Hello All

abharrel

Hello! I am new here I was married in October last year, and my husband and I have one fur baby together. I'm still in school, and because I've gotten pushed back a little, I won't be graduating until Spring 2015 (was supposed to be this semester but oh well)

I've had babies on the brain ever since I was in high school, and I've always wanted to be a mother. I want to try having one now but since I'm still in school and my husband is the only one working I feel like that would be a lot of stress. I'm really unsure, but I just wish I was done with school! lol

Has anyone been in school, specifically undergrad, when you started thinking about or got pregnant?

Helenahhandbasket

Not me.

But welcome to the board.

Jags8

My DH is a returning student, after being in the military for six years. He is earning his associates as a paramedic/firefighter. We are going to start TTC this fall. Even if we were to get pregnant immediately, he would have just one semester left by the time the baby would be here.

However, I think it's easier if the non-pregnant partner is the one in school. I would never ever have wanted to be pregnant and have a new baby while in school.

ETA: words

normandyn7

When I got pregnant in December 2012 I was just graduating with my Bachelor's. I was 5 months pregnant when I started graduate school. When I had my son last September I missed one class (we take one class at a time, one night a week) and was right back at it. Maybe if I had a "normal" schedule and had to go to school a couple nights a week it would be different. Right now I really have no problem doing school and taking care of my son. I only work 2 nights a week for 4 hours each shift so I don't have a full time job to worry about. I would say it depends on the circumstances for sure. Financially my husband can support us so I think if I had to work a full time job, go to school, and take care of a baby it would be WAY too hard (and expensive if I had to put DS in daycare). Good luck!

mamab3ar

Hi,

I had my son when I was a senior in high school. That one did  not affect my schooling at all (I had previously taken a semester of when I became pregnant). Then for my daughter I was in my junior year of undergrad when I had my daughter. I obviously missed because of the maternity leave. I was also commuting an hour and a half one way for class. So, after she was born I decided to transfer to a school closer but that's the only change that came of having her during undergrad. Now, I graduate in a few weeks and begin my graduate studies immediately following and I have major baby fever. So I totally get how you are feeling. My DH is the only one working now but I usually pick up a summer job to help out.

SpaceGirlSpiff

Alright so... I am still in school, was in school when I had my son in 2011 (his pregnancy was not planned), and TTC #2 right now.  I have had to accept that because of my decisions, I am taking a much longer time than desired to finish my degree, both because of this and also choosing a major/concentration that has a higher unit requirement than others (30 units as opposed to the usual 18-21) but I've made peace with that for many reasons... Just to name a few, I am already employed in a stable job that I will probably stay in even after my degree is earned, so I dont feel the urgency to finish for career purposes... and I have a lot of family support around me so I know help is there when I need it, be it for childcare, etc. 

Setting my personal situation aside... In general, it is NOT the path I would suggest people take if they are given the choice.  It is ALOT to balance, especially if you're working too, and while it is possible to handle and certain personalities/drives may be better at it than others -- it's never really ideal.  You will have to spread yourself thin no matter what... and you may have to take some hits like maybe not scoring as well on tests because of lack of study time, having to settle for lower final grades than you might get if you were child-free.  It's a roll of the dice.  

If you are so close to finishing that you'll be done in Spring of 2015, if I were you I would definitely wait....the time will probably fly...and you're SO CLOSE

Good luck either way

JillJiggs

Welcome! 

I'm currently TTC (very new to it, first cycle this month) and am in the middle of completing my undergrad. I'm employed full time so it's not exactly the same, but I have been taking a full time course load since May 2013. I'm exhausted. I had been planning to cut it back to 1-2 classes per term anyway, as I am still 2 full-time years away from my BComm. I'm not sure yet what a possible pregnancy would mean for my degree. In Canada we get a year off for maternity leave, so I could potentially keep going at the 1-2 class pace depending on what kind of schedule my husband is on (he currently works nights). I don't feel too worried about it though as after full time work and full time courses I am burned the hell out and just want to take it easy. 

If you're finishing Spring 2015, you could always start trying near the end of 2014 and just be pregnant during school. You'd be kind of rolling the dice depending on how tough your pregnancy turns out to be, you could be very sick for a while and that would make it hard. I would definitely not consider timing a baby to arrive anytime before you graduate! New infant + full time courses would be a nightmare. What are you taking in school? 

abharrel

Thanks everyone. I'm taking Psychology right now. I actually failed a class (shame on me!) but do think the best option would be for me would be to wait. I have a hard time finding motivation for school as it is lol. Congrats to those of you who completed school or who are still in school while pregnant or a parent now