to finish out the semester then took a year off and rejoined the next year's group at the same place she would have been with us a year earlier.
That's what worked for her. I certainly don't think it could hurt for you to start school, as long as you have an excellent support system. What are your options for taking a semester or year off after the baby comes if want to? Or taking time off if you have pregnnacy complications and need to be on bedrest?

DeiDei · Jun 15, 2005

When I started the LPN program I was a newlywed, and several months into the program I found out I was expecting our first child. The school had no problem with it, albeit I did have to take a leave of absence due to a threatened miscarriage. The program itself had 6 levels, I was in level 5 when I took a leave of absence. Needless to say, I was disappointed that I'd gotten so close to my goal of program completion and could not complete it. However, I had a happy and healthy baby boy who is now 13 years old. When I returned to school, instead of having me start where I left off, they had me start from level 3. I finished the program anyway. Good luck to you, I hope everything works out.

L&D_2b · Jun 15, 2005

Thanks for the encouragement. Your post has really helped.

Thanks again:)

When I started the LPN program I was a newlywed, and several months into the program I found out I was expecting our first child. The school had no problem with it, albeit I did have to take a leave of absence due to a threatened miscarriage. The program itself had 6 levels, I was in level 5 when I took a leave of absence. Needless to say, I was disappointed that I'd gotten so close to my goal of program completion and could not complete it. However, I had a happy and healthy baby boy who is now 13 years old. When I returned to school, instead of having me start where I left off, they had me start from level 3. I finished the program anyway. Good luck to you, I hope everything works out.

jkaee · Jun 16, 2005

I got pregnant with my first child shortly after beginning my first year of my schools RN program. I still continued to go to school full time, and had my baby (luckily) during our summer break in June. I went back to school in the fall, and graduated the following May with honors and on the Dean's list. If you have support and the will to do it, it can be done.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and good luck in school!

Jennifer