Mothers/ Expecting Mothers while attending school

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Hello everyone, I'm a mother to an one year old, my husband and I wants to continue having more kids. I started my first semester Spring 2012, worked full time, and took care of my, at the time, eight month old baby.

I'm starting my fall classes tomorrow as a full time student now that I'm no longer working. I wanted to know if there are any mothers out there or expecting mothers that are still going or went to school while you were continuing to grow your family.

Was it manageable? How was your experience?

Any advice would be great! I don't want to wait to have kids after I'm done with school because that would be five to six years from now!

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I found out that I was pregnant with my second child (surprise), right before I started school for my pre-req's. I took a semester off to have him and had to repeat one class that I didn't do well in, other than that that I've done well. I've also worked, sometimes full time, sometimes part time and my 9 year old step-daughter started staying with us full time about 2 years ago. When my son was born I would sit up late studying and doing homework with him attached to my breast :) We made it work, and though it has taken a little longer than expected, I start my first semester of Nursing school today!!! :w00t: Good luck to you...you can do it!!!

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I'm starting school full time in 2 weeks. And im stressing it hard lol. I have 1 child (3 years) But im also alone. Im sure if you have a good support system, and arent worried about taking a little longer to graduate, it wont be a big deal. You can do it, i'm sure you can.

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

I had my first child in my second year of midwifery school (CPM, not CNM) and my second just a week after receiving my LM license. Midwifery school means multiple days of clinical a week, 12 hour classroom days, and minimum 48 hours of call a week, often more. Hell, I was on call for weeks at a time in school. I managed just fine, even though I was working as well. IMO as long as you have a spouse or family/friend to help you, it is not a big deal. Just stay on task and manage your priorities appropriately- family first, school second, everything else a distant, distant third.

When I was in nursing school, I had a 7 year old, and 6 year old with serious special needs (ataxia telangiectasia) and I gave birth to twins as a gestational surrogate in my senior year. Graduated summa cum laude with a 3.9 GPA. If I can do it, so can you!

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Specializes in Peds PACU & Peds Psych.

No personal experience -- I have two little ones, but not planning to add more during school. However, my cousin finished her a two-year ADN program and then went on to do two more years to get her BSN. When she started, she had three children (two of them toddlers). Now that she's graduating her BSN, she's having baby #5!! Not only is she having two children during the course of nursing school, she has several at home who are all very young. I can't even imagine, but she seems to be pulling it off.

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I had a one year old when I started school. During my second year we had 9 girls pregnant (including me! Found out a week before graduation) wuth the first to deliver right after graduation. She was contracting while she walked. Our problem was that clinical absenses due to pregnancy were not excused. One who had her baby start of second year (2weeks in) had a vbac, spent 18 hours in hospital and was in clinical the next day. Check out your programs attendance policies. School while pregnant is possible. Just pray you dont have complications. I had no complication my first pregnancy but I had some this time and 2 girls delivered premature (possibly from the added stress of school?) And one miscarried.

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Thank you all so much for sharing your experience! It gives me some boost of hope that I can do it! I do have a strong support system with the help of my husband and mother! I know I can do it, I just needed you all to reinsure me that it will be tough but very well possible! Thank you all again!

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Specializes in Oncology.

I'm not in nursing school yet, I start in January. I have two girls, 18mo and 4mo and I recently asked the same question. Its going to be a challenge on top of a challenging program. I'm confident that I can pull through since I have a family that supports my decision to head back into school. I think with a great deal of organization and a good support system that its possible! Good Luck!!

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As long as you have an awesome support system anything is possible!

I found out I was pregnant with my first fresh out of high school. Had him in my spring quarter of college later that year and kept going to school. I got into nursing school when my first was eight months old. I continued school as I normally would of if I had been sans child. Then in April of my junior year I found out I was pregnant with my second (amusingly enough I found out during my maternity rotation). I continued to go school normally, I finished my fall quarter of my senior year heavily pregnant and then had him during my break and went right back to school all while exclusively breastfeeding! I just graduated in June with a pretty commendable GPA, just took my NCLEX yesterday (got the good pop up through the Pearson Vue Trick), have a job lined up on my dream unit, and I did this all with a three year old and an eight month old. My family and my boyfriend have been wonderful in supporting me and I owe them so much.

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You can manage it! Are you just starting out with the Pre Reqs or are you starting the program?

I enrolled in my first college class when I was pregnant, Psych 101, Summer semester. When I started I was HUGE pregnant, I was so nervous being an older student and pregnant. But I was determined not to post pone my education any longer! I managed that first class and when I started my second that summer, session B (Human growth & Dev) I was induced at 36 weeks, cutting into my semester. I missed NO class, I had my son and was released, the next day I went back to class. It all depends on how determined you are. I used that as my fuel, If I was strong enough to go back that quickly, and sacrifice time away from my new baby, and trust daddy with him all by himself then there was no way I was EVER going to take a semester off because I was too tired, or needed a break. I work FT and take 1 or 2 classes a semester and always take 1 class each summer session. I started in 2009 and am now nearly ready to apply to the program (I am determined to have all the pre reqs completed first so I have more time while in the program).

My husband and I are considering adding a 3rd to our family, and if we do it will need to be quick! Where I work I get FMLA, so I need to take advantage of that while I can before I am a FT student in the program.

Good Luck to you, on both your education, and your growing family!

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Specializes in ICU.

We've had a few pregnancies and births in my cohort and all the girls have come through just fine. I have a pre-school aged child and work part time. While it has seemed like the world's best juggling act at times, I'm doing just fine as well. You learn to take it a day (sometimes a minute!) at a time, manage what you have the capacity and resources to manage and work around what you don't.

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