New RN and getting pregnant?

shay · Oct 8, 2004

Hello all,
I'm not sure if this is the proper thread so please bear with me :)
I'm currently a pre-nursing student, and my fiance and I have been discussing children. We know we want to have them, but are unsure about timing in realation to me starting a nursing career. I know I want to at least wait untill I've finished school (about 3 years). However, once I've been hired somewhere I'm not sure how long I should wait before we start trying. When I graduate I'll be 27, and my by then husband will be 32.
Neither of us want to be much older than that when we have our first, as we want at least 2. However, I don't want to get hired full time as a grad RN and then have to switch to part time soon (like within a year) after being hired. I certainly wouldn't want them to be upset with me for getting pregnant and needing to take maternity leave shortly after starting.
Has anyone had any experieince with this? It's starting to seem like there will never be a good time to have children.
Thanks!

There never is a good time to have kids if you wait for the perfect time.

As for your age, I was 30 when I had my son, turned 31 shortly thereafter. My husband and I plan on 2 other children.

As for the switching to part time thing, well, that's something you'll have to decide for yourself. I was "supposed" to go back to work 2 days a week after my son was born. By the time he was 12 weeks old (I planned to go back when he was 16 weeks old), I was having near panic attacks just thinking about leaving him in daycare, and the daycare we selected was VERY nice. It even had a private CHEF working there, if you can believe that. Anyhoo, I told my husband I just couldn't stand the thought of leaving my son, so here I am, 5 months later, a SAHM who takes call every other weekend only. Yes, my nurse manager was upset that I wasn't coming back, but like I always tell people, you never see anyone with "I wish I'd spent more time at work" engraved on their tombstone.

Good luck with whatever you decide and congrats on your engagement.

hospitalstaph · Oct 8, 2004

There never is a good time to have kids if you wait for the perfect time. As for your age, I was 30 when I had my son, turned 31 shortly thereafter. My husband and I plan on 2 other children.
As for the switching to part time thing, well, that's something you'll have to decide for yourself. I was "supposed" to go back to work 2 days a week after my son was born. By the time he was 12 weeks old (I planned to go back when he was 16 weeks old), I was having near panic attacks just thinking about leaving him in daycare, and the daycare we selected was VERY nice. It even had a private CHEF working there, if you can believe that. Anyhoo, I told my husband I just couldn't stand the thought of leaving my son, so here I am, 5 months later, a SAHM who takes call every other weekend only. Yes, my nurse manager was upset that I wasn't coming back, but like I always tell people, you never see anyone with "I wish I'd spent more time at work" engraved on their tombstone.
Good luck with whatever you decide and congrats on your engagement.

I could not have said this better myself! I have been home for 7 years and am currently pre-nursing. I will be 33 when I am finished with my ADN and 34 or 35 when I am done with my BSN but I will never regret waiting. I have witnessed every wonderful moment first hand. For myself, I can honestly say that I am better student for all of the information and experience that mothering has given me. Mothering is truly a proud profession:)

Tracy