Nursing school and new mommy?

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I'm pregnant with my first child and she's due September 2014. I'm wanting to start nursing school January 2015. So, my baby will be about 3 months old when I start.

The program I'm applying for is 5 days a week, 8 hours a day, for 5 semesters.

I have a great family support system. My mother, mother-in-law, and husband are all very helpful and willing to watch the baby while I go to class/clinicals.

What I am most worried about is feeling like I'm missing out on my child's first two years. I don't want to feel like I'm not around enough and I don't want to feel like someone else is raising my child.

I was just wondering if any nursing school mommies have any encouragement or advice they'd like to share? Would it be better for me to wait another semester to apply or would it be pointless for me to wait? Should I see it as better in the long run because I'll be able to make more money so my baby can have better things?

What went through your mind/heart as a young mom in nursing school?

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My daughter will turn 4 in November and I start my ADN program next week.

I can't speak to being in school with a newborn, because I waited until she was almost 3 before I went back to complete my pre-reqs. However, I completely understand not wanting "someone else raising" your baby. I've been working since she was 9 months old and she spent/spends a lot of time with my mom and mother in law. I kind of resented the bond she had with them at first, but now I'm very grateful for it. She's well adjusted and well loved and she's INCREDIBLE in new situations (like the first day of preschool…not a single tear shed.) I learned along the way that I will always be Mommy, and nobody can come close to replacing me. The bonds she has formed with others haven't negatively affected the bond WE share in any way. So try not to worry about that.

As for whether or not you should hold off, I gotta tell you it will feel like you're missing out to some degree no matter when you decide to go back. I miss my daughter tremendously while I'm at school, and I know this year will be even harder because I'm now going to be a full time student. What keeps me going is remembering that my sacrifice now will make for a better future for her and my family. I want to be a person she looks up to. Does it suck to have to study on a Saturday while she's at the park with Daddy all day? Sure does! But hearing her say "my Mommy is going to be a nurse!" already with such pride, makes it totally worth it. If you have the support, which it sounds like you do, I say go for it!

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

It sounds like your schedule is really no different than that of hundreds of thousands of full time working mothers. Is it ideal to spend that much time away from your child? No. Will you miss out on seeing a few of her firsts? Probably. Will you come home after class longing to see her and hold her and play with her? Yes. But such is the life of many working moms. It will be okay. You'll adapt and your child will adapt and your family will work out a system that makes the most sense for everyone involved. You'll probably end up valuing the time you get to see her more than if you were home full time. And she'll grow up knowing that she has a dedicated mom who is also a working professional.

My daughter is almost two and I work 40 hours per week. There's many, many days that I wish I could spend more time with her. But I also love my work, and I know that my income provides a good life for my daughter.

Congratulations on your baby! There's nothing like being a mom. It's amazing.

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As PP stated, there is never a "convenient" time to go to school: you'll always be missing out on something, unfortunately. I haven't personally experienced this as a mother. However, I think changing the mindset as you go into school will make it a better transition, should you decide to take the leap. Think towards the future and how your career will provide a stable life for both you and your family, and it will make the hard moments a little bit easier. Congratulations on becoming a mother! It's hard to be separated from your babies, especially when they're so young. You will not be the first nor the last mother to decide to do what's best for her and her family in the long run, even when the decision can be extremely difficult at the time.

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Specializes in NICU, Trauma, Oncology.

This schedule is really no different than being a working mom. I went back to work when my LO was 4 months old. The first week was the worst (I do suggest "practicing" daycare or whatever for the week before). You do adjust and you will be fine. As far as missing things, I let my childcare providers (daycare 3 days and in laws 2 days) know that I preferred them not tell me of any firsts that way the first time I witnessed him crawling or whatever was the first in my mind. They were great with it and I got to witness all my baby's "firsts". Realistically I know he was likely doing those things before I saw it, but I got to feel like I was the first anyway. I am now looking to start a nursing program in January when my LO will be 18 months. I actually think this is worse because he is really wanting to play and interact more and I know that I will have to turn down play dates to study. But it's for the best in the end.

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I am pregnant and already in the nursing program (just started second semester of 5) and am due Feb 2015! That will be the middle of third semester, but hoping all goes well so I can give birth mid semester and continue with classes. I'm sad to leave my newborn baby with my husband/grandma, but I know it'll be worth it in the end! My classes don't demand as much of my time (usually one in person class, one long lab, and one 10 hour clinical day per week with a ton of online work and classes) but as others said, it's like working a full-time job. It's doable, especially if you have a great support system. I know it would be a lot more difficult if I didn't have such amazing family helping out!

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As another PP stated, the hours spent at school are similar to what other working mothers face as well... One thing I'd like you to consider ( from a mom who waited), is that by doing it now (when yours is a baby) school will be over and you will be working with that awesome, flexible schedule when it really counts-- for all of those school events that they WILL remember ?

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