PREGNANT while in nursing school??

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Sep 2, 2006

My advice as a nursing instructor: If you are not already pregnant now, don't purposefully become pregnant at this point in your life. Wait until you are through with nursing school.

Mistify · Sep 2, 2006

I got pregnant in my last semester of nursing school, and it has not been easy. My cast-iron stomach went away and I can't stand the smell or sight of anything, and is still that way six months into the pregnancy. Also I had to be hospitalized for anemia and dehydration three times, boy that was fun. I graduated in June and took my boards last month and I am now a nurse. If you can wait, do because the stress you will be going through will be shared by the baby. I am due Dec 7th and have a healthy, active baby I can't wait to meet. Good luck!!

EENstudent · Sep 4, 2006

I was pregnant my last semester- of my EEN course ( equal to 2 year RN in US ) Had my daughter the first week of University ( going for my degree Bachelor of Nursing now to be an 4 year RN )

Its hard but it can be done. ( my daughter is now 6 months old and I only have 1 more year left :)

puggymae · Sep 4, 2006

Whenever you are pregnant and in nursing school you have to worry about complications in your pregnancy and what the consequences would be. In our program you cannot come to clinical with any physical restrictions - so you cannot do "light duty" so to speak. How many absences are you allowed to have? What happens if you exceed that number? If you withdraw from the program are you allowed to apply for readmission or are you completely out? I would think long and hard before I become pregnant on purpose during nursing school.

EDGRADNURSE · Sep 4, 2006

Hi,

I was pregnant during the second 1/2 of my first year and had my son at the beginning of my 2nd year of school.

It was fine. I went to clinicals until I was ready to burst. After the baby came, I took my tests on time and the instructors worked w/me as far as clinicals went (put my in psych first-less lifting after a C-section-rather than Med-Surg)

I think it all depends on how willing faculty is to work with you. If I had complications, I would have sat out a semester and come back the next one (they would have given me a spot). Another girl in my class had a baby right before graduation and she graduated.

maryloufu · Sep 4, 2006

I got pregnant December before my last semester in school. It is kind of funny because I had just finished my mother-baby class and after watched several C-sections I told my husband that I did not want to go through that again ( I have a 7 year old daughter). Well God laughed at me and I found out I was pregnant the day after Christmas. I graduated in May and barely worked 3 months before having my C-section and going on maternity leave. Everything was very different this time- I did not feel pain during my C-section but I knew what they were doing and it freaked me out.

I would not suggest getting pregnant on purpose- you never know if you might have to go on bedrest- we had several ladies in the class that ended up sitting out a year because they had complications that they did not anticipate. Also- I am very stressed because I have to go back to a night shift with a new breastfeeding infant in just 6 short weeks- it is hard to get a day shift.

Good luck with school!

Enchantress · Sep 5, 2006

everyone has given you great advice.

i was not in nursing school when i was pregnant, but i was in college. the hardest part was knowing that it was the last semester before my life would completely change.

in the beginning of the pregnancy you usually sleep, sleep, sleep and it is sooooooo hard to push yourself when you have no control over how tired you are. also, staying up late with an irritable, sick, or just restless child and then getting up the next morning is not easy. then if you have to put your child in daycare for whatever reason...the daycare hours can conflict with your clinical hours so you will need a strong support system. i don't mean to ramble, but i'm just trying to throw out some scenarios.

with that being said...there are a lot of factors that play into it. it's not extremely hard, but i think you should hold off...jmho (just my honest opinion). nursing school is expensive and time consuming...take this opportunity (school) and run with it...don't make it any more challenging.

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Petite06 · Sep 10, 2006

I would say that if you have not got in and can continue waiting,to wait. I unexpectedly became preggo going into my second year and it was tough. I had to take time out of school for the last trimester and then we had to move for other reasons. I'm back in a program but it is so hard to meet the obligations of such a program and tend to a young child who is used to being with you. Try to finish and postpone the babies if you can. It is doable but it is so much harder with a kid.

Elainekip · Sep 13, 2006

My advice is; Do one thing at a time.

CrazziiRN913, ADN, BSN · Jul 27, 2010

i start nursing school next month and i think that i'm 5-7 weeks pregnant...i'm super scared about that and the baby would be due mid semester spring...if you can wait wait because this was totally unplanned

Smith.C74 · Jul 27, 2010

I've been in school (not nursing school) and been pregnant and had little ones at home. With my girls, I ended up in the hospital. You've worked this hard to get in to nursing school. I completely agree with waiting. With having school out of the way when you have your little one, you won't feel like you're being pulled in a zillion different directions. Pregnancy can do strange things to your body. Don't jeopardize your education for something that can wait. I don't mean to sound cliche, but if the 'itch' is that bad, could you look into fostering cats or something a little more independant? It would still let you focus on your studies.