Pregnant during last semester of nursing school, waiting to graduate or after a job?

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So I wanted to ask, was anyone pregnant during.their last semester of nursing school? And if so how far along? Was it extremely stressful? Going into nursing 3 with baby fever for a second child, planning to be preggers by nursing 4? Has anyone done this? Thoughts...

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I have a friend who was VERY pregnant by the last semester and she did fine. Obviously there were some things she couldn't do, like work with patients on contact precautions, etc. but it worked out fine! She is currently pregnant with her second child and working med/surg...she once had such bad morning sickness while cleaning up an incontinent patient that she vomited in the patients room. She just apologized and said it wasn't her...it was her morning sickness!

I say go for it....but take the NCLEX before the baby comes and don't take too much time off after baby that you decrease your employment opportunities!

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I would not intentionally get pregnant, unless the possibility of finishing school at a later time doesn't bother you. It may work out fine, but what if you have complications and have to go on bed rest and can't go to clinicals? Its your opinion, just realize that if you have complications that you will have to stop school for that semester. In my school, we can't retake the class for a year, so that is why I wouldn't intentionally become pregnant while in school.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
I have a friend who was VERY pregnant by the last semester and she did fine. Obviously there were some things she couldn't do, like work with patients on contact precautions, etc. but it worked out fine! She is currently pregnant with her second child and working med/surg...she once had such bad morning sickness while cleaning up an incontinent patient that she vomited in the patients room. She just apologized and said it wasn't her...it was her morning sickness!

I say go for it....but take the NCLEX before the baby comes and don't take too much time off after baby that you decrease your employment opportunities!

Why was your classmate not allowed to take care of pts on contact precautions? Pregnancy is not contraindicated in the care of pts with MRSA, VRE, or even c-diff. I would be more concerned about administering chemo, accompanying pts to radiology tests, or taking care of pts with HSV or CMV (which have been proven to cross the placenta in pregnant caregivers).

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Why was your classmate not allowed to take care of pts on contact precautions? Pregnancy is not contraindicated in the care of pts with MRSA, VRE, or even c-diff. I would be more concerned about administering chemo, accompanying pts to radiology tests, or taking care of pts with HSV or CMV (which have been proven to cross the placenta in pregnant caregivers).

We had a pregnant classmate last semester. The classmate kept on telling the instructor that she could not take isolation rooms and the instructor told her she could and will. It is not contraindicated with pregnancy. The instructor said the same thing you did above, that she was to stay away from cmv, hsv, and chemo. Our classmate did not get any special treatment because she was pregnant.

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It is contraindicated because pregnancy counts as immuo-suppressed status. Now each school will interpret this different ie, normal contact may be okay, but no HIV patients, no positive pressure rooms, no chicken pox, shingles, rubella, TB, etc even if you are immune positive. You should also not be lifting more than 50lbs (less in your last trimester) etc.

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I am not sure. I am in the same boat. He says he is planning to pop the question soon and he wants a baby very badly ! I am 21 and he is 23, well I really want to wait until I am married but I would not mind if we were engaged. I am going into my last semester this September and I graduate in December with my BSN. Basically, we are not trying for a baby, but we are not avoiding either, so there is always a chance. If so, I will only be 3-4 months walking across the stage ! Only issue is that I want to start working as an RN asap, so I am not sure how willing employers will be to hire somebody 7 months pregnant. It's in God's will. I wish you all the best. :cat:

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Specializes in Neonatal Nurse Practitioner.

You guys should realize that FMLA doesn't apply until you've worked for your employer for a year. So if you are pregnant your last semester and do manage to get a job, you'll just be banking on the generosity of your employer to give you time off.

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I don't believe in the whole it's God's will/plan. There is personal responsibility. I wouldn't risk being put on bedrest and missing clinicals during the end of your program. TO pay the money to repeat that semester or having to wait to do that semester again sounds like a bad idea to me. I don't know ANY employer that would hire someone who looked VERY pregnant over someone who was not. You won't qualify for FMLA so your job is not protected. My advice is to finish school, land a job, get pregnant once your 6 months or so in, if you cannot wait. You are young and have plenty of time to have children. They say there is never a good time, but this is really not the best of times. It is all about priorities. Decide what's most important and go with it. Sure you will meet others who have gotten pregnant and survived it, but you can also find plenty who didn't.

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

Take it from someone who was put on bed rest during her pregnancy, twice! If you are young & healthy wait until after you graduate & land a job to start trying to conceive. My husband & I weren't trying, but weren't preventing. I was also trying to get into nursing school but then I got pregnant & it was terrible. I went into labor early, put on bed rest twice & then I was admitted into nursing school when I was my last trimester. I wanted to make it work so bad, but there was no way it would've worked. I was devastated to turn down the acceptance, but I had no choice.

If your health takes a turn like mine did & you get a job while you a pregnant there will be no FMLA, no vacation time nothing. You will want as many days off as possible, you will feel like complete garbage & might want a day off. Things happen when you get pregnant, you will want all your days there just in case. That is if you can get hired when you are super pregnant.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I think it's too risky to do this on purpose. My husband and I want another child. We don't want our kids to have a huge age gap. My son is already 3. However, we decided against it. Anything could happen. I was put on bed rest with my first son at 6 month pregnant. When i was 36 weeks pregnant I was put in the hospital for about 2 weeks due to complications. Then i had to give birth 2 weeks early via a cesarean. We've decided to wait until after I start working, and wait the appropriate time for maternity leave to be covered.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I just realized this is an old post. I'm sure she's had the baby by now. Lol.

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