Pregnant in Nursing school

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Hello, my name is Rachel and I am new here. Very happy to have found this board....and on to my question.

I will start Nursing school in September. I have taken all my prereqs and do not work. I stay at home with my 15 month old son. My husband is an extremly good support system as he wants me to graduate and get a good job :) He will be watching Nate during the day (he is a police officer and works the evening shift) while I am at school. We would like to get pregnant in November which would make me due the end of July, the semester ends the beginning of May. By my calculations I would be 30 weeks pregnant then. Has anyone else done this or know someone who has? My pregnancy with Nate was "perfect" as my OB always said. He was born on his due date lady partslly and I was out taking walks 2 weeks afterwards so I have no reason to believe there would be complications. I also worked right up to his birth. I have reviewed the school's pregnancy policy and basically it said, you are expected to have the same attendance policy as everyone else and I would need a note from my OB. What do you guys think? Thank you so much.

There were 3 ladies have babies while we were in nursing school. I definately would NOT recommend it. However, they did seem to handle it and they are all graduating with me this week! Then again, they all had them in the middle or right near finals so there wasn't a "break." Literally, one girl had her's and had to take the final the next day. Like everyone says, it can be done, but it will be difficult. I too want children, my husband and I are planning on trying around July...now that I'm out :).

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Specializes in CCU MICU Rapid Response.

The week I found out I was pregnant was also the week I got my acceptance letter... Now, 2 years have gone by and I felt like I missed out on my last baby... :( If I would have known what a commitment school would be, i would have waited. I remember my husband bringing her to school to nurse!

With that said, we had 2 gals pregnant this year, the one delivered over a weekend and had to take the semester's final monday... The other stayed out 3 days and returned mid semester. Good luck in whatever you decide to do! :) Also, :welcome: to the site! ~Ivanna

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So, is it easier to wait until you graduate and start a new job? The only reason I ask is because from what I have read on this board, your first year of nursing is very stressful.

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Yes, the first year is stressful because you're still trying to "find yourself", but your free time is your free time. Work cannot intrude on that. While you're in nursing school you have little or no free time because you're always studying.

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Jenni - my DH and I have had a similar talk, and I posed a question here several months ago. I wasn't sure whether having a baby during my first year out would be harder than having one in school. I start a 15 month accelerated program in a couple weeks, and what we have decided is to go off BC when I have maybe 6 months or less until graduation. Who knows whether we'll get preg right away or if it'll take a year, but once we're that close to graduation, we'll accept whatever happens. Being pregnant during school isn't perhaps ideal, but if you keep waiting until the "perfect" time you'll wait forever. This'll be our first, and we're ready to get started. Good luck to you, whatever you decide!

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I would wait. I have a friend who had to drop out mid-semester because of complications with her 3rd pregnancy. She had previously uncomplicated pregnancies previously. Ironically, she was in her OB/PEDS rotation. She is still responsible for the bill and did not get a refund. The school is letting her start up when the next OB rotation comes up, but she has to wait 6 months for that.

Even if you had a previously uneventful pregnancy, things can happen. Also, your body is different with this one. Nursing school is very stressful already, and all of the extra stress isn't good for preggos.

Babies AND nursing school can wait, but I think that you should pick one and stick with it.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Orthopedic.

Hi Rachel - I was pregnant while in nursing school, graduated and took my nursing boards at about 35 weeks pregnant. It all worked out fine. Good luck to you.

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but if you keep waiting until the "perfect" time you'll wait forever.

Boy isn't this true! I am just getting nervous, I am already 33 and cannot keep putting it off, but I really want to start nursing school this fall. It is hard to try to have it all. Good luck in your accelerated program!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

Gloria Steinhem was only part-right: You can have it all....but not all at once. That is true with everything in life. If you develop complications in your pregnancy and have to drop, you may never go back. You just can't have it all at once....work, school, raising kids. You will have to balance those as long as you have kids in your life.

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So, is it easier to wait until you graduate and start a new job? The only reason I ask is because from what I have read on this board, your first year of nursing is very stressful.

That is another issue I have....if we wait until AFTER nursing school who will hire me pregnant? Plus there will be a 4 year age difference between them...UGGGGGG I dont know what to do!!!!

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No one is saying it can't be done, it can. It's just not easy and has its own risks. My facility hired two nurses who were pregnant at time of hire; as long as you're not about to deliver it should not be an issue. The timing should be so that you are not out on maternity leave during or right after your orientation. Ideally you should get your job and then get pregnant, but that's up to you. You asked for advice and the majority of us are suggesting you wait.

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sesese

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