My due date is in the middle of my last semester

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  1. Should I try to finish the program this summer or wait?

    • 6
      Yes, go for it!
    • 13
      Nope! too crazy!

19 members have participated

Hi, so I am in the middle of a big dilemma. I am expecting my first child and my due date is in the middle of my last semester (summer) of nursing program. I would really like to finish the program but I am not sure that is a realistic goal. I would be taking five classes including one clinical. So that would probably mean be at school every day. I would have to have my baby (hopefully without any complications) and go back to class in less than a week (I cant miss more than 1 clinical). Do you think this is a realistic goal?

If not, how would you handle this situation? what should I ask my advisor?

Thanks

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

Hi Caterina - first of all, congrats!!! I am also pregnant with my first child (due in October) so although I've never given birth before, I *have* graduated from nursing school before, and let me say that I don't think this is a good idea. You will need more than a week off after you deliver. Wish you the best!

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I know it sounds crazy. I am just worry I would have to stay at school for another year if they don't open all the classes I need for fall semester. that's why it is so tempting to at least try. I am meeting with faculty tomorrow and hopefully she will give me the answers I need. Thanks for your reply.

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As a mom, nurse, and L&D nurse, I must say please don't do this. Be kind to yourself, your baby, and your body. There are no guarantees with labor and delivery, and while we all hope for the best, sometimes there can be wrinkles in even the best laid plans. It is best to plan for the unexpected and have the extra time you need to recover and rest. I would suggest discussing putting off your last semester until the fall, so you can graduate in December. Enjoy your baby while s/he is brand new, that is such a special time that you can never ever get back. School can wait, it will always be there. Congratulations in advance!

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That sounds too risky, to me ....and what happens if you can't be back in one week? Would you be past the withdrawal date and "fail" all five classes? In some (most) programs, that would be enough to get you kicked out for good.

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

If you commit to returning that fast, you are not allowing for any potential post-partum complications. You're not exactly going to be loaded with energy or feeling your best at that point either. Be careful about pushing yourself too hard.

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Yes, I understand the risks. And also that is why I am meeting with faculty to know my options. And for sure they will kick me out of the program if I fail 2 classes in normal circumstances.

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There might be an option to "work ahead" with some of the didactic, but you would have to be able to handle a faster pace. AIR, I was dragging at the end. A better idea might be to come back the next term after baby is here. Another congrats.

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You are not the first student to be in this situation. Only your counselor can advise you in this case.

Your program wants you to succeed, let them help.

Giving birth and returning in less than a week, is up to another advisor, your OB.

Breathe.. best wishes with the birth of your child and your career.

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Specializes in ER/SICU/House Float.

I had my last child 20 years ago. I was finishing up last semester. I can't remember my load but I know I had my 180 hours of clinical portion. MY child was born a month early but healthy. I had to return to class within a week. He went to my classes with me and I nursed him at school. I had finished up my clinical hours before his birth. Thank god something went right. The whole semester I was exhausted. I also had a toddler. I fell pretty sure that having the stress load put me into early labor. I'm not trying to be scary but just real. I was 27 and healthy and young. I don't' know your age but if older the stress of that much school and pregnancy is really asking for issues IMO

Plus there is a learning curve and life change adaption with a first kids you are not gonna be prepared for no matter how much educating or reading. My my first baby didn't sleep through the night for 6 months. My 2nd one that I had while finishing school. Was early so he slept all the time. I had to wake him for feedings.

I also had my dh diagnosed with cancer right after graduation and my baby was 6 week old. It was a **** year. I didn't have the time to enjoy the pregnancy or his first years. It was ****** stressful time. You just never know what crap life will throw at you

I totally get you wanted to complete school but if you have a good support system and you can afford to wait I would skip the semester and just enjoy nesting and getting ready for your baby

The only way you could do the semester is with a full time housekeeper and nanny. You would also have a whole lot of emotional let down and mommy guilt if you had to give the care of your newborn to someone else. It just does not feel natural to give your 1 week old baby away to someone to take care of. I tried it for one class and said to hell with it. I brought him the rest of the time.

Congrats on the baby. Peace and good luck with whatever you decide.

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Specializes in ICU + 25 years as Nursing Faculty.

I remember a student who pulled off this trick at our program many years ago. She came back to clinical the week after delivery. She looked like she had been run over by a truck! I suspect that her performance in class and clinical was weak for a while.

There are several things outside your control that may impact your performance in school:

--There is the small, but real, risk that your condition may become such that your OB provider may say that you can't go to clinical BEFORE delivery. (pre-term labor is no fun)

--You may have post-delivery complications.

--Your baby may have post-delivery complications.

--Even if delivery is perfect (you and baby are GREAT)... you may be simply too tired to keep up with 5 classes & clinical. It is common for high achieving first time moms to be surprised at the impact of the exhaustion and sleep deprivation.

Ask your advisor:

--What the academic impact of taking a medical leave of absence (LOA) for delivery will be.

--How you get back into the program after your LOA. (It will likely be on a "space available" basis. How does the school determine who gets the available spaces?)

--Are there any $$ costs at the school to consider?

--What will the effect be on financial aid? (if you are getting any)

My school is big enough that we always have some students out on medical LOA. Because we are big, there is almost always room for the students to be re-admitted for the semester they desire. We give students returning from medical LOA priority for re-admission over the students seeking readmission after failing a class.

Good Luck!!!

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Congratulations !

I delivered my first child on the first day of spring break. I had that week off, and then took one week of class off -- so two weeks total. I did study, and took 2 patho exams when I came back: the one I missed, and the one scheduled for that day.

But, and this is a big but -- I had completed my clinical shifts prior to the birth. So I was able to follow my midwife's activity restrictions.

I talked to my program director, told her when I was due and asked about being placed in the first clinical group (my cohort was divided into several groups, so that the clinical instructors could oversee all of us). She said "I'll see what I can do, but I can't give anyone preferential treatment." I replied "Of course, but I thought that would be more a reasonable accommodation than preferential treatment." I mean I wasn't asking for anything that 1/4 of the class wasn't given. I was placed in that group, and had nothing but classroom stuff for those first 6 weeks. The longest I was separated from the baby was 2 hours. One day I was at school for five hours, but my in-laws came with her for the 45-minute break between my two classes.

I would never advise anyone to do a clinical shift a week after delivering. That's assuming that you have no false alarms (I had regular contractions for HOURS before fizzling out, no less than three times, with my FIFTH baby. Three false alarms, and I was an experienced mom!), no illness, no excuse for any clinical except that one immediately postpartum. And that second week....it's neither healthy nor safe to put in that kind of physical work, be on your feet all day. That's an awfully long time for such a new baby to be without Mama too.

I would highly recommend taking the semester off and recovering well.

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