Pregnant while in nursing school??

JR816, BSN, RN · May 12, 2007

God Bless!!! I can't imagine being pregnant and going through school. Although, in my class we had 7 babies.

Nursechick07 · May 12, 2007

In my class we had a girl who found out she was pregnant (unplanned)a week before we started the program, she was determined to finish on time so she got her support system in order, 9 months later had the baby over the weekend, and came back to class on Monday! She had major issues to deal with that year, but she did graduate-on time!

futurecnm · May 12, 2007

Just wondering if it's a good idea. I would like to have another baby and didn't want to wait two plus years to finish school. Just wondering if anyone has experience with this or just a general opinion.

I think it would depend on a number of things :

1. do you get sick while pregnant? I get very sick and would not be able to participate in clinical, studying, school work being that sick. And remember, you can have minimal sickness with one pregnancy and major with subsequent.

2. How do you feel about leaving a newborn? Many have no problem, many do. I, for one, would not be able to leave my few day old newborn to go to school/clinical all day. It would just be too hard for me personally.

3. Do you want to breastfeed? obviously, many are able to work and pump but in nursing school, you won't be able to take 6 weeks off to bond and have a breastfeeding relationship. I think this would be tough.

But I'm sure it can be done, and one woman in my class is due the week of our final (next week) and we also have some due in the fall. I have no idea how they will do it. I can't imagine. but I know it is done all the time.

hikernurse · May 12, 2007

I think it would depend on a number of things :
1. do you get sick while pregnant? I get very sick and would not be able to participate in clinical, studying, school work being that sick. And remember, you can have minimal sickness with one pregnancy and major with subsequent.
2. How do you feel about leaving a newborn? Many have no problem, many do. I, for one, would not be able to leave my few day old newborn to go to school/clinical all day. It would just be too hard for me personally.
3. Do you want to breastfeed? obviously, many are able to work and pump but in nursing school, you won't be able to take 6 weeks off to bond and have a breastfeeding relationship. I think this would be tough.
But I'm sure it can be done, and one woman in my class is due the week of our final (next week) and we also have some due in the fall. I have no idea how they will do it. I can't imagine. but I know it is done all the time.

:yeahthat:

I'm always too sick and my pregnancies too high risk to want to have a baby in school, but some gals sail right through and there's always the option of deferring if you need to.

The fertility pattern in my class is kind of funny. Lots of us had babies nine months after our letters went out telling us which semester we would be starting (I went to a CC with a wait list) and there also were a bunch of girls who got pregnant 8 months before school ended. Not a whole lot of babies born in the middle, but those who had babies did struggle, but ultimately all made it through. Not to dissuade you, only you know what you want and can do :) Babies are always little miracles, aren't they?

barbaratruth, RN · May 12, 2007

One of my fellow students had to leave two months before the first semester ended and will be returning this year. Another student gave birth less than two weeks ago and was able to return to class and take the final this week.

You would want to investigate what the rules are regarding clinicals in the hospital.

nursemommy25 · May 12, 2007

I went through nursing school for my LVN. I got pregnant, 2 months into the program. The only hard part was towards the end of my pregnancy, when we went to clinical. The elevator at the hospital was broke, and we ended up having to take the stairs. It was not a problem at all. In fact I survived through domestic violence through my pregnancy also. I ended up having to get out of that situation, move from my home back in with my parents with my 2 month old son, pressing charges, and retaining a restraining order. What a nightmare!!! The schools have to give you 6 weeks off for pregnancy leave. Now if I did all of that and still got A's in cardiopulmonary and pharm, then you can definitely do it girlfriend. My son is the biggest blessing in my life now. He is safe and spoiled rotten, and I graduate in June.

SmilingBluEyes · May 12, 2007

Bad idea. For all the reasons why above. One thing to have it happen spontaneously, another to plan it. I would never plan a pregnancy during school as the stress during school was not WORTH jeopardizing a pregnancy. Nor vice versa, really.

jessi1106, BSN, RN · May 12, 2007

Hi,

I planned to be pregnat with my second baby during my Junior year. I got pregnant in August and had the baby in May (after the semester was over). It was perfect timing and I had four full months at home before my senior year.

This worked out perfectly for my family for many reasons...I did not want to begin a new career and then quickly take maternity, I did not want my children 7 years apart..etc.etc.

I must say that it was not easy though! It took a lot of commitment and I was often very tired!

However, I had a very healthy pregnancy and also did very well in classes/clinicals though.

You should also consider about how you will feel after the baby is born. I had family to watch my children when school began, but do not think I could have left my children with anyone else. I was also committed to feeding breastmilk only, so I had to pump about 30 minutes a day.

If I could do it over I wouldn't change a thing. My little one is now a year old. I have just graduated (on time as planned), have been hired, and am taking the NCLEX soon. The pregnancy timing was perfect for our family!

But I think that this is such an individual choice..and very hard to give advice either for or against.

There were 3 other girls in my program who were pregnant as well. One took a smester off of school. The second never came back. It was her first baby and she decided that she wanted to stay at home. The third was pregnant during our senior year, she graduated pregnant and is due very soon.

At least you have the experience of being pregnant before, and therefore have some idea of how you will feel.

I wish you the best of luck in both school and in your decision!

GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN · May 12, 2007

I knew 3 people who were pregnant in nursing school. The first did great, graduated with honors. The second did well, also. She was tired, but also worked a full time job. Neither girl was sick. The third girl had to drop out of school b/c she had medical problems. She was a type 1 diabetic and developed hyperemesis so she had a lot of problems maintaining her sugar. She did have a healthy baby in the end, but no degree. I personally would NOT want to be pregnant while in school. You never know how you are going to feel. I have been pregnant twice now, both times I have been quite ill. I don't think I would be able to handle the stress of nursing school on top of a pregnancy.

crysobrn · May 12, 2007

I had a friend in the first year of our nursing program that got preggers for #4... She did not have a great support system and ended up taking off a year before she came back to finish her RN.

There were two girls that got pregnant in our last year of nursing school and had planned it that way... The planned to have the babies in may-juneish and then have the summer off to take NCLEX and start possibly job searching. I don't think it affected them in school very much.

I personally would avoid it. I know it can be hard to wait but it would be harder for me to send my 7 day old baby to a babysitter while I sat in school with a sore bottom and full of milk!! And holy sleep deprivation!!

puggymae · May 12, 2007

I have had students who did great - had their baby on a Thursday and came back to school on Monday. I have also had students who had a train wreck of a pregnancy - who were on bedrest, who had lifting restrictions, who had other problems that knocked them out of class/clinical.

You never know about a pregnancy.