Nursing School & Trying to Conceive

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My husband and I have been trying to conceive since February. Although, we recently made the decision that I should go back to school. I currently have a Bachelors of Arts degree in an unrelated field (Comparative Religions & Psych).

I have applied to an accelerated program that would have a start date of May 2016 (it is my assumption that because this is entrance into the nursing program itself (no pre-reqs) that it will be 3 semesters of work - including general nursing courses and clinicals) This is an ADN program - so upon graduation I would find a job and then work on a bridge program from RN-BSN.

I have also applied to a school for a BSN program. It will take 3 years - 1 year to complete general science and pre-reqs and then 2 years for the upper division nursing program. I would graduate with a BSN.

So...my question for those in school or out of school - should we stop trying for a baby? Should I put our baby plans on pause? I'm currently 28 years old. I have one son who will be 6 in August.

I was really excited about trying to have another baby, but I'm also excited about Nursing School. I don't want to jeopardize anything, but I also don't want to put my family goals on hold. I know that I'll only be 31 when I graduate, and I could possible get pregnant in the last semester of school and have a baby shortly after graduation...I just am unsure. I'm excited about school, but sad about postponing a baby.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

I also would be interested in hearing from second degree students on the timeline for their RN or BSN.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

It's really up to you. Everybody & pregnancy is different. I know the next time I get pregnant I would want to be working & have maternity leave vs. being in school. I also wouldn't want to deal with having to study, homework, tests, papers on top of being pregnant. But if a baby is that important to you & the pregnancy is doable than go for it.

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Specializes in critical care.

I don't want to go into too much detail/questioning regarding trying to conceive, but divide you mentioned it's been a few months, I'm curious to know if this has been sort of a, "let's have fun, throw caution to the wind, and what happens happens," sort of attempt, or bumped up to a more serious, "we're at the point of getting outside help with this", TTC?

I ask because either way, TTC can have its ups and downs, but the latter comes with way more of them, with much higher ups, and way lower downs. In either case, I do recommend waiting. I have kids and feel like I missed out on a lot in terms of school. I would have loved to have dedicated more and better time to it.

If the answer to that question is the latter, then I strongly caution not TTC during/before school. Going through the medicated cycles, and maybe IVF, is already so, so hard. It will often consume you. I've been immersed in the world of infertility for a long time, offering support to those going through it. I have a friend who knows that and who shared her IVF journey with me through nursing school. She had two failed cycles during our last semester. It destroyed her. There is nothing comforting that a person can say through that kind of sadness. School was another horrible thing she had to face through it.

Anyway, I do hope whatever your decision, the outcome feels right. :)

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Thanks so much for the reply!

We haven't been trying too hard. My doctor is not concerned about fertility issues, we haven't even used any tracking apps or ovulation sticks yet. So, it has more been a casual, we're married let's stop using condoms situation.

I guess I know that the smartest thing to do is wait it out, but it's hard postponing when I got so excited about it. This will be the first child between me and my husband. I keep fearing that I'll be too old and I had this ridiculous notion in my head that I had to have my second baby by the time I turned 30.

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This is similar to my dilemma. I have a bachelors in health sciences, and I am awaiting news of (hopefully) acceptance into a nursing program that starts in the fall. We have also been trying five months. I actually worked and went to school as a single mother before I met my now husband, and although it was hard, I did it. I know with the support he will be providing and actually assisting with parenting an infant, I can do this. I have decided not to postpone trying for a child. However, it will be challenging if we get the blessing we are trying for. You have to weigh your pros and cons, because you and your husband are the only ones who can make an accurate assessment. Things to consider-

1. study time. 2. finances, can you afford the extra care? 3. The equality of parenting role when it comes to your husband. Will he be willing to be the 'main' parent while you finish classes? 4. Probably the most important, YOUR personal work ethic and drive.

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We are pretty sure we want baby #3 sometime in the future. But I need would really like to have maternity leave and benefits. So my plan is to start and complete my ADN program, graduate May '17. Then find a job, work at least 6 months to 1 yr, so that by the time I give birth I will be fully covered. I figure during my pregnancy and/or leave I will work on my RN to BSN online.

After that, I plan on starting a distance CNM program. But hey life almost never cooperates so we will see what happens. I did however get an IUD to avoid an oopsie during nursing school.

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Thankfully at this time my husbands income supports everything. I currently work from home as a freelance writer/editor and the money I make just goes to paying my student loans, which would be deferred while in school anyway. We would be fine paying for childcare for our 5 year old and a baby if that were the case. My husband is super supportive, it would be hard for him managing both our 5 year old and a baby as he has no previous experience taking care of a baby. We met when my son was 3.

We are just trying to figure out when I would be done...everything I have read indicates that a nursing program - ADN - is 2 years. This 2 years includes the general ed courses such as math, psych, English etc...so it would make sense that if I had those general courses out of the way it would not take a full two year...when I speak to admissions people on the phone it makes no sense...

How does it work for a recent high school graduate...can they apply directly to nursing programs or do they apply for an Associates of Science - work on gen eds and then pre-reqs their first year and then apply for nursing program for their second year?

My husband has his Ph.D and even he is confused as to how these nursing programs work...

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most ADN programs are two years...not including the pre-reqs. My program will be 2 years with purely nursing courses. If you can handle it, do what you want to do. My son was 2 as well when I met my husband. I didnt like the idea of trying for five, going on six months, and stopping due to life. Life will always give me a reason to put it off. If I do put it off, I will then say 'Ok, let me work a year first.' Then it will be 'Ok let me finish my MSN clinical hours first' and on and on and on. I know myself. If you know that you can do it, and you are confident in your financial and emotional stability, just plan around a summer delivery so that you dont miss class. We have to stop trying until Aug-Oct so it will be a May-July delivery. That is my personal suggestion, and what I myself plan to do.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

I had kids while working on my BSN and my MSN. It was rough going,but doable as long as your hubby is very very willing to pitch in. My kids survived lol I didn't have a baby but had toddlers, which was worse lol

You do know that you have to work one year or 1250 hours to be covered by FMLA? Otherwise it is 6 weeks unpaid unless you have sick and vacation time to use. And it is hard to start a new job, get thru orientation and then be out and come back.

If you can get into the accelerated program, I would do that. It will make job hunting easier as many places are looking for BSN now. And many ADN programs can be over 2 years depending on the waitlist for clinicals.

Good luck, just go thru all the options and look at what works for you. I was 31 with my last kiddo :)

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Specializes in critical care.

With a prior bachelors degree, I HIGHLY recommend looking for an accelerated BSN program. Of all of your options, this WILL be your fastest. The thing that makes BSNs take longer is stuff you have already finished. Don't sell yourself short. If BSN is possible, especially accelerated, do it.

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Specializes in ICU.

It all depends what is more important for you. I'm 28 years old too and we wanted both - a career for me and a baby. I honestly told my husband I want to go to school more than a baby right now. He said that's fine with him. So here I am graduating by the end of this year and then we'll start planning and hopefully I'll find a job in the meantime. I have plans on continuing my education but the next step will be after the baby.

My friend on the other hand decided to have a kid first then school. It really is up to you and your husband. I'm sure you know what you want more...

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Specializes in ICU.

Will this work even if someone got it in arts/ linguistics etc? like something not related to science?

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