Pregnancy during nursing school

RaeF · Sep 23, 2009

I totally get your frustration, mine has been ticking since my daughter was 2. I think it would be do-able to have a baby and attend nursing school, but it is going to make it that much harder. Think of how much more convenient it would be to not have to worry about finding a sitter for clinical days and extra study nights at the lab. There are positive sides to whatever decision you make.

rookie9 · Sep 23, 2009

Do the positives out way the negatives though? And how do you know? This feels so immense! It's scary because you just can't take back your decision if the timing isn't right! I've never had a child, but can only imagine that once they are in the world, you can't imagine life without them. Is that true?

RaeF · Sep 23, 2009

I would definitely say the positive outweight the negatives, but I have to! Seriously, there are times where I look back and wonder why the heck I didn't go to school before I had a child. But that doesn't mean I regret having her. It just makes things harder. I go to a part-time program, so that helps. But it's hard because I can't just go to the lab and practice skills whenever I need to. I have to ask one of my parents to watch her for me. And I can only study when she's in preschool or late at night when everyone is sleeping. It's hard, but doable so far.

Adams_Mama_07 · Sep 23, 2009

If you were 25 I would say wait because you are only going to add stress upon stress upon stress. I found out I was pregnant just prior to enrolling in a nursing program in 2007. I decided to defer my admission but I was only 21. Now I am 24 and going back for it and we do want another child--in a couple of years so it's really perfect timing for us. Now he, on the other hand will be 40 next year. Like yours, mine had expressed concern about being "too old" but that was back before our first was born. Now, I don't think his age bothers him so much. I would say if your husband was 45 he would have something to worry about but 36 really isn't that old, and neither is 39 when you'll be done with school. You on the other hand have a pressing clock, I know, so I would actually encourage you to go ahead and attempt it. Just make sure you get the timing right---if you can isolate your due date around winter/spring/summer breaks I would do that. And I would wait until at least the first semester or two was complete before getting pregnant. Make sure you know exactly what your dealing with before attempting to have a child---know how your schedule will be so you can plan not only the economical feasibility but time-wise feasibility as well.

rookie9 · Sep 23, 2009

Thank you RaeF and Adams_Mama_07! You have both been a blessing to me during this time of much inner conflict. I'll keep you posted.

brittany_micah · Sep 23, 2009

I was in a similar situation. I had my son when I was 19 and started taking my pre-req's. When my son was 15 months old I got married and continued in school. We ended up moving back to my home town so my pre-reqs didn't transfer (that's why it's taking me so long) but I knew that I wanted my son to have a sibling. I just didn't know when would be a good time. We tried when my son was about 2.5 and found out that we were pregnant when he was 3.

I had just begun my fall semester when my second son arrived 2 weeks early in Septemeber. I can remember doing homework from my hospital bed, so that I wouldn't get behind. Here I am a year later with two beautiful little boys and I couldn't be more happier. I'm still plugging along in school, hoping to start the nursing program next Fall. I go to school part time, but only because my husband works 3rd shift and is hardly ever home.

It is hard work! I'm not going to lie, feedings 2-3 times per night, trying to study for a test or finals with kids screaming. But when we decided to have a baby I knew that I wanted my second to be close in age with my first, so that he would have a playmate and I knew that school will always be there. We also prayed about it, that is what confirmed it for us. We are wanting to try one more time for a little girl, but I know that I cannot handle anymore at this point, so we are going to wait until after I graduate.

CeilingCat, ASN, RN · Sep 23, 2009

You can't take it back if you realize it's a mistake. Your biological clock CAN wait a few years. I am 37, no kids, so I know all about the clock. You can be 40 and still have a healthy happy 1st child. Don't rush into anything.

And if the baby turns out to need special care (even just colicky) and it hurts your schooling, do you want to be forced to choose between dropping out of nursing school or giving the baby your 100% full attention? Would it be fair to an infant to be always torn between his needs and your schoolwork? Would you end up resenting either the baby or the school?

Whyknot · Sep 23, 2009

Hi, I have a BS degree in Business I got when I was 28 and am just now (I am almost 39) taking the pre-reqs to get into a nursing program. I had my son when I was 2 months from 34, and I felt I would have had PLENTY of time to have had more if that is what I wanted. My advice, and that is all it is, is that you have time to finish your program and then have a little one. With the flexibility nursing offers, you should be able to find a position when you are ready that works with what you want out of motherhood. So get your certification then have the kiddo then look for the big job. I caution against having a child while in the program just because the emotions are so intense, and nursing is such a demanding program, that you may lose your focus and drive for a while after the babe comes. Given that, each age of the child has it's own pros and cons as far as what you want to be with and away. My son is now 5 and I am more than ready to jump back into school and work, but I was DEFINITELY not interested 2 years ago. Good luck, and folks have made all types of situations work, just don't let anything scare you (like a ticking clock) into a decision that will put your plans on hold. One more point, I found out that my pre-req classes had an expiration date of anything form 3-10 years, so if you wait too long, or have to drop out for a while, you may have to repeat more than you think.

aec rn bsn · Sep 23, 2009

You can do it don't worry!

Work in Progress · Oct 3, 2009

I know that the biological clock can be pretty persistent once it gets going! It is hard to ignore. I didn't ignore it, and I was pregnant after my first semester of an ABSN. I now have a 5 month old son and will be graduating a semester later than anticipated. Sure, it makes it harder sometimes. It would be much easier to go to bed whenever I want the night before an early morning clinical. But I love my son so much that I can't imagine life without him and I don't remember what it is like to study without a baby on my boob. I would suggest that you look into the flexibility of your program with leaves of absence, the availability of child care and your support system before you make the decision.

RNMom2010 · Oct 3, 2009

I planned my pregnancy so that I would deliver after graduation and not be super pregnant during my last semester. I will be 28wks when I am finished the end of November. I feel like it was the best option for us.