Thinking of having a baby while in LPN school

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I start LPN school on August 20. My husband and I have a 15 month old, and we would really like to keep our kids about 2-3 years apart. Our plan is to try for a summer 2013 baby since I will have the entire summer off school, then finish up in the fall. We are going to be very careful about timing, as to not to be due during a semester. Our daughter already goes to my sister-in-law's home daycare, and she said she would be more than happy to watch any future kids also.

Any thoughts on being pregnant while in school?

Do whatever you feel is best for you, but like most of the responders have said, you may not want to go through a pregnancy while in school. You may not have experienced complications with your first child, but your next pregnancy may be totally different. You may have all types of unforeseen circumstances. Life has a tendency to throw you curveballs. I think 'stupid' was a really wrong choice of words from the first responder :nono:...

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To be honest, I would wait. I just finished nursing school and just passed my boards as of monday. I had a child that got burnt right before starting nursing school. I had a hard time keeping up with school having to go to appointments and stuff. Plus, i know it would be harder to find a job if your still pregnant once you are finished and liscenced. I would say wait until you have started your nursing caree it would be better for you and your family. IT will put more stress on you then you need at this time. Give it a year and then try. Its not stupid for you to want another one. Just dont put yourself through more worries if you dont have too.

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I plan on getting my RN online after finishing LPN school, so I'm going to be in school a while either way. I would rather have another child before starting a new job rather than starting a job then finding out I'm pregnant and having to ask for maternity leave within the 1st year of starting.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

I strongly advise against it. Why? Well, besides the obvious answers (potential complications, morning sickness, stress, physical demands), your motivation is "convenient timing" and "wanna have another baby." An additional semester delay for the sake of safety and sanity should not be trumped by instant gratification. I know it isn't what you want to hear, but such is the nature of AN discourse.

Good luck to you in your nursing program, pregnancy or not!

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I plan on getting my RN online after finishing LPN school, so I'm going to be in school a while either way. I would rather have another child before starting a new job rather than starting a job then finding out I'm pregnant and having to ask for maternity leave within the 1st year of starting.

It seems you have already made up your mind. You have many people here telling you their opinions and you don't seem to be "taking it in". You asked for everyone's opinions and most of them have been do it if you really want it, but everyone seems to be advising against it for various reasons. It will most definitely be hard. I just graduated from a state college with a 3.9 GPA with an associates degree in an unrelated major, and I know nursing school is going to be 10x harder...mostly because of the workload you will have. If you were part time school it would be easier, but it will be really hard and put a lot of added stress to you and the rest of your family. What if there was a complication and the baby was born premature, or what if something else happened and you were hospitalized? You have to make sure you weigh the pros and the cons as well to make a good decision and be ready for whatever may happen. Good luck.

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Specializes in Psych, LTC/SNF, Rehab, Corrections.

As Chris Rock said, 'I can probably drive by steering a car with my foot, that doesn't make it a good idea...'

LOL

C'mon.

Just because you can do something doesn't mean that you should....

A classmate didn't have a problem with her first, either. She did with the second, though...and missed 2-3 months on bedrest.

With that said: Do whatever you want. I just hope that you're not the type to get all bent out of shape when - yes, WHEN - the school and the instructors (most likely) don't want to work around your schedule.

You think they give a pooh about about you being pregnant...and that's why you're late...why you'll be out for a week...why you missed clinicals and are begging to make it up on Saturday?

*mimics*

"No makeups? Well - can you make an exception? I'm gonna fail. I need this. It's not fair. I'm...PREGNANT!"

Please.

Hell no.

You're late to lecture? You get a 'talking-to' and possibly point offs.

10 minutes late for clinicals? 10 points off your daily grade. 30 minutes late for clinicals? 50 points off your daily grade.

You're 10 minutes late and missed the quiz? Sorry - it's a ZERO.

You're ridiculously late for the test? Well - sorry you can't come in. You can make it up with a 20 question 'fill in the' blank' test and 10 points off will be deducted.

You missed clinicals? Sorry, it a zero and you'd better not miss another one...or it's gonna suck to be you becuase you're going to fail.

You can tune this out as you tuned out the first poster because what I'm telling you isn't sunshine and roses, either. Because it's not what you want to hear.

That's fine.

The responses on the thread are on par. To plan a pregnancy that coincides with nursing school isn't smart...because it doesnt make sense to choose a rougher path - it doesn't make sense to ADD a hardship - where none has to exist.

And you need to be told this.

You say that your program is 15 months in length? Oh, honey....

I don't care how into school you are, you'll be screaming to get out of that crap at the end.

You're going to throw a pregnancy on top of that, too?

Well, do what you want - but you need to listen to people in here. That means everyone. Doesn't matter who does/not have children.

There are people in here who've done nursing school. There are people in here that are presently in nursing school. You haven't.

When I speak to those who've traveled the road that I'm considering? I listen. I don't dismiss the experienced.

You aren't even in school. You have not experienced. All the more reason why you should listen to the people who have.

People in here know what they're talking about.

But it's your life. Do what you want.

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People do it. Pregnancies happen and and folks still manage to do what needs to be done....or they slow down their schooling and take some time off. I think you need to ask yourself is if this pregnancy turns out to be difficult, will you be ok taking time off from school or will you wish you'd waited to get pregnant again? And, if you wait and then aren't able to get pregnant again, will you regret not getting pregnant while in school?

In the end, it really depends on your priorities. Family planning is SO personal and what makes sense for you might be the absolute wrong decision for someone else.

Personally, I didn't think nursing school was the hardest thing ever. It was challenging, and having a baby wouldn't have worked during my accelerated program, but I think it would have been manageable under regular speed. People like to act like nursing school is the end of the world but many of us manage to make it through just fine.

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Imight not have been in nursing school before but I have been in college. I graduated 9 months pregnant and made A's and B's in my classes. I only took the summer off, and then went back to school full time while working part time. If you read correctly, when I replied to the 1st person's post, I asked for people who have been through this before to give me advice and tell me how it was for them. I don't need anyone's judgement.

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Imight not have been in nursing school before but I have been in college. I graduated 9 months pregnant and made A's and B's in my classes. I only took the summer off, and then went back to school full time while working part time. If you read correctly, when I replied to the 1st person's post, I asked for people who have been through this before to give me advice and tell me how it was for them. I don't need anyone's judgement.

Well, you have a TON of people on this site, and some of us have seen friends go through it, like my friend did who I mentioned before. She was prego, had a toddler, worked full time and was in school part time, so her program lasted two years. Ultimately the decision is up to you, since it's your life. But you really need to figure out if it's the right thing to do for you and your family, we can't tell you what to do, only you can decide. You need to decide if something goes wrong, what is the backup plan, and you need to determine how it will affect you and your schooling. It can be done, it would just be hard and add stress.

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Specializes in Geriatric and Mental Heath.

I personally would not make something harder than it has to be. i wouldnt go to school everyday holding a 5lb weight if i didnt have to. i could do it, but why?? That being said, if you want to have a baby, have one. You could have the perfect pregnancy. You could also have major complications and end up in misery for 9 months. You could also get struck by lightning while holding a winning lottery ticket. I personally don't think its a good idea, but that's my opinion. Just be prepared for total apathy from nursing faculty if your planned pregnancy requires you to be tardy, miss school or miss clinicals... or requires you to stand to the side bc you cant lift or turn a heavy patient. My instructors are no nonsense. They make it clear that exceptions will not be made unless you are dead, or dying.

i wish you all the best with whatever decision you make. :up:

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I wouldn't do it. I don't think it's a good idea. If you're so adamant on having your kids 2-3 years apart, then have your kids first then start school. While you may have graduated before with A's and B's while pregnant it is NOT nursing school. That's a whole different ballgame IMO Save yourself the trouble and do one or the other. Give your spot up to someone who really wants it. Not to say you don't want it, but I've never heard anyone say they WANT to have a baby during school. I'm laughing while typing this. No offense.

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Specializes in Geriatric and Mental Heath.
My school does allow pregnant students in the program, they will even allow time off if you have the baby during a semester. I am really asking for people who have done this before to tell me how it was for them, not to have someone tell me I'm stupid.

She said it was a dumb idea not that you were dumb or stupid. :redbeathe

:hug:

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