Pregnant: Take a semester off or power through?

[Thom_m]

Hello there! I am currently pregnant with my first child, and in my first semester of a 4 semester nursing program (ADN). I am currently 20 weeks pregnant and in my 4th week of the program. The program semester ends in mid December, and I am due February 2nd. The plan has been to finish fall semester, take off spring semester, and re-enter with a new cohort the following fall (this has been okayed with the school). There are only 10 of us in my cohort (we have a satellite program through a larger school), so I have already become very close with my group. A few of us got to talking and they asked if I considered powering through and staying in the program for spring semester (which starts January 8th). I hadn't really considered it before, but I've been considering it now, as my husband and I have a great support system (eager to babysit grandparents and family members), and I've heard of new moms powering through, pumping during breaks, etc. and I would love to finish the program sooner rather than later...

I'm wondering if anyone has experience powering through with a *new* newborn (specifically during second semester) and what that was like? What are the pros and cons? I would only have to power through until April 28th, and then I would have the summer off with baby....On the flip side, I'm also wondering if anyone has taken a semester off (plus summer) and how difficult was it to jump back into school after taking that time off? I'm leaning toward taking a semester off but any input or advice is greatly appreciated!

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

I had my first baby in spring of 2002 and graduated in December 2002.

The big problematic factor is clinical shifts. Sitting in class a week after delivering was fine; I personally wouldn't be comfortable working a clinical shift in the early postpartum weeks. Typically women get medical clearance to return to work at six weeks for vag/8 weeks for c-section. My program chair was able to schedule my shifts in Jan/Feb before my daughter arrived, so it worked out great.

My in-laws watched her while I was in school. My house was maybe 5 miles from school, so I would go home between classes to feed&cuddle. The one semester I had 5 hrs of back-to-back classes, my in-laws brought her to me to feed in between the two classes.

Instead of baby books, I read my patho notes aloud to her (also adds an auditory benefit to my studying!)

I had another tip but for the life of me can't remember what it was.

[tsm007]

I'd take the semester off. I had my baby the last semester of nursing school and didn't have to take a semester off because he was due end of November. Our clinicals ended the week before he was due and then we had a gap in clinicals again until January with Christmas break. With your baby being due smack dab in the middle of a semester I think it would be really difficult. Also, yes, you *could* do it, but this is time you will never get back. Taking one semester off in the big scheme of life won't affect your career, but you won't be able to get that time back with your baby. You will make new close friends with your next cohort and your old friends will be helpful to you so you can prepare ahead for the next semester. Just my thoughts anyway.

[MikeyT-c-IV]

My wife had our fourth child during her third semester of nursing school. Her classmates had fun with this since it was the L&D semester. She missed one clinical rotation which was easily made up. We had great professors and supportive family to help. She had a plan and this was just another little unforeseen bump in the road. :) In our scenario it was doable.

What threw a wrench in the works was that our daughter was a preemie and required 6 weeks in the hospital. That was a bummer.