Pregnancy/Birthing/Newborn and classes

[JTA Mom]

x-posted in september ddc.....

This issue has been eating away at me throughout this pregnancy. And I need some input from people not invested in this decision.

I found out this January (before the positive HPT) about a nursing masters program I could attend to get a nursing degree without an undergrad in nursing. Which is awesome and I jumped at the chance at.

Thing is, I need to have all my pre-reqs filled before even applying. And I can only apply in December. So if I miss it, I have to wait an entire year.

I have 4 classes total I need to finish up.

All are lab courses.

I am signed up for an Anatomy course this fall. Starts on Monday. However, it's literally from 2-7pm twice a week. Not counting commuting time. So 10hrs+. And that's just going to class, no studying time factored in.

Ds was a high needs, intensely colic baby. As in, he screamed more hours than he slept or was awake. Let's just say I don't remember getting more than 2hrs worth of sleep until he was closer to 4mos old.

The thing is, if this baby is like him, there is NO way I can pass this class. For one, with that amount of sleep deprivation, good luck to memorizing anything. And Anatomy is all about memorizing.

Plus, when this baby is due, it means I'm 1mos into the course. However, if this baby *is* like ds, I am way past the ' no hassle' drop date. And I can't afford to throw away $200 by doing a late drop either.

And I need to get A's in all of these classes, because this program is competitive.

BUT it was insanely hard to even get into Anatomy. I was on the wait list until someone dropped it. And I *need* this course before I can take 2 of the 3 classes left.

And then there's the babysitting issue. I have one of the days covered, the other, not so much.

And most of the time is lab time, so I don't think I'll be able to get breaks to go pump.

But if I don't take it now, I could potentially lose another year before finishing up my pre-reqs to apply.

I also know myself. I know I'm stubborn enough to stick to it, even if it's bad for me/my health.

And I feels stupid whining about 1 stupid little class (I used to take 18 units in my pre-baby life, and graduated with a 3.85 GPA!!!), but it's not just one class. If it was a 'regular' class that meets for 3 hrs a week, I feel like I could swing that a lot more. Dunno why, but the 10 hours a week on ONE class, plus the 30min commute time one way is just freaking me out a bit.

Gah, see the predicament? I want to, but I don't want to. I'm confident I'll finish it if I start it, but I'm not sure if the added stress to everyone (including me) will be worth it. And I know freshly pp is so not the time to add stress.

Thanks for any input at all, even if it's to tell me to suck it up.

Ami

[just_lily]

What are your other options? Are you saying you need to finish 4 classes by December 2011, or 2010? Could you take this Anatomy class in January and maybe do a summer session next year?

Are you planning on having your baby and then showing up to class the next day?

I think having a five hour lab would be very difficult both very pregnant, and newly post-partum. What if you need to be on bed rest? What if you have a c-section? What if your baby has colic, or jaundice, or needs to spend time in the NICU, etc. etc. There are a lot of possibilities here that aren't conducive to committing to a lab class.

I understand your desire to not put off the Masters program, but I would definitely look at all other options first.

[Carita]

i think you might be able to do just anatomy this semester, and the rest througout subsequent semesters as long as you have good childcare. not just for class time, but also for study time. For me, except for sitting, becase that hurt, month 1&2 were actually productive. until miss thang started noticing the world around her and stopped sleeping so well. so i might have been about to do 1 class, but not 4 lab classes!

[JTA Mom]

Originally Posted by just_lily

What are your other options? Are you saying you need to finish 4 classes by December 2011, or 2010? Could you take this Anatomy class in January and maybe do a summer session next year?

Are you planning on having your baby and then showing up to class the next day?

I think having a five hour lab would be very difficult both very pregnant, and newly post-partum. What if you need to be on bed rest? What if you have a c-section? What if your baby has colic, or jaundice, or needs to spend time in the NICU, etc. etc. There are a lot of possibilities here that aren't conducive to committing to a lab class.

I understand your desire to not put off the Masters program, but I would definitely look at all other options first.

The earliest I could take Anatomy again would be Spring semester. That's if I get in. Seems it fills up really fast.

See, I'm not sure about the birth either. I had a c/s with ds, trying for a VBAC. If I have another c/s, I know I will miss class, since they keep you for 3 days. And I am not signing out AMA after major surgery for a class.

It's weird, but I've been pregnant while taking classes before, and even when things come up, I've been able to make them work. I had ds 2 mos after graduating college. It's the whole birth/newborn phase I am so unsure of. I am leaning more towards a 'no' though. I need an A in that class and there are way too many factors that can ruin that chance. And then it would be on my record too.

Originally Posted by Carita

i think you might be able to do just anatomy this semester, and the rest througout subsequent semesters as long as you have good childcare. not just for class time, but also for study time. For me, except for sitting, becase that hurt, month 1&2 were actually productive. until miss thang started noticing the world around her and stopped sleeping so well. so i might have been about to do 1 class, but not 4 lab classes!

Yea, I was planning on only taking this anatomy class. I still need to take the second part of a Chemistry class, but was told in no uncertain terms I was NOT allowed to do that while pregnant, at all, since it deals with organic chemicals, aka the baddies. The other two were Physiology and Microbiology, both of which have Anatomy as a pre-requisite.

The childcare is an issue. I barely got any help in the two classes I've already taken in terms of childcare. Dh works 60hrs+ per week, and my family can only pinch hit so often. So, a lot of the time, I was trying to study with a toddler running around. Which was hard, but doable. But this Anatomy class takes up more time than both of the other classes combined, so I'm already stretching the childcare issue. I don't see anyone being able to watch them while I study.

Ami

[GuildJenn]

Without good childcare and given that it's a demanding subject and you need an A...I don't think I'd do it. Or, I'd do it but tell myself that it is acceptable to lose the money and deal with the hassle for a late drop if it isn't working out.

Your other little one will probably be needy during the transition to having a sibling so keep that in mind too.

One small thing I wanted to mention is that it would be really frustrating to lose a year - but it would also be frustrating to work so hard that your health doesn't hold up and to lose a year later on. Sometimes we need to pace ourselves. You know way better than I would where you are in that.

I do wonder if someone at your school can go to bat for you to help ensure you get into the Spring semester. Is there a way to transfer your enrollment in this class to that one?

[JudiAU]

I finished my graduate degree about 6 weeks before DS was born. I remember being *intensely* grateful that I was done with school at the time. I think it would be very, very difficult to have a birth while school is in session regardless of the temperment of the baby. It would be a fairly serious to your milk supply to miss pumping early on. Your older LO will have an adjustment to and will need any remaining emotional/mental capabilities you have. I think taking the class is setting yourself up for failure.