Newborn and Classes? Single Mom Advice

stpauligirl · Dec 6, 2005

I need some advice. I have already registered for spring classes, but it isn't too late to drop them. I am expecting a baby anywhere from Dec 25th-Jan 10th. School starts up again on the 29th of January. I know I am going to take Human Growth and Development, b/c it is on Saturdays for 3 hours, and my mom can watch the baby. (I am a single mom.) I have not taken A&P1 yet and they were all gone by the time I registered. At my school you can take the A&Ps out of order, and I decided to hastly register for A&P2 on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6-8:40. My gpa is a 4.0, and I know I can handle the classes. I'm more worried about being away from the baby.
I called today to see if they offered A&P during the summer, but sooo much is going on this summer. We will be moving and I want to get into the Nursing Program by Spring. They said they offer it, but they offer it at different campuses. I don't have a car and I wont have one until next fall. They said they won't know for sure which campus they will hold the class at, and they don't know if they will offer Night Summer time A&P. I don't want a stranger watching my baby when she is that young. My mom agreed to watch her, but she works in the day and is only available to watch the baby at night.
I don't know if I should drop the class and pray to God that they have a summer class that will fit my needs, or if I should hold on to this class and see if I'm up to taking it when the time gets here. I guess I can always drop it last minute if need be.
That means I will be away from my baby 9 hours a week. Will A&P, human growth, and sleep deprivation plus taking care of a newborn be too hard on me. Will I be able to leave her or will I break down in tears. I am so confused.
What are your views on this?

I'd wait with the A&P since it is a very demanding class. Good luck with baby and you are very fortunate that you will have help.

Abbienursingstudent · Dec 6, 2005

I would wait on A&P because it's a class that requires a lot of study time. Enjoy your time with your baby. How far are you from finishing your pre-reqs? It might be better to start the nursing program after you've had some time with the baby and are more comfortable with both of your routines.

Nutmeg5575 · Dec 6, 2005

The only classes I need are Human Growth (I'm taking spring no matter what.)A&P1 and 2, and Microbiology. I have finished all other pre and co requisites. I was originally getting a degree in Marketing when I changed my mind. I really want to get into the spring program, and to do that I have to have those prerequisites finished by next fall. As I said earlier I am moving at the end of this coming summer. The school I am moving to does not allow you to take both A&P classes at the same time and you must take them in order. So if I want to be done by fall I have to take one A&P class either spring or summer.

txranchgirl · Dec 6, 2005

I think you should get comfortable with your baby and get the baby's routine figured out. I thought I could go back to school after my daughter was born but I decided not too - and I am glad I decided to wait to go back to school until later. You will have to get up every 2-3 hours to breastfeed or give the baby a bottle and that is tiring. And you will need all the rest you can get. I don't know about other mothers out there - but I remember not being able to think or concentrate on anything very long after I brought my daughter home. The pregnancy hormones make your brain do funny things sometimes and you will forget things - at least that's how I felt. It's called "Mommy Brain." It goes away after a while.

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · Dec 6, 2005

Congratulations on your soon to be baby! Its great that you want to go to school. I am a new mother myself. I had a girl in October. I had no idea how much care a little baby needs. Plus you have no idea how your baby is going to be. Mine is colicky and has reflux. She does not sleep at night, and during the day she doesn't sleep more than 1.5 hours at a time. (Did I do this to her working nightshift?) She is wonderful, but believe me, she is work! All babies are different. (and wonderful!) Sleep deprivation really does suck! I feel like my mind is mush! A&P is a very demanding course. It takes a lot of studying and good concentration. The human growth shouldn't be too bad. Im glad that you will have the help of your mother. I would hate to see you bite off more than you can chew. Maybe you can register for the class, she how you adjust to being a new mom, and drop A&P if you feel it is too much for you? Good luck with the upcoming new addition!

Nutmeg5575 · Dec 6, 2005

Thanks for all the great advice. I just called the school and asked about the summer course. A&P is Monday Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday for 4 hours a day if you take it in the summer! And they said if they offer it at night I can expect to not get out of class until 10pm. My mom would never be able to watch the baby that late. I really want to get done. So my idea is to take the A&P2 no matter what spring and if I feel that and human growth is too much I can drop human growth. (human growth is a corequisite, but i have to have a&p as a prerequisite) I'm glad that I found that out b/c I was about to drop the class. I know it is going to be hard and thank you so much for all of your advice! The sooner I get done with school the sooner I can take provide for me and my baby!

Jayne0125 · Dec 6, 2005

Hi! I'm not a mother, but I thought I'd ask if there are any on-line A&P classes you can take. That's how I got the pre-req's out of the way while I was working. It's not ideal, but it is a solution!

Jayne:rolleyes:

stpauligirl · Dec 6, 2005

Congratulations on your soon to be baby! Its great that you want to go to school. I am a new mother myself. I had a girl in October. I had no idea how much care a little baby needs. Plus you have no idea how your baby is going to be. Mine is colicky and has reflux. She does not sleep at night, and during the day she doesn't sleep more than 1.5 hours at a time. (Did I do this to her working nightshift?) She is wonderful, but believe me, she is work! All babies are different. (and wonderful!) Sleep deprivation really does suck! I feel like my mind is mush! A&P is a very demanding course. It takes a lot of studying and good concentration. The human growth shouldn't be too bad. Im glad that you will have the help of your mother. I would hate to see you bite off more than you can chew. Maybe you can register for the class, she how you adjust to being a new mom, and drop A&P if you feel it is too much for you? Good luck with the upcoming new addition!

Both my babies were terrible sleepers, took both until 2 to sleep through the night. The first one was also colicki. For me sleep deprivation was the worst thing to deal with. But it will pass.....things will get better as baby grows up.:)

emndarmic · Dec 7, 2005

Congrats on your baby. They are amazing. I also have to add, my 3rd baby is going to be 1 on Saturday (I have already cried several times over him turning 1 ) anyhow he still wakes up from time to time. He usually goes to bed around 8-9:00 then sleeps sometimes until 5 if were lucky at which he will take a bottle and go back to sleep. We are trying to get him off of the bottle now, so I don't know what is going to happen, we will probably be up and wide awake at 5 everyday. Sometimes were lucky and he sleeps until 6-6:30 which is my favorite time of the day. :uhoh21: We've been real lucky the last 2 nights, he wouldn't go to bed until MIDNIGHT one night and 11:00 the next, the night he went to bed at 12 he woke up a few times crying during the night, so I agree you need time with your baby first. I understand you want to get all this done soon to provide better for your baby too, but they are only little once, and believe me you can't get that time back.

Good Luck and enjoy him/her, they grow up way to fast. Memorize that little face and PLEASE TAKE PICTURES, my last baby hardly has any pictures, we have lots of snap shots, but 1 professionally done (bad mommy). Your first always gets tons of pictures, your middle gets a handful and your last gets 1 or 2 :rotfl: , poor kids!

Amy

Abbienursingstudent · Dec 7, 2005

I think summer classes would be good, but tough if their that late. I think pretty much any online school has Human growth offered so maybe do that in the summer and take A&P this coming semester. You sound a lot like me. I try to find every possible avenue then decide what to do. Good Luck :)

Nutmeg5575 · Dec 7, 2005

I try to find every possible avenue then decide what to do.

I overdo it sometimes. I analyze stuff so much that I drive my family and friends bonkers. When I try to explain stuff to them they always interupt me and say ok so what are the results. lol!

Thank you so much everyone for all of your advice. My thinking on the matter is I would rather get done sooner than later. I had a mother that went to school and I can't tell you how that affected me as a baby or small child, but I can tell you how it affected me when I got older. I hated my mother for leaving me and not being apart of my life, even though she was doing it for both of us, I couldn't see that at that time. She went to school until I was 16. ugh. I want to get done, get a job, be in the pta, hahaha! seriously! I will always continue my education, but I want to get the bulk done now! Thanks again for all the advice.