2 months preggo and starting to apply...HELP

mrsb04 · May 12, 2010

Thank you so much for your replies ladies. I am still having a hard time deciding what to do. The programs I have been looking into said I could take a quarter off to be with my child after delivering (I would take off Winter Qtr), but a spot back in the program in the Spring is not guaranteed. Also, I have NO IDEA what my pregnancy will continue to be like through Fall qtr if I were to get in and go. So far I have had pretty awful morning sickness, and going to my pre-req classes the last couple weeks has been a challenge. I am in excellent health, but still do not know what to expect. I am nervous of not being able to make clinicals or because my due date is so close to the end of the quarter, that it may interfere with finals or being able to complete the quarter with an acceptable grade. Child care is not an issue when I do go back, as my parents have volunteered to watch the baby as needed and my husband works evenings. I do plan on breastfeeding too. I am going to go to nursing school no matter what, so going back will not be an issue, whether I wait to apply or get in and have to take time off. I know nursing school is rigorous and with a newborn will be a challenge, but I have a great husband and support system so I know I can do it. It's just deciding when to do it, that I am having the most trouble with. Thanks again for your input! :)

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 12, 2010

I am currently finishing up my RN pre-req's and will be finished this qtr. I just found out that I am almost 2 months pregnant. I was planning on applying for Fall qtr, but my due date is Jan 1st. I am not sure if I should just wait and apply next Spring after I have had some time off with the baby, or if I should just try for Fall qtr and try to start and then maybe leave if I have to. This is my first pregnancy (so I have no idea how it will go) and so far it has been pretty miserable with morning sickness (all day) and the awful fatigue. I wonder if it would not be a good idea to start nursing school at 4-5 months pregnant...especially with my due date so close to the end of the 1st quarter...also I wouldn't be able to go back right away (the program continues after winter break, after the 1st of the year). So do I delay applying? I am so confused. Thanks!

Here is my advice for what it's worth. Find out first if your school has a deferment policy. Like at my school because life happens, if you apply and get in or when your number is called (from waitlist) and you can no longer start that term, you can defer 1 time for up to a year. It doesn't hurt you and your spot is guaranteed that term you deferred to. A lot of people in my program did this, our waitlist was VERY long and they ended up in a situation that when there number was called they couldn't do it at that time.

So if this is the same for your school, I would apply now and then defer. If they don't allow this and you have to reapply if you can't start that term, I would wait until the next spring quarter. Even if this was your 5th kids, you have no idea how THIS pregnancy will go. When baby is born it needs you, and especially being your first baby, it will all be new to you, enjoy a few months (or even weeks) with the baby. It is an important bonding time. You also won't be so stressed out that you might miss too many days or what not.

In my school you cannot miss more than 2 clinical days during clinical rotations, if you miss 2 you are out. You can't miss mandatory days either.

In my school as well, your aren't punished for deferring but you are for failing a class. Your chances of getting back in (we are allowed ONE do over in ONE class) but the retake is NOT guaranteed and the first term is the hardest to get back into because of all the applicants. The next terms varies on how many people failed and how many are already waiting. A few students that were readmits had to wait 1-1.5 years to get BACK in.

So anyway, in the end you have to make your own choice, but if you go into nursing school without thinking it through just because you want to start already, it can really have some bad outcomes.

I was on the waitlist for 3.5 years. I had a child in that time, got pregnant as soon as I applied because my school was WL only and the lady told me it would be a MINIMUM of 2.5 years at that time but more like 3.5. So I got pregnant with my 4th kid right away and she was 2.5 by the time I started. It worked out perfect for me.

I was offered an alternate spot a semester early. It was that semester I planned on getting my CO Reqs of PathoPhysiology and 3 credit nutrition class done. If I accepted the alternate spot I would have to 2 those classes during the program and I might not know if I got in until the first day of class. Although I was so excited that the time was finally here and lord knows I was waiting for it for so long, I really thought about it and declined the spot and asked to just start in the Fall as I originally planned.

The admissions lady thanked me for putting so much thought into it and assured me I was doing the right thing. She said so many students are in such a hurry and even if the time isn't right accept and end up failing out.

I am very glad the way things worked out.

So anyway, sorry for such a long post but it's a huge decision and all options should be weighed. You won't get that time back with your baby and of course this is true with all kids, but those first few weeks and months are so important for setting your bond and possibly your child's temperament.

Congratulations on the baby!!!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 12, 2010

Do you have a plan for daycare? You should check and see where you can place an infant under 6 weeks old and how much it will cost. Lay out all your options and talk it out with your husband. Will he wake up at night and take turns with the baby? If you plan to breastfeed I will tell you that it is physically draining. You need to get plenty or sleep and eat well balanced meals.

I didn't find nursing physically draining, but I did find pumping hard until the milk was well established which is usually around 6 weeks. (not just when milk comes in).

We had a girl that failed out in Med/Surge, it was her 4th pregnancy and her pregnancy went fine the whole time. She was a bit naive about things, (all her kids were born on a Friday and this one would be to and all would be grand)Well she had complications with her delivery and was out a little longer then expected and couldn't catch up. (8 hr med/surge lectures, needless to say you go over a LOT of stuff in even just one day) she bombed the final and failed. We had another girl that had such bad morning sickness she couldn't do clinicals.

Than again, we have on lady in her early 40's that had 8 kids, her youngest was about 4 months old when school started. She came back second semester after our 5 week break and was very pregnant. She was due in June. It was her NINTH kid. She made it through the semester fine ok though, she said clinicals were really hard and tiring but other then that she did fine and she is due in a few weeks.

I was really shocked the baby didn't just come walking out in class. LOL

mrsb04 · May 12, 2010

Mi Vida Loca--thank you so much for your response. It help me put things into better perspective. I have decided to wait to apply. There is no sense in hurrying and even if I did apply for Fall, I might not get in...so I won't be behind or anything. If I wait for Spring, then after delivery I will have a good three months off with my baby and a total of 3 quarters off of school (Summer-Winter), that I will be more than ready to go back when the time comes. Also, one of the programs that I am very interested in has a part-time option available starting Spring qtr that allows you to work if you need or be with your family and isn't as demanding as the full-time program. I;ve worked too hard in my pre-req's to not go back, like some people warned may happen after taking time off, that it will be worth the wait. I know I want to be a nurse and even if that means a little delay in getting going, it's better to take my time so I can do a good job, then rush and stress myself out, my husband and my future child. :)

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 12, 2010

Mi Vida Loca--thank you so much for your response. It help me put things into better perspective. I have decided to wait to apply. There is no sense in hurrying and even if I did apply for Fall, I might not get in...so I won't be behind or anything. If I wait for Spring, then after delivery I will have a good three months off with my baby and a total of 3 quarters off of school (Summer-Winter), that I will be more than ready to go back when the time comes. Also, one of the programs that I am very interested in has a part-time option available starting Spring qtr that allows you to work if you need or be with your family and isn't as demanding as the full-time program. I;ve worked too hard in my pre-req's to not go back, like some people warned may happen after taking time off, that it will be worth the wait. I know I want to be a nurse and even if that means a little delay in getting going, it's better to take my time so I can do a good job, then rush and stress myself out, my husband and my future child. :)

That sounds like a great idea!!!! I don't think just from reading your posts that you will not go back. I took the 2 years off while I was waiting and I had a LOT thrown my way to make me feel like I wasn't going to be able to go back, but I went, I did my co reqs the semester right before I knew I was due to start, and I started without any problems. Like you, I had worked way to hard and come to far to just give up and not follow it through.

But although I was forced to wait because of how my schools admittance was, it turned out to work out really well in the end.

redalert7777 · May 12, 2010

I was about 5 months preggo with my first when I started nursing school, originally. It is more difficult than I had anticipated, loss of sleep, and just stress in general. I believe that is what caused me to have placental abruption, and my son was born at 34 weeks. If things had gone "as planned", he would have been born around Christmas break, so I would have a couple weeks off, but life usually cannot be planned :) I had an emergency c-section, he was in the NICU for 2 weeks, and had to drop out when I had almost finished the semester. To be honest with you, I have known people who have been able to do it with a GREAT support system, but after going through it, I know that I couldn't have given birth, been off a few weeks and gone back. It's such a special time when they are little, and especially with your first baby that you just cannot get back. And they are only that little once. I went back when he was about a year and a half, and it was the best decision I could have made. He's now 3.5, and it's still always hard to leave, but I remind myself that I am doing it for him and our future :) I think you'll be glad that you waited, and can enjoy and have a stress free pregnancy! Good luck to you!

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · May 12, 2010

Mi Vida Loca--thank you so much for your response. It help me put things into better perspective. I have decided to wait to apply. There is no sense in hurrying and even if I did apply for Fall, I might not get in...so I won't be behind or anything. If I wait for Spring, then after delivery I will have a good three months off with my baby and a total of 3 quarters off of school (Summer-Winter), that I will be more than ready to go back when the time comes. Also, one of the programs that I am very interested in has a part-time option available starting Spring qtr that allows you to work if you need or be with your family and isn't as demanding as the full-time program. I;ve worked too hard in my pre-req's to not go back, like some people warned may happen after taking time off, that it will be worth the wait. I know I want to be a nurse and even if that means a little delay in getting going, it's better to take my time so I can do a good job, then rush and stress myself out, my husband and my future child. :)

I must say...I think you're making a very good decision!!! Nursing school will be there when you're ready. Congrats and good luck!!

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 13, 2010

So since you are decided I figured I would share this to shed a little light on something. I had a friend that didn't pass med/surge, as I stated we are allowed 1 do over and it's not guaranteed when. Well she applied right away to get in the next semester to retake that class. Since our second semester was split in half, she couldn't do the Peds/Ob class because med/surge was the first half. Because you can't move on if you don't pass.

So she reapplied for Fall 10 semester. (she failed in march along with the pregnant girl I was talking about) both of them well all the ones we lost that semester were fine until the final.

Anyway she has been anxiously awaiting for word back on whether she was readmitted for the fall.

She just posted on my facebook she didn't get back in. They said their was no room in clinicals and she could reapply for Spring 2011 semester. (that is the semester we are all due to graduate and if she finally gets in than she will just be restarting second semester.

Our school has less spots available for our med/surge clinicals second semester then they have starting the program first semester. We found this out during our med/surge semester.

They know they will always lose people first semester and so you would think if they lost 5 first semester they would readmit 5 people second semester since we lost 5. The don't though, they will only readmit 1-2 because it's all factored in.

So getting readmitted, especially in a timely manner is NOT guaranteed.

Lilgringa · May 13, 2010

I believe you should wait to apply. im in the same situation and my logic is that it would be safer and a more concrete setting to give 100 percent to pass and focus on my clinicals versus constantly thinking of the saftey of my childs emotional sanity with the stress of nursing school, not to mention the risk the enviroment places while doing clinicals.