Anybody else going to be in school during your due date?

Yjveverka · March 2012

I found out a few weeks ago that I got accepted into a phd program. As we were planning our big move across the country, I found out (less than a week later) that I'm pregnant! Anybody else planning on doing school and having a baby at the same time? Tips please!

CCLoar · March 2012

I went through nursing school the last time. They made me stop at 34 weeks due to premature labor. I am currently in school for my BSN and I will take a short break.

baeluevano · March 2012

I'm not in school this time around but with my last pregnancy I was in my 1st year of college. I was due about 3 weeks before summer break so I was able to talk to my instructors & get all of my projects/finals/whatnot done a few weeks early so that I could rest up for a couple weeks before I had my daughter. I'm not sure when exactly you are due but hopefully it'll be somewhat close enough to winter break that you can finish things early or that they will let you take an extension or incomplete to give you extra time. Good luck.

eav2c · March 2012

I was but started to have medical complications so we decided I'd take the semester off. I am totally bummed that I did but also glad in the same respect

I actually think, for the first half of my pregnancy, being in school and working made it go by so quickly. Will your actual DD be mid-semester? If so, will your professors be helpful? I've known of plenty of people who had LO's mid-semester but it wasn't while they were in a PHD program. That'd be my only concern... is if you'd spend money on a semester and had uncooperative professors.

Yjveverka · March 2012

School starts end of September and I am due November 18th. I won't be paying for school but they could still kick me out if I'm not fitting their standards, and am hoping to get an assistanship so I can get a stipend, so essentially, I would think they would have to treat it like a job and give me leave. I don't know when to bring it up. Do I wait until I actually get a position so they don't discriminate?

I hope they will be helpful, it is just causing anxiety not knowing! Thank you for the replies!

morrkim · March 2012

I am currently working on my master's and am not expecting to finish for at least 2 if not 3 more years. I live 2.5 hours from my classes so I can only take 1 class a semester. I have to leave early from my job just to get there on time. I would like to take off next semester, but because the school has a limit on how long you can spend to take it and I am at the max. I really can't afford to take it off. We were planning on moving closer and then I could take more classes at a time, but we keep postponing it, so I don't want to take a semester off unless I for sure am going to take extra classes.

Yjveverka · March 2012

Sounds like you're in the same boat! I hope that you are given a break when you are getting closer to having your baby. I think that's a good idea to take it slow during a pregnancy. I will probably try to take the bare minimum of credits this first semester. Good luck!

Cheerilee · March 2012

I'll be in my third year of a PhD program and due 2 weeks into the new semester. I can't take time off because I'm on a fellowship with a living stipend - no stipend, no paycheck.

I plan on still taking enough credits to be considered full-time and just working with my professors the best they'll let me. Hopefully, I can Skype in to one class and get notes for the others.

MissAshley918 · March 2012

im going to be at the end of the semester on my DD. hopefully i can fit it all in:-) OP- are you happening to be moving to Ohio? one of my classes at school the professor before is starting her phd and moving across country. just wondering if its a small world:-)

CurlyQ284 · March 2012

I am in for my masters but I was having thoughts of quitting before this. I talked to DH and ill be taking two semesters off and then make a final decision to finish or not.

Rachaeleigh · March 2012

I will be in my next to last semester of grad school, taking 1 class while doing internship. Since my EDD is 11/18, I plan on completing as much work and internship hours beforehand considering my thanksgiving break is that week and winter break not long after. I am in a counseling program, not sure if why the professors are so understanding, but they usually are

As far as assistantships, had one last year. to my understanding, although it is a "job" bc it entails "payment," it is also a learning experience and my impression was always that school comes first. So, I am thinking professors should be understanding of school/life balance. Just my thoughts...

Yjveverka · March 2012

Cheerilee:
I'll be in my third year of a PhD program and due 2 weeks into the new semester. I can't take time off because I'm on a fellowship with a living stipend - no stipend, no paycheck.
I plan on still taking enough credits to be considered full-time and just working with my professors the best they'll let me. Hopefully, I can Skype in to one class and get notes for the others.

Thank you! It's helpful to hear I am not alone!

Yjveverka · March 2012

MissAshley918:
im going to be at the end of the semester on my DD. hopefully i can fit it all in:-) OP- are you happening to be moving to Ohio? one of my classes at school the professor before is starting her phd and moving across country. just wondering if its a small world:-)

That would have been funny, but nope, I'm moving to Washington state. Good luck and congrats!

Yjveverka · March 2012

Thank you all! I think I will wait to bring it up until I am all registered and talk to my advisor. I feel better knowing that others are doing it too. Congrats and good luck to all!

nealbl · March 2012

I am in night school to get my elementary ed degree. I am due Nov 4th. I plan to take a week off school. if more is needed then I will do more. I should be ok though. Especially since I am nearing the end of that semester and then we get our holiday break it will give me some xtra time.

lovethoseleaves · March 2012

Pretty much the same thing happened to me. I found out I was pregnant one week before I got my offer letter. I accepted, but not without doing tons of research on what is and is not legal. And finding stories of women who had been in the same position. My program does not allow deferments, and due to the nature of the research, I have to go in the fall. It's now or never for me. I'm due in october. I haven't told my advisor yet, I'm going to wait until I'm out of first tri.

One thing to keep in mind is that a TA position (grad assistanceship, etc) is a job . They can't discriminate against for being pregnant, that's illegal. As is any academic discrimination that might go down if you miss classes/deadlines due your absence.

I found a really great essay a while back on pregnancy and academic discrimination, and it really helped me to make my decision to attend regardless. I will PM you if I can find it again.

ETA: found the link: https://thefeministbreeder.com/did-you-know-pregnant-students-have-rights-neither-did-i/

babycenter (i know, ick) has a message board called "Pregnant (or Parents) in Graduate School." You might want to check that out.

Starfish17 · March 2012

Congrats on your acceptance! I will be in my second year of my PhD program when the baby comes in October. My plan is to make sure I stay ahead of my assignments prior to delivering, and to make sure my professors are aware that I may "disappear" for a few days. I'm in an online program so its a little easier for me. I haven't told my advisor yet, plan to in another month or two, bGood luck!

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