Could you take a 9 hour exam now?

southernyankeegirl · November 2014

A friend who is a few months less pregnant has a big exam when she'll be 32 weeks along. She's asking me if I'd feel comfortable sitting for a 9 hour exam (she can pee once an hour). I told her that I could, but I am not sure how everyone else feels as each pregnancy is different. So... Could you sit for a 9 hour exam at 32 weeks?

thompnia · November 2014

I am on my feet all day at work for at least 8-10 hours. She should be fine unless she has some specific problem.

Maebb · November 2014

Same as @ExcitedMama2‌, I sit at work for 9 hours and get up to go to the bathroom, get a drink, eat, or stretch my legs about once an hour. I think she could probably do it as long as she is having an uncomplicated pregnancy and feels up for the test-taking part of it.

lilouboo2 · November 2014

Like others said, if it's an uncomplicated pregnancy and she's feeling good then it should be just fine. I took 2 7 hour exams over my pregnancy (one just a couple weeks ago) and it was fine, obviously sucks more than taking it non pregnant (as if a 9 hour exam doesn't ever suck). Just tell her to pack lots of snacks and eat them if she can on her bathroom breaks... You don't want to start feeling light headed and lose focus. Good luck to her!

Mrs_Bennett · November 2014

For me, I guess I could physically sit for the majority of 9 hours, but I voted no because I know there is no way I could focus for that long. I'm guessing that this test would be important to her, so she'd want to do well, and I don't think I could do my best this pregnant. That being said, waiting until she has a newborn might not be the best way to focus either!

YaMrWhite · November 2014

I wouldn't want to sit for a 9 hour exam pregnant or not, but I could.

misslizzy82 · November 2014

Physically i could do it, I just don't know if my pregnancy brain would be good for test taking

LaBellaVida · November 2014

SS. Can I snack? Take lunches? Bring a drink? Can I get up to stretch? These are all important information.

If yes to all of that. Yeah I could.

If no. Hmm. ... Not sure. It would depend how I felt that particular day, or how my pregnancy was going.

TXUltraRunner · November 2014

Yes I could as long as breaks were allowed. Would probably be easier to do it now than after the baby comes and you're dealing with needing to pump.

snowbaby1214 · November 2014

I feel I could but I don't like being told when to pee (bladder jabs are spontaneous).

YaMrWhite · November 2014

Now that I think about it, this is pretty much like going to work. The concentration part would get on my nerves for sure but I don't need to pee every hour or less at work so I would be totally fine.

idontevenknow · November 2014

I could sit for 9 hours, no prob... but the actual using my brain the whole time? Not at this point. I'm taking a biology course 2x a week at 3 hours each and our exams run an hour and a half. My brain shuts off at around 1 hour. Work for me is different because it's something I've done for a couple of years prior to this stage of my pregnancy and I just do it mindlessly sometimes.

WillCMyInk · November 2014

I COULD do it, however I don't know if I'd want to. Like other ladies have mentioned, my attention span is getting shorter and shorter by the day it seems. Also, a lot of testing centers won't allow food or drink and I would definitely need food/water throughout the 9 hours. I know she could probably get it while on her bathroom breaks but that's kind of a pain in the ass.

BriannaCaitlin · November 2014

HappyMonkey817 said:
I have days where I pee more than once an hour, and my attention span is not at its greatest right now. No way.

This.

robsbabygirl08 · November 2014

I don't think I could sit for a 9hour exam NOT pregnant. That sounds awful!

southernyankeegirl · November 2014

TXUltraRunner said:
Yes I could as long as breaks were allowed. Would probably be easier to do it now than after the baby comes and you're dealing with needing to pump.

I didn't think of that, and I don't know if my friend did either. I am not sure if it's optional to take later - I think she's just nervous. It's for her medical school program so it's pretty serious.

Funny about the bar exam, @saiven‌ - I know a girl who went into labor the morning of the second day of the bar exam. She did it, while in labor, because she didn't want to wait 6 months to redo it after she'd already done the first day. She passed!

kc192 · November 2014

I voted "sure" but I wouldn't say "no problem". I mean, we can do a lot of things if necessity called for it but it doesn't sound like fun (ok let's be honest, it wouldn't be fun when not pregnant either). My back and hips would be aching, I imagine my cankles would be out of control, and I'd make sure to bring lots of snacks and water. And my brain doesn't function that well either! But, if that was the only time I could do it I'd do it.

AlfiesMOM · November 2014

I could but my memory is horrible right now!

spoonleg · November 2014

Sure, I could. But only if it were a test to see how many donuts I could eat in 9 hours.

raveness · November 2014

I said "sure". As long as you get the break once a hour, I don't see a problem. Personally, my back would be killing me, though, even with the breaks.

Edvent · November 2014

I voted yes, it would suck but I could get through it. I had to take my clinical exam when my daughter was less than 3 months old and I tried to get permission to take it during the end of pregnancy but they wouldn't let me. I think the concentration will be more challenging that physically sitting for it, but you do what you have to do.

britb618 · November 2014

I voted no. I had to attend a deposition yesterday and after two and a half hours I started to feel like I would pass out. Granted, I couldn't get up and pee or walk around and that definitely makes a difference but I still think 9 hours would be just too long for how I am currently feeling. But if I had to do it like other pp's have said I would.

erinmarie86 · November 2014

I have a 4 hour test tomorrow morning...i'll let you know how that "short" test was...i sit for 9 hours at work but i don't think i could concentrate on a test for that long...at least while i'm at work I can go on the bump or other sites and let my brain relax :-)

laceysbryan · November 2014

I voted no. After the bar exam my body was so sore from being hunched over my laptop typing away all day. There's no way I could do that with this belly. And the pee breaks. And the pregnant brain.

longcat07 · November 2014

i can't sit that long, so no. good luck to your friend!

januarymommy2015 · November 2014

I can hardly carry on a lucid conversation at this point. There is no way I would feel comfortable sitting for a high stakes medical exam.

AHemm1986 · November 2014

I pee way more than once an hour, esp if this little girl is playing trampoline or punching bag with my bladder. Even if I'm not drinking tons, one good turn or kick can set off waterworks. Also, she's all up in my ribs. I agree that we work for 8-9 hrs a day, but I take lots of standing, walking and bathroom breaks. No way could I take a 9 hr exam now with once an hour potty privileges.

Bigboneded · November 2014

Nope. I get uncomfortable sitting that long- , my pelvis hurts when I stand up after a while in a hard chair. I wouldn't take any sort of licensure exam or boards while I am not at the top of my game. But it's what she thinks she can do. I would absolutely ask for accomodation though, separate room or proctor to allow for more frequent breaks if needed.... and fewer distractions if possible.

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