Should I wait to have a baby?

vicky217 · Jul 9, 2015

Wait a year. Start TTC when you've got only 9 months left of nursing school. That way if you get pregnant right away you won't have the baby while you're in school and if it takes a few months to conceive then you'll just be happier that you started trying sooner than later.

justicereign, BSN · Jul 10, 2015

I will rather say you wait till you graduate from nurding school. It is hard to be in nursing program and pregnant at the same time. I survived it but it was not easy. I was accepted to the one year transion program ( LVN to RN) right when i was 2 months pregnant. I could not deny the acceptance cuz it was some thing i really needed. Could not do away with my pregnancy cuz i was badly in need of a baby and was running out of age. All i had to do was to embrace both happilly. And i also had to work to pay my bills cuz my husband too was in school and could not really support me financially. I worked night shift 2 days/wk. With all the struggles and prayers, i had my bouncy baby girl during spring break, took 3 weeks off from school. And i went back to school in summer, and i had my graduation in August. Yeeeee.. i was excited but it took me another hell to pass the NCLEX. I failed it 3 times and finally passed the 4th time. It was a long journey, all because of pregnancy. But i thank God for every thing. And also, special thanks to the creator of allnurses.com and the members who supported me with words of encouragement. Thank y'all..

xjamxtc · Jul 10, 2015

borrow someones dog and babysit it 24/7- and pamper it like a child- 6-7 walks a day- that will be 2hrs minimum- feeding another 15-30 minutes- ongoing affection 15 min to 30 minutes each time- and remember its a dog not a child - that has more needs-- do you want to be a parent- or have someone else raise your kid.

I have dr. friend- 12+ years of study-student loans- and the baby- she cant work full time for the day care costs are extreme-- so iu got to look at the whole picture...

why not homestead or something?

bharvey0617 · Jul 10, 2015

I am in my second year of NP school with a 5month old and she was planned believe it or not.

Here is what I did, I knew I wanted a baby and I wanted to be an NP. I had already found out I made it into grad school now I had to figure out not if I was going to have my baby but WHEN. So with the support of my mother in law and my mom I was pregnant in grad school, had her during the quarter, came back in a week, and haven't missed a beat since. All my classmates tell me I'm Alpha mom because I make it look pretty easy but Let me tell you, it is not for the faint of heart, you HAVE to be 100% committed to your plan else you will fail. Behind closed doors I struggle with a baby during the day and then school work at night. But like one person said , getting pregnant and having a baby is not an excuse to fail, for me, it's even more of a reason to succeed. Best of luck to you in whatever you choose to do!

MountainBikeChick · Jul 10, 2015

As some others have said - it depends on what YOU think you can handle! I had my daughter in February, in the middle of my second critical care semester. I had hyperemesis gravidarum (EXTREME morning sickness) so during the fall semester, I went to clinicals with a zofran pump that gave me anti nausea meds through a needle in my leg, after loosing 30 pounds over the summer. AND I was waking up at 2am to drive 2 hours away from 10 hour clinicals, then driving two hours home. Was it brutal? Yes, yes, yes. Hardest thing I've ever gone through (well, my 35 hour unmedicated birth may have been a little harder, though they are pretty equal ha). Was it worth it? A millions times, yes! I tried to get as much work finished before I had her, then I took a week off school/clinicals, lucked out with having a snow day the next week, and had major cardiac test the day I came back and aced it. But, my heart is fully commuted to both school and my daughter and I want both more than anything, so having the passion is the most important part! And the understanding that things may go differently, especially at an age where you are considered 'geriatric' for pregnancy, so freaking awful haha I'd definitely talk about how much school you can miss (mine was two days of clinicals), if you can re enter into the program at the same level of you needed to take a break (mine was only if someone else had dropped out, so that we weren't over the max number in the class), and if you'll have complete support. My husband watches our baby the 3 days I'm gone for school, and I have her the other 4 days of the week, and my grandparents are happy to watch her if I need extra study time!

Iknowwha2du · Jul 10, 2015

How can some one give you the right answer? First of all we don't know how much stress you can handle and what your support system looks like at home. We would literally have to live your life for a few weeks and even then, how can we honestly say. No one has the magical answer you are looking for except YOU! Many people have taken advice about this and failed, some have made it through. You won't know until you try. It may be easy for some people to have a kid, work 5 jobs, never sleep, have 20 cats and dogs they take for walks and attend church service every week but you may not be able to cut it. It comes down to stress and intellect. There are different intellect levels of nurses and you will see this when you start working. Some you wouldn't have take care of your dog and others you would always want at your bedside. Some made it through by 1 point and others were honor roll students the entire time. We are all different, mentally, genetically and physically. You should understand that having children comes with stressor and adding school can compound that..that is just the basics..but you may be able to do it all...on the other hand you may not...who knows...let me grab my magic ball and see.

stlmo · Jul 10, 2015

I'm about to finish nursing school. 2 girls in my class were preg when we started. One had to quit, the other has made it. So I guess it depends how much help you get from family and friends

OHNBJL · Jul 11, 2015

Hard decision. And it is a very personal one that only you can make!!! Nursing school is very demanding and stressful. Classroom, labs and clinicals are time consuming and seem to be never ending. Pregnancy is very unpredictable and should be as stress free from environmental stressers as possible. Yours could go well without complications, but issues could come up. I agree with the previous answers as to checking with your OB and also with your school for information. How does your program handle medical problems and leaves? If you have to take time off, can you start back from where you left off. If you are in the middle of a semester will you have to repeat classes? Clinicals are measured in hours accomplished. So attending them is of utmost importance or you may find yourself trying to make them up.

As for me. I had my child at 36 and she is fine and healthy. Actually she just graduated college with honors.

Best of luck with your decision and your family plans.

jng7741 · Jul 11, 2015

I agree with everyone else, most definitely check with your program to see the policies on clinical absences, etc. you might also check about deferring your acceptance? I know this is something the program I am in allows, but only for one semester. It is most definitely doable, like others have said a strong support system is necessary- it's definitely what got me through my second semester (had her two weeks after I finished first semester)! Just being completely honest, it was a lot easier when she was a newborn then now that she is a toddler! They require a lot of attention, but if you have the motivation and determination (she is mine) then you can get through it! I am starting my last semester in August it's been rough, but I don't think I would change it for anything. So, all of that just to say it's not unreasonable! It's definitely a lot to consider and think about, but being a mommy and a nurse are two of the most rewarding things!

DrVen1 · Jul 12, 2015

I also have to side with the "have the baby now" club....people take for granted the act of carrying and having a baby because generally most women have babies no problem. But it is so true that as you get older it becomes harder and not always in the way that you think. I don't have classic infertility because I can get pregnant ---- very easily. However I have yet to keep any of the pregnancies (more than 2) that God has blessed me with and I know it's because of age. My last pregnancy ended in stillbirth and now because of that AND my age (over 35) I am considered high risk. Out of my group of friends ( of which I am the youngest) I am the only one without a child and the only one with major fertility issues. My point is is that when you're in your twenties it's easier to wait but as you get older it's Russian Roulette when it comes to your fertility----that's a fact. You have to decide just how important having kids are to you. School will always be there. I've read countless stories of women going back to nursing school much older than 45...but the chance to have children is fleeting. Even if you luck out and are able to get pregnant the chances of complications and devastating loss are very high. Very. I wouldn't wish my experience on anyone so I say focus on having kids now. You just don't know what the future holds.

SamMo · Jul 12, 2015

I say do not wait, you have no idea how long it may take you to conceive. Nursing school will always be there. I would start the program this semester. If you are not working too I think pregnancy and school should be doable. I love being a nurse but I love being with my family more. I love this quote that you are never to old to set a new goal or dream a new dream, it applies to pretty much everything but fertility!! Don't wait.

LunaHawk · Jul 16, 2015

.....