Any other university/college student moms?

KilgraveMadeMeDoIt

I'm curious if there are any other students and how you're planning to work around school with the baby. 

I'm a first year med student in a condensed program (3 years, no summer breaks) and I'm only planning to take a couple of weeks off to recover after which my husband will be home with baby. I can take up to 6 weeks off without losing my year but I have to make it up during the small amount of vacation time we have, part of which I need for residency interviews in third year, so I can really only manage a short time off. 

How about you? What is your field?

roundthree24

1st year dental student (4 year program)! I'll be taking 6 weeks off since this will be a repeat c section. Christmas break will be soon after, as well. I'll be needing to make up a lot of lab work, but I'll try to be up to speed on all of the didactic stuff by studying during BF sessions. Really glad I got pregnant AFTER being done with gross anatomy lab, amiright?! 

FirePoppy

3rd year PhD student (social science), here. We actually get 3 months paid leave (very grateful!), so I'll be taking leave. I work at home at this stage in my program and am planning to take an additional year (five total). 

KilgraveMadeMeDoIt

clarabear1126 said:

1st year dental student (4 year program)! I'll be taking 6 weeks off since this will be a repeat c section. Christmas break will be soon after, as well. I'll be needing to make up a lot of lab work, but I'll try to be up to speed on all of the didactic stuff by studying during BF sessions. Really glad I got pregnant AFTER being done with gross anatomy lab, amiright?! 

I'm really, really glad that attending the anatomy lab is optional for us. We have anatomy right through preclerkship (until the end of November.) We need to know the material, but I don't actually have to go in to the lab if I don't choose to since, with my program, how we learn things is up to us. Works nicely for me since the preservatives give me a massive headache even from short exposures. I'll run in to take a look at some specimens but I'm never able to stay long. 

All of our didactic stuff is recorded. I never attend lectures as it is since traffic to get there in the morning is a pain in the arse and I'd rather sleep and save the gas. 

Taking only a couple weeks off is possible only because my program is so flexible. 

roundthree24

Wow that's amazing!!! I've heard some programs are switching to models instead of cadavers anyway, which would have been sooo nice. The digestive system was seriously the worst. That's great that your program is so flexible! Our didactic material is recorded too so that will be very helpful when trying to catch up. 

mrsjlang

I'm on a post diploma program for Human Resources. I'm only part time right now, so I'm going to try to get a couple more classes in over the summer, and then take fall semester off. Depending on hubby's work schedule I should be able to go back part time in January too.

seven6five

Oh gosh you ladies are all already so accomplished! I took two years off after high school because of some family problems so I have been poking along at getting my associate's in business administration for a year now. I have 3 semesters left (one this summer) and then I will be attending a four year university to get my bachelors in hr management. I've pondered over the idea of changing majors so often though that I may go back and get a transfer associate's in education. If I go the education route I'd like to get my PhD. But being as young as I am (21) I'd like to think I have time. I'm not sure how these upcoming fall and spring semesters will pan out with 2u2 and the crippling cost of a good daycare. It's likely that there will be many long nights but I should have 4-5 more classes done with by the time baby arrives.

Edit because I've been especially slow lately.

This fall I am taking 6 total classes, 2 semester long classes and 4 8-week classes. The first duo of 8-week courses end in October so at that point I will decide if I think I can do the second duo. I will be going to school again full time in January when I go back to work. I'm so nervous about juggling two small children by myself plus work and school! I keep reminding myself that the ensuing insanity is for our future as a family and that it will get better.

HotSauceSwagBag

I got pregnant in my last semester of nursing school, but now I'm done. I'm not planning on going back for my BSN until baby has been here a few months and I get a chance to get my bearings as a parent and employee before throwing school back into the mix. I do want to get that done ASAP so sometimes I'm tempted to go ahead and go back, but I know that will be too much, and I need to work full time and make some grownup money for a while. Many of my classmates had kids, and someone had a baby every semester and would come back within the week- I don't know how they did it. 

Still, as a new grad that makes me a new employee at the job I'm about to take, so no FMLA and I'll have to keep my leave on the short side

squish143

I currently have a dual associates in elementary and early Ed but I am planning on getting my bachelors over the next two years. I took time off after getting my associates because I got married and had my son. Plus I wasn't totally sure I wanted to go the education route. In fact I only plan to work in education until I'm done having children and they are in school full time, then I plan on getting my bachelors in nursing. I am finishing my Elementary Ed degree now because I can do that and work in the meantime and make better money than I make now in early Ed.

BecauseBabyIamAPug

July 2016 mom. I am in my MSN for my FNP program. Ours is a rolling enrollment, meaning after one class we start the next a day or so later.
This class ends June 16, and I am due July 27. So I am taking a leave of absence for the next class and will pick up right after that class is scheduled to end. This will be Sept 1. 
Baby will only be 7 weeks old, but I am only doin class and clinical at first. Nothe going back to actual work for a while after that.

LVof3

Fall semester is my last semester to recieve my BA in psychology so baby will be born in the last 6 weeks of school.... fun. I plan on going to grad school for school counseling fall 2017. 

JayPea

Relieving to hear that some of you are still going to power through school in demanding programs. I'm 2nd year Nurse Practitioner and am trying to figure out how to get through clinical placements (5 days a week) once baby arrives. In Canada we get 12 months of maternity leave pay (minimal, but better than nothing!) and my ex is really giving me grief about finishing school and not taking the year to be home just focused on the baby, as that is the norm for most Canadian women. The guilt is becoming overwhelming.

Kittens22

@JayPea why doesn't he take some time himself? Does he know you could share the year however you want? 
I'm in Canada too and am taking 4 months, my husband will take those same 4 months with me and then he wants to finish out the remaining weeks. I know you're not together with your guy but you are still able to mix it up however you want. Already people are being weird to me about not taking a year off, many don't even know that father's can take any time. I am confused at this perception here in our country that people have! It's really kind of sexist and annoying. I hope you work it out and find something true to you. 

camcbeth

I was working full time and obtaining a Masters when I had my first. I'm a teacher and she was born before the school year was over. I kept taking my maters classes, missed only 1 while in the hospital, and went back to work after a month and a half off (spring break included). I did feel like a zombie, but I was also bored a lot. I did take three classes during the summer. Babies sleep a lot and by the time fall classes rolled around I missed those early days when she slept more. By spring it was harder, but very manageable. She was also a very clingy baby and screamed bloody murder when I stepped 10 feet away from her. Having a good set up to study and keep baby close was key for me. You can do it, and good luck! 

MrsEusini

I'm going to be starting my fifth year as an undergraduate this fall. Definitely taking all of my classes online for next semester, I cannot possibly imagine being in labor while doing a presentation or taking an exam in person- like a girl from one of my classes from spring semester of this year was.

My due date is 2 weeks out from finals, so I won't be surprised if I have to do an exam or something online while in labor haha.

LolaHM

6 year undergrad. Will be finishing history, but I'm an out of state transfer so I still need to meet with an advisor to work through academic planning. We move a lot due to my husband's job so... here we go again. I plan to finish my BSN eventually, but that can wait a bit.

yosemite2018

MrsEusini said:

I'm going to be starting my fifth year as an undergraduate this fall. Definitely taking all of my classes online for next semester, I cannot possibly imagine being in labor while doing a presentation or taking an exam in person- like a girl from one of my classes from spring semester of this year was.

My due date is 2 weeks out from finals, so I won't be surprised if I have to do an exam or something online while in labor haha.

My mom was meeting with a patient who had just given birth and her husband was on his computer most of the time. She was so annoyed until the guy said "Done! I submitted my final!" Turns out he had one last final for law school that happened to be due the day his wife gave birth. After that he gave his full attention and it was really sweet.

I can only imagine having to do something like that while you are the one in labor! Good luck, hopefully they won't be on the same day!

DesertRN

I'll be graduating this August with my Master's of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner. With first baby arriving late November, I'll be able to squeeze my board exam in between and continue working as a nurse until November. Then I'm planning to take maternity leave at work, then see how things go with getting a new job in my new role.