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?
Back to topic, I was pregnant during nursing school, due right after final exams for the semester. I was two weeks overdue by the time I gave birth. I ended up having to have a c-section (almost ten pound baby); if this had happened mid semester, no way I could have managed.
You might be able to pull this off if all of the stars align, but like most here, I wouldn't recommend it.
I had my daughter a month before my last semester ended -- first baby. Pregnancy is a state of health right? I went into labor on a monday morning and by the next monday I was back in school. Took exactly one week off. I missed one clinical day and was allowed to make up the test I missed when I was in labor.
I didnt have an easy pregnancy, and had a forceps delivery so I wasnt in the greatest shape post partum - brought donut pillow to first day of classes but I could do it.
In order to be successful 1. my faculty and school policies were supportive -- they were ok with me missing 1 day of clinical and if I needed to miss 2 their policy allowed a make up
2. You have a good support system -- ie someone to watch your newborn. For me that was my mother. She came and cared for my child 3-4 days a week x 5 weeks. I was gone mostly 7a-7p those days with school and my husband would drive me so we would get home late. You cant put a less than 6 week old in daycare.
3. You are prepared to sacrifice/ lose out on somethings. The inabiity to pump/feed as frequently as I needed to meant my milk supply was insufficient and breastfeeding went down the tubes. You'll need to be a good student/test taker as I really could not study that much afterwards so my As became Bs - but I still graduated summa. The nice thing was I was done -- and then I got my job and working 12s was able to contribute to our family income and still be home 4 days a week -- so worth it. That baby is now 13 years old! .
4. I had to realize I was taking a chance and if I needed to drop that semester I had to be prepared for that financial cost. I didnt need to but it was a possibility that I was willing to gamble on. If you can't gamble on it then dont.
A girl in my class got pregnant and had her baby in the middle of the semester. She took on extra clinicals so that when she went in labor and after she had the baby she didn't have to worry about it. I am not sure how she handled the classes. I am sure your school will figure out something for you! Good luck!
Specializes in Nephrology Home Therapies, Wound Care, Foot Care..
I can't imagine doing this and leaving my newborn. But I;m in my last semester, and a friend is doing exactly that. Her baby was born the day before we started Spring break, and she hasn't missed a day. Has very supportive mom!
Not ideal, but doable. I did it at age 35 but was lucky that all the stars were aligned & I had no complications (other than the worst morning sickness of my 4 pregnancies). I gave birth on a Friday (on his due date!), missed the following Monday thru Thursday, & went back for lab on Friday (which counted in clinical hrs). Then we had spring break for one week & I was back to it full time with school. I was lucky that I knew a daycare provider that would watch my son at such an early age; most won't take babies younger than 6 weeks. I was able to breastfeed exclusively & started pumping about one week after birth. I took my pump with me to clinical & class to pump on breaks.
My program is a little different than most, I think, in that the nursing subjects were not separated into classes. It was Nursing I first semester, Nursing II, etc. So, if I had been unable to continue, I would have been able to reapply & pick up in the semester I had left off at the following year. My program was also a dual program for both LPN & ADN where we had the option to take a summer semester between & then sit for NCLEX-PN, which I did. So, had I not been able to finish my final semester due to the pregnancy, I had that to fall back on until I was able to return & finish.
For me, it was worth trying; I had a back-up plan & was ok with having to withdraw & return in a year if need be. But I know how you must feel when it's the final semester & you're so close, you just want to be finished.
If you decide to finish the program, just realize it may not all work out exactly how you hope & that's OK, as long as you & baby are happy & healthy. Nursing school can wait. Wishing you the best.
I found out I was pregnant last May and had a Cesarean Section Jan 3rd of this year. I was back in class by January 17th, back in the clinical setting by Jan 25th (practicum).
While I was pregnant I walked ALL over from one clinical site to another (Community Health) with my books, backpack and change of clothes. I had no car. I also waited tables through to the end.
I'm now 9 hours shy of being done with my practicum, all my major assisgnments are done and I have a healthy 3 month old!
Oh and not to humblebrag but my baby is Exclusively Breast Fed.
A classmate of mine had a baby lady partslly and was back in class 4 days later. Nursing is not for the faint of heart.
Chic, you are a warrior, you can do this.
P.S. the hardest part was being pregnant in school not having the newborn in school
My daughter is an adult now, but I do want to put this nugget out there for your consideration. Your baby will only be a baby for an extremely short time. You have the rest of your life to be a nurse. Please don't make the same mistake I made. Don't allow a job to take priority over your kids - at any age. If you can afford it, be the mom they want and need, and don't let them grow up thinking the job is more important to Mom than they are.
My daughter is an adult now, but I do want to put this nugget out there for your consideration. Your baby will only be a baby for an extremely short time. You have the rest of your life to be a nurse. Please don't make the same mistake I made. Don't allow a job to take priority over your kids - at any age. If you can afford it, be the mom they want and need, and don't let them grow up thinking the job is more important to Mom than they are.
If you can handle the physical aspects of going back to school in a week post-delivery, do it.
I would ask if this was a planned pregnancy (if so, so you could have coordinated early on with the school) but it doesn't matter now. See what you can do!
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
It can be done clearly. Should it? Only you can decide. But like said before, you will never get this time back. They are babies for but a short time. You may look back and wish you had spent more time with your baby. I know I would have.
This was my mom's story! My mom was in her final semester and doing clinicals. If she missed too many days, she would have had to wait until the following year to graduate. Mom, being the stubborn woman-of-steel she was, was undeterred. She birthed me via c-section on Thursday and walked into class the following Monday holding her staples in place.
Do I recommend this? Maybe not. Does it mean your less of a person or mother if you do/don't? Not at all. I'd recommend evaluating your family situation and how much people will be able to pitch in to make it work. The beginning months of bonding is important, but I can't speak to how important being able to work as a nurse this coming year is to your family. Either way, women like you amaze me.
Please don't make the same mistake I made. Don't allow a job to take priority over your kids - at any age. If you can afford it, be the mom they want and need, and don't let them grow up thinking the job is more important to Mom than they are. 
Horseshoe, BSN, RN
5,879 Posts
Back to topic, I was pregnant during nursing school, due right after final exams for the semester. I was two weeks overdue by the time I gave birth. I ended up having to have a c-section (almost ten pound baby); if this had happened mid semester, no way I could have managed.
You might be able to pull this off if all of the stars align, but like most here, I wouldn't recommend it.