Student nurse with the baby itch. Help!

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Hello everyone!

So, I'm having a little situation here. My husband and I got married last summer, and for the past couple of months now, all I can think about is having a baby. I am 25 yrs old.. junior year nursing student, and realize that it is probably not the best time for me to become pregnant... if I want to finish school on time that is.... and idealy, I do want to graduate on time.. but on the other hand, I want a baby sooooooo bad, it's all I can think about.. and it doesn't help that I am taking an OB-Peds class this semester. My husband sort of feels the same way I do.

Are there any of you out there that has had a baby during school? Is it doable? or should I completely block it out of my mind for another year and a half.... just looking for some advice.

THanks. :wink2:

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Specializes in Infection Control, Employee Health & TB.

I started nursing school in Aug. '07. At that time my husband & I had been married for two years already and were both wanting kids. A year and a half later, at the ripe old age of 31:wink2:, I am entering my last semester of nursing school. The discussions about having kids have become more frequent. Given my age, the sooner the better, I think. Before I had started nursing school I didn't want to wait, but I have to say that I am glad that we both decided to wait till this part of my education is done. I would just consider all your options and how each would effect you both. Good luck!

And, I might add OB made be better prepared to be pregnant, while PEDI made me wish I already had kiddos!!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Honestly, if you can, wait until you graduate. NS is hectic and it's much easier if you didn't have to coordinate childcare around clinicals and classes. Neverminding all the work raising a child entails...

That being said...if I didn't do NS before I had the kid, I would have done it during the first year or so of my child's life: you know, when they sleep 18 hours a day, when they don't walk or even crawl very far, when they can entertain themselves by staring at the ceiling fan, when you can nurse them while reading your textbook, and when they don't keep saying, "Mommy, come play" as you're trying to study.

And smilingbig: you're only 31. That's hardly too old to have a kid...that's when I had mine, in fact :) Nowadays 1st pregnancies in the lower to mid-30s are the norm. Yes, there are increased risks to you and/or the little one, but the odds of a safe pregnancy and healthy child are still very much in your favor.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

My husband and I just got married last summer also. Though I don't have the baby itch, I can understand your feelings. It may be in your best interest (and your future babies!) to wait, though. I'm sure you'd want to devote most of your time to the little one, and not divide it up between hubby, baby, home responsibilities, clinicals....you get the point! You're still very young, also, so that's a good thing! Good luck! :redpinkhe

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Specializes in Infection Control, Employee Health & TB.
And smilingbig: you're only 31. That's hardly too old to have a kid...that's when I had mine, in fact :) Nowadays 1st pregnancies in the lower to mid-30s are the norm. Yes, there are increased risks to you and/or the little one, but the odds of a safe pregnancy and healthy child are still very much in your favor.

Thanks! My husband & I both come from large families, so we want to make sure our kiddos get to experience all the craziness & happiness that comes from that! I know it can be done, thanks for the encouragement!!

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Thank you everyone!

You are all soooooo right.

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I am graduating this May and I have a 6 year old and it has been the hardest thing I've ever done to get through NS with her. My advice is to wait until you graduate! Have a vacation with your husband as a present to you both for getting through school.. then work on having a little one.. that way you'll be able to get settled in a job and be less stressed when the little one comes!! Good Luck!!

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Specializes in Psych.

I hadn't made up my mind to be a nurse when I had my first, but I fully planned on working up until the day I delivered. Instead, I was bedridden first with hyperemesis for 6 months and then with pre-eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome, which forced my baby to be delivered at 29 weeks. If it were me, I'd finish school before launching any new projects. :)

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Specializes in ER.

i went to school with someone who had 2 "nursing school babies". yowza!!!

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I understand the feeling. I'm about the be 30 and have had the baby itch for some time now. However, I know how difficult it will be to have a child while in school. Also, like someone mentioned, you never know if it will be a uncomplicated pregnancy. I also know how much finishing my education will benefit my family in the long run and I don't want anything to get in the way of completed that goal for my future family.

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I have also been researching this topic and it seems as there are many pros and cons to waiting. You just have to decide if you are willing to take a year off (or however long you would have to wait to enter where you left off), or not. Like others have said some people have complicated pregnancies, but some don't. It also seems as though a woman can have X amount of pregnancies and have only one or no complicated pregnancies.

On the other hand, it sounds like you have been in nursing school long enough to know whether or not you could juggle a baby into the mix. And if you are like many people and you have a totally normal pregnancy and a totally normal child and plan to put them in daycare, then I personally see NO problem with having a child during nursing school. Since we don't have any family in the area we have to use day care, but I think it is great. My soon gets to have fun and learn all day while I go to school or spend the day studying.

Do you have breaks in between each 'year' of nursing school? The reason I ask is because my husband and I are planning on TTC so that our second child would be born during the 3 month break between 1st and 2nd year of nursing school. Of course we only have 2 months to try and if after those two opportunities pass, we don't get pregnant, then we will postpone it until a later time.

People say that it also isn't good to have a child during your first year of work so it really seems like there is never a good time to have a baby. I say if you really want to have a baby, then go for it. But that's just my opinion, and I am not even in nursing school yet. I may change my mind...

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I'll drop my two cents into this one. I'm a 27 year old second degree student with a 3 year old little girl. If you have a LOT of help, and an extremely supportive husband, and you're not planning on bringing junior into the world until after you take and pass your boards... you can probably pull it off. I'd recommend that you wait until after you've finished school and worked for a year. That way, you'd have maternity leave AND (if you pick the right hospital) a daycare subsidy.

I both applaud and respect that you're taking the time to think this through rather than just letting your biological clock do your thinking for you. Best of luck in whatever you decide.

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