Working from home/studying straight after birth?

tko72

I'm a full time MBA student, and although the next semester doesn't begin until March, I've signed up for two online courses which begins next Tuesday to lighten the load and class time for next semester so that I could spend more time with LO. However, considering the fact that I've gone a week past my due date, and still no sign of LO coming anytime soon, AND that my online courses start next Tuesday, I'm starting to wonder how I'm going to manage! I'm a FTM so I don't know exactly what to expect when LO arrives. Thank goodness I have my parents to help me/DH out, but, what's it like the first couple weeks with outside baby?

I was so calm about LO being late, but now I'm getting more nervous about juggling a NB and schoolwork. Anyone else working from home straight after giving birth?

VABride2008

Two classes might be a bit much.  All you can do is see how it goes.  You may find it easy to juggle everything or you may find that you need to drop your course load until things settle down.  Good luck! 

fyrefairie

I'm also in a full time master's program on top of work right now and was gonna plow right thru...then came to my senses a few weeks ago and decided a 60 leave from school was much saner

tko72

fyrefairie:

I'm also in a full time master's program on top of work right now and was gonna plow right thru...then came to my senses a few weeks ago and decided a 60 leave from school was much saner

 I'm on a track program, so I'd have to wait another year to finish the program if I decide to take a semester off. Not that I wouldn't mind, but because I'd also have two months before having to commute to school again, I thought it'd be doable with picking up 2 online courses. The trade-off is take 2 online courses which starts/ends early, and attend part time next semester, or rest until March and go full time until August...either way it's such a tough decision. =(

Eleni&Josh

I really think that this depends on whether or not you actually have to be present at the computer at certain times, or if you simply have due dates for work and just have to submit it on time each day or week.  My only concern for you is that you may be having this baby right when courses start which could put you behind.  However, even online professors have been known to give extensions for circumstances such as yours, especially if you notify them ahead of time.

Both my brother and his girlfriend are taking online classes right now, and it seems like they don't have to spend too much time online or doing their coursework for that matter.  Since you will be stuck at home anyway, this seems to me like a much better option than full time school in a couple of months.  Will it be stressful?  Of course it will, but I think that with a little planning, you will be able to manage it.  It's a much better option than having to leave your LO. 

trackchik6

Can you start doing any of the reading now before the baby comes?

PhysChic7685

I started up a full-time semester of online classes a week after my DD arrived last time.  Some of the work I would get done while she was sleeping.  Other work, I'd have to wait until DH was home.  They weren't the hardest classes in the world and I managed to get through it all (with good grades).  Fortunately, a number of the other students worked full-time, so if we had to "get together" for group projects, it was always at night when DH could watch her anyway.  

 I'd recommend keeping the classes and making sure you know your university's drop policy.  If you can, say, stay in the classes for two weeks after the semester starts, then drop them for a full-refund, I'd recommend at least trying to take them.  If it doesn't seem to be working out, then you can drop them. 

Good luck! 

tko72

trackchik6:

Can you start doing any of the reading now before the baby comes?

Unfortunately not because the book for the class isn't even out yet. Prof wants the latest published version, and I can't find it anywhere online (have to pre-order it on Amazon).

tko72

Thank you for your responses! I'm going in to the Dr's office tomorrow morning and maybe we can start talking about being induced (although I really dont' want to). I've emailed the professor and he seems to be flexible and understanding of the situation. so Yay!