Pregnancy during nursing school

JenniferSews · Oct 3, 2009

Well we got suprised. I deferred for 1 year after my daughter was born and was starting school in the fall when we got pregnant. I had my son during Christmas break and went back to school 3 days later. I returned to clinicals when he was 3 weeks old.

It CAN be done, but you need a strong support system and you need to put your pride aside and take all the help you can get. He couldn't go to daycare until he was 6 weeks old so my family took turns coming out to visit us and watching the kids for 2 weeks at a time.

Having had 3 kids though, I could never have done it with my first colicky baby. Connor was a sweet baby who spent lots of time snuggling and nursing while I studied. I wouldn't think twice about trying to time a pregnancy during summer if I were you.

D.R.A. · Oct 3, 2009

My two cents? It could be done. I say this b/c I already have 4 children and start nursing in Jan. You just need to plan carefully. If it were me, I would plan my pregnancy so that I delivered in the summer while school was on break. That will take planning when you ttc carefully. As long as you have reliable childcare in place, and a backup plan A&B&C for if and when the child is sick and can't attend childcare, should you use outside of the home care, you should be fine. Will it be ALOT of work, oh yeah! Will you be stressed? Definately. Will there be times when you question your self? Of course. But if its what you really want it will be worth every minute of extra effort(0: Good luck!

CeilingCat, ASN, RN · Oct 3, 2009

Some of my classmates were just talking about this, and they reminded me of something important: if you need a c-section, that's it -- you're done. At least one woman last year dropped out of the program due to a pregnancy needing an unexpected c-section.

For c-section or any major complications, no way you can catch up on missed Clinicals. At my school each class is only offered once a year, so basically you'd be re-applying and starting over a year later. I've also come to realize my school doesn't cut anyone any slack for good medical reasons for missing a class. Plan to scan your prenatal checkups and ultrasounds around your lecture, lab, and clinical schedule. If there's a complication and you miss more than a few days of class, in this program you may lose up to 10 pts off a final grade. So if a student had a 85 but missed too many days, she'd end up with a 75 which is failing (76 is the minimum required for a "C")

You may also be required to get shots which some pregnant women aren't sure they're comfortable with exposing a fetus to (eg. the h1n1 vaccine). My school hasn't yet mandated influenza shots, but the hospital has if I want to work/volunteer there. The hospital hasn't mandated H1N1 yet, but they may if enough are available to go around. Maybe it doesn't bother you, but I just wanted to mention it because I know some pregnant women are very particular about what can go into their body.

I've also learned that one of my classmates let herself get pregnant before our semester began. She confided that she's hiding it from the Nursing Dept as long as possible. The department feels the course load is so demanding even healthy people may get sick often, and they counseled us all on not doing *anything* that might in any way stress our bodies further.

Bobbkat · Oct 4, 2009

It can be done, but you have to be prepared for it to be HARD. I started my first term about 18 weeks pregnant. I had hyperemesis the whole pregnancy, and was on Zofran, which worked most of the time. However, without fail, about every two weeks even the Zofran wouldn't control my puking, and I would spend a night in the hospital getting fluids and antiemetics. I was green through the whole term, but never missed a day. Because I was due in late January, I didn't take any clinicals in the winter, and instead only took pharmacology and an online course. My daughter was (finally) born 11 days late in mid February, via emergency c-section, we both had problems and stayed 7 days in the hospital receiving treatments. We came home Sunday night, and I was back in class on Tuesday. I started passing gallstones (OUCH!!), and 4 weeks later was back in the hospital for 2 nights, getting my gall bladder removed. I again was released on a Sunday, and was back in class that Tuesday again. All in all, despite having a newborn and 2 surgeries, I only missed one day (during the week I was in the hospital after the c/s), and still managed to pull a 3.8 during it all.

That being said, everything worked out pretty well for me. I started back full time in the fall, with pharm out of the way. However, you have to be prepared to accept unforeseen complications that could arise, and have a plan for dealing with them. Would you be alright with having to drop out (and would you be able to get your tuition money back) if you had to go on bedrest? What if you went into premature labor (in case you were trying to 'time' the pregnancy into a convenient space of time)? Are you good at functioning on very little sleep? If you are planning on breastfeeding, will you have a pump, and a place to pump while in class? (On a side note, I had a wonderful faculty that deemed an empty office in the building my pumping room, and at the hospital it was pretty common for me to do post conference from behind a curtain with my pump on.)

I should also add that my faculty made it clear that I was expected to participate in the program just as all of the other students (i.e. no special exceptions would be made to me on account of my pregnancy). I didn't expect anything otherwise, however, so that was fine. I also had to get my OB to write a note clearing me to participate in the program, which also wasn't a problem. And on a completely frivolous note, I looked horrific in the white scrubs we have to wear in our program. Like the michelin man. Or a big, giant marshmallow, lol : P

All in all though, I wouldn't have it any other way. My daughter is such a blessing in my life : )

JenniferSews · Oct 4, 2009

You may also be required to get shots which some pregnant women aren't sure they're comfortable with exposing a fetus to (eg. the h1n1 vaccine). My school hasn't yet mandated influenza shots, but the hospital has if I want to work/volunteer there. The hospital hasn't mandated H1N1 yet, but they may if enough are available to go around. Maybe it doesn't bother you, but I just wanted to mention it because I know some pregnant women are very particular about what can go into their body.
I've also learned that one of my classmates let herself get pregnant before our semester began. She confided that she's hiding it from the Nursing Dept as long as possible. The department feels the course load is so demanding even healthy people may get sick often, and they counseled us all on not doing *anything* that might in any way stress our bodies further.

I also, as well as the other 2 pregnant women in my class, didn't overtly mention pregnancy until it was obvious. I don't feel that my teachers are able to judge what is best for me in my life, although they sure try. If they had their way no student would have any kids at all.

As for vaccines, even my super strict school (just ask what happened if your scrubs are a bit too tight or you are wearing earrings or a necklace!) did not make me get vaccines that would be potentially harmful to the baby. I just reminded them I was pregnant. They couldn't kick me out of school just for being pregnant, and they wouldn't force me to get a vaccine if it may mean something might happen and they'd have a law suit on their hands.

setingle · Oct 4, 2009

I am 23 and in my last year of nursing school. I have a 2 yr old and it has been the hardest year of my life! Between studying, houskeeping, working, cooking dinner, daycare, babysitter it is one thing after the other. I have set my studying times from 9pm to 3am getting up at 530 to go to school. Nursing school is no joke and i dont think anyone understands that until they are there. It is doable of course; however I would advise waiting until you are finished to get pregnant. My good friend got accepted in the school that i am in and she got pregnant 4 wks before semester started, they actually talked her into waiting until after the baby was born to apply again because there will be so many restrictions while she is doing her clinicals. You may try applying to get your LPN (1 yr after pre-reqs), having a baby, and getting your RN online at your own pace. I know many people doing that and it has worked out so far.

Shannon

dannibee · Oct 4, 2009

It can be done. I've done it. I was pregnant my entire first semester and gave birth during the first week of my second semester. If you do decide to have a baby, make sure you have a REALLY good support system backing you up. You can go through your life thinking, "what if this" and "what if that" but ultimately you have to do what you have to do regardless. It's hard leaving the baby when they're first born but you'll learn to adjust. If you decide to have get pregnant, make sure you document your pregnancy and your baby's infancy with pictures and videos because the time flies and you may feel like you've missed your baby growing up. I can't believe my baby is already 8 months old! I never took time off and I'm on track to graduate in May 2010. Good luck to you and don't let anyone discourage you in any way. :)

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Oct 4, 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.

this is what my husband and I plan on doing. I finish next December, so we will start trying next summer/early fall.

Do I think having a child is do able? Sure. There are plenty examples of lovely ladies here on allnurses who did and and made it work. Will it be hard and stressful? Sure. Is that any reason not to do it? Well, it depends. It depends on you, your individual learning style, your study habits and how much support you have at home and in the community.

I agree with Adam's_Momma. Don't start trying just yet. Feel out the first few months of school and get to know yours schedule a bit more. Then come back to this question and see if fitting in a little one is manageable.

rph3664 · Oct 4, 2009

Based on OTHER threads, I would say DO NOT DO IT. Wait until you have graduated.

And if you wish to do this, just go ahead and file for a prophylactic divorce because you almost certainly will split up by the time you graduate.

srsly

NSALVADORE · Oct 4, 2009

Of course it really makes school so much harder!!! I don't get to study until my little ones are in bed. I don't take sick days or anything for myself but if they are sick or something happens at daycare I sometimes have to miss lectures. Being pregnant during school will be exhausting!!! You will have to plan it so that the baby would be born during the summer so you don't mess up upcoming semesters. And you will want to time it so that you are home with the baby as long as possible before returning! Who will watch the baby?? If a paid daycare, is that going to fit into the budget? These are just the issues that pop in my head... If you are comfortable with all the downsides of it then go for it.. Becoming a mother is the most amazing experience and if you think you can handle it while in school then go ahead.. My best advice would be to do this year and then see how you feel you'd manage.. You would most likely want to conceive next fall anyways to time the birth well right?? Best of luck :)

kittykatty · Oct 4, 2009

I say wait--nursing school is incredibly time consuming--and your biological clock is in no way ready to time out--you can still have plenty of babies after you graduate. WAIT!!!!!

JenRN30, BSN · Oct 4, 2009

Hey Rookie,

You can definitely have both career and family. I have a 2 year old, who was only 6 weeks when I went back to school, and I now have a 5 week old that I just had at the beginning of this semester, August 27th. I had her on a Thursday, and was back at school the next Tuesday for clinicals. Is it hard? Yes, absolutely. We're exhausted. But it is doable. I think the key is having a good support system. If your husband is willing to help out a lot, and you have your parents or other family in the area to watch the kids when you really need to study or catch some sleep, I think you'll be fine. The other thing that may be problematic is how your pregnancy goes. If you have a difficult pregnancy, you may have to sit out for a semester. But, in the grand scheme of things, a few months longer isn't that big of a deal. I think you should go for it!! Try to plan it so that you have the baby during your summer break, or in between semesters if you can. You can do it if you're motivated enough!!