For those in college- WWYD

dancer7889 · August 2013

I just started classes this evening and told my professor that I'm pregnant. I'm in Child Development, so being due late Feb will make spring classes and completing a 280 hour practicum very difficult.. Luckily, my program is super small and the professor is very understanding and will work with you.

Onto my point, I assumed that I'd take spring semester off, take a class or two in the fall (non-required classes b/c I'll have all my other classes completed for my degree), then finish next spring. But she said that I could get a "medical leave" and finish my classes/practicum into the summer and get 6-8 extra weeks to finish everything. I didn't even realize something like this would an option.

I obviously have a couple months to decide what I want to do. But anyone who has gone back to school a few weeks after giving birth- how was your experience? Would you do it again or take more time off? Or if you are currently in college, what's your plan for returning to school?

I really would like to have a couple months at home with LO after they're born, but I am very attracted to the idea of graduating and being able to find a real, solid job this fall (hopefully with better hours vs. waitressing hours/working all holidays) instead of another year after that.

karacakes98 · August 2013

I went back when DS was 2 weeks old and it was HARD. My MIL watched him, which made it a jillion times worse, but that's a whole separate story. I'm glad I powered through and finished as planned, though.

One thought - most child care centers won't take a baby until 6 weeks old, so depending on when you went back and whether you have friends/family to help out, that could be an issue.

lazyreader · August 2013

I've been thinking about this too. My classes are only PT online. So I will likely do one class in the spring and summer classes. This may change, but it's the plan so far.

LiFeIsAmIrAcLe · August 2013

I'm currently in nursing school and due March 10th. Spring semester doesn't end till May 10th. My plan is to see if they will allow me to double up on all my clinical hours so that all of those will be completed, and then I will just have one class to attend for that last little bit. Hopefully all will go as planned.....I'm a little bit nervous about it. Specially if baby comes early.

Assilemmm09 · August 2013

Same here, good to knew about that medical leave you mention. I figure is will be very hard but like you said I wanna be able to insight and start my solid career. I'm going for education, (teacher) good luck to you

dancer7889 · August 2013

My mil has offered to watch LO plus my classes would be mostly at night so DH would be home from work.

Thanks for the insight! I'm a planner so I'm trying to decide what id like to do to plan for next spring.

dancer7889 · August 2013

Assilemmm09 said:
Same here, good to knew about that medical leave you mention. I figure is will be very hard but like you said I wanna be able to insight and start my solid career. I'm going for education, (teacher) good luck to you

I'm not to sure about any of the specifics for the medical leave, so it's something I need to look over. I also don't know if other colleges do things like this, or if mine is just very accommodating bc it's so small.

mamamia866 · August 2013

LiFeIsAmIrAcLe said:
I'm currently in nursing school and due March 10th. Spring semester doesn't end till May 10th. My plan is to see if they will allow me to double up on all my clinical hours so that all of those will be completed, and then I will just have one class to attend for that last little bit. Hopefully all will go as planned.....I'm a little bit nervous about it. Specially if baby comes early.

I'm in nursing also and have the same dilemma. Spring is supposed to be my last semester, but if they don't have a medical leave option, I'm going to probably have to take an incomplete and finish in the fall. Hopefully I can at least finish the theory portion and just have to make up clinicals. And that's if baby comes on EDD or later.

Eilis123 · August 2013

I'm a graduate student, due in early March, and I'm loading up on classes this fall and taking a leave of absence next semester. If I have any time, I'll use the Spring to get started on my MA thesis.

I started my program when DD#1 was 8 months old; it actually felt great going back to school. It wasn't too much at all. The key was a very supportive husband and extended family.

legallyginger · August 2013

This is my first, so no advice on going back to school after giving birth.

I loaded up on classes this fall and saved all of my pass/fail credits for spring. So this spring I'll have to take 9 credits, 6 of which will be pass/fail. I plan to leave either when the baby comes or at spring break, whichever comes first, and then just come back to take my finals in early May.

In most law school classes your only grade is your final, so I won't be missing any assignments. I should be able to get notes from my classmates and possibly have professors tape the classes I will miss, but I need to sit down with the administration and work that out. I'd like to be ahead of where I need to be in terms of reading/studying when I leave so I can put it on the back burner for a few weeks when LO gets here.

jrw526 · August 2013

I was in my last semester of grad school for edication when DS was born. I had 2 assignments to complete and it was HARD, but doable. Thankfully he was at the stage where he would either be nursing or sleeping.

I'd get your practicum over ASAP. Yes, you will be exhausted since most likely you won't be sttn. But your baby won't be mobile yet so you can let hem play on a may or be in a swing while you work on stuff for class.

dancer7889 · August 2013

bunnyfungo said:

Kacie said:

I've been thinking about this too. My classes are only PT online. So I will likely do one class in the spring and summer classes. This may change, but it's the plan so far.

I went back to school when DD was 4 weeks old by taking my classes online. I will say that it was a thousand times easier to study when she was that age than it is now. At that point she was mostly just sleeping or nursing. I could read my textbook or type on my laptop while she nursed in my lap, and then she'd go down for a good 4 hours at a time. Now she needs my attention 100% of the time so I can only work on my homework when she's asleep or when I have someone else, like DH, to watch her.

This is kind of what I was thinking. The practicum hours are going to be hard to get no matter when I complete them. School work wise, I won't want to do homework when LO is very young but figure it'll be much easier than when they're a year old, mobile, and wanting to play.

dancer7889 · August 2013

jrw526 said:

I was in my last semester of grad school for edication when DS was born. I had 2 assignments to complete and it was HARD, but doable. Thankfully he was at the stage where he would either be nursing or sleeping. I'd get your practicum over ASAP. Yes, you will be exhausted since most likely you won't be sttn. But your baby won't be mobile yet so you can let hem play on a may or be in a swing while you work on stuff for class.

Sadly, I can't do my practicum early (I'd love to get my hours for this semester done, then any extras count towards my practicum, but that's not allowed unfortunately.) I may see if I could start the hours before spring semester actually starts b/c it's not til mid-late January. I could get several days worth of hours if I had something set up to start right after Christmas Break (assuming pregnancy is going well, I'm healthy, mobile, etc). Good ideas, thanks!

Hollister490 · August 2013

I am the same as you OP. I would LOVE to stay home but I just want so bad to get finished with school and find a big girl job. I'm tired of not making much money and my poor husband having to stress so much about his job to provide for us. I plan on going back as soon as I can after the birth just to finish as soon as possible. At least that is the plan now.

lucylove619 · August 2013

I am in my last year is my masters in speech pathology. I am able to finish all my clinical hours before the baby comes and plan to miss maybe one week of class - if baby came a few days early over spring break I probably won't miss any. My program is very supportive and I can bring baby to class with me (DD was super colicky so hoping this one is not!). My classes will be in the evening, so if it doesn't work to bring baby DH will be home. I don't think it will be fun, but I am determined to graduate in May! I may have some research work to finish, if so our current daycare provider will take the baby for a few hours here and there. I started the program when DD was 3 months old and it has gotten more difficult as she has gotten older. I think it will be easier to finish while this baby is mostly nursing and napping, versus having two who are all over the place!

amberlynnr7 · August 2013

I'm going to do 2 classes online in the spring and I never thought about this. I think I'll look into it. & yeah - going back to school will be hard, but I think worth it when you look at the big picture.

totalbabydoll4ever · August 2013

@dancer7889 I did this when I had my son. i was in high school, but it was great to go and get it all over with rather than dragging it out. I hated leaving my son, but it was after soon after and I was able to go back home to him. I took child development in university and one of the girls had a baby and just took it with her to class, would it possible for you to do that? I took my son to class a few times when i had no one to watch him. It worked well, but by the time I was in university he was 18mos +.

Want a personalized experience?

For those in college- WWYD

Re: For those in college- WWYD

Choose Another Board

Search Boards