Has anyone studied at uni with a baby?

[babylove88]

Hi all

I have a couple of years left of uni and was wondering has anyone studied while pregnant or with a baby? DP and I are thinking of TTC next year (thinking of leaving it til mid next yr now so I can finish the year of uni). I would defer 2010 to have the year off to look after bub but this would mean when I went back I would be studying and have a less than 12 month old baby.
Has anyone done this and how difficult was it and how did you go about childcare?

[Lachysmama]

My DH is studying atm & was when my DS was born- it is very hard, but I think it also depends on how dedicated you are before children! My DH is good at procrastinating & children are the perfect distraction!
I guess you could do 1 unit & see how it works out?
Good luck with it :shakehands:

[noddy]

my ds was born right in the middle of my degree. he was born at the start of the year so i took 6mths off and then went part-time which made the work load easier. In my last year i had lots of prac to do(I did nursing) so my dh quit work and became the stay at home dad. It was hard financially and i missed ds alot but at least he was home with dad. My dh is at uni atm and women take their babies to lectures which no-one seems to care about. You will be surprised at how you will fit everything in around your baby

[Shanaynay]

Hi, I started my Uni degree six weeks before my first bub was due. I actually found it quite easy. When she was really little she came to lectures with me, I'd just breastfeed her in the back of the theatre in the dark and she'd fall asleep for the whole lecture. Then for labs and tutorials I just asked the tutor if it was ok if I brought her in. No one had a problem with it at all.
When she was a bit older I put her in the childcare centre on campus and went back during classes to feed her (she wouldn't take a bottle).
The study time was fine, because I used to try and get work done in my breaks at Uni, and any day I had to be there I'd just stay the whole 9am-5pm (to get the most out of my childcare $$$).
I managed to juggle it all full-time really well for 2 years. But when my second baby was born I found it really difficult, I think part of that was just lacking motivation though.
You'll be fine, as long as you can get enough sleep :sleeping:
Oh and if you want to use the childcare on campus (if your Uni has one) put your name on the waiting list as soon as you are pregnant.

[Mathermy]

I've been stdying part time since DD was 6 months, most semesters I only do one course because DD doesn't go to daycare and it really is a juggling act.I study externally which is more convenient for or situation.

It is difficult but it can be done :)

[Spolly88]

I'm halfway through my degree, a business one with accounting major. As my bub wasn't exactly planned, I deferred for this entire year (Ashton was born in Feb). Now I'm going back to uni, starting next year, but I've decided I don't want to put Ash in childcare so I'm changing uni's, where I can finish the same degree by distance education - it's basically all online. Might take a little longer but I'm hoping to have another bub soon anyway!

[TinyStar]

I take one subject per semester and study via distance education.

I find it very difficult expecially if I dont get any support from family. I have had to write off some subjects completely as support I had lined up had fallen through.

I have found that the subjects I really enjoy I do well in and can find the time for - the complusory core subjects that are boring as are the ones I struggle with.

[Amy91andLilUns]

Hi hun, I'm at college atm, but am going to uni next year. Am going to live at home though so some of the time my parents, bf etc can look after the kids but there are nurseries at our universities over here so will make good use of those. But Ruby will be at school most of the time and Ella will be starting there by then (in nursery) too

It will be hard as it is now, but I'm making a better life for us all :)

[SammieSnail]

DH and I were both uni students when DS was conceived. I was very ill when pregnant with DS and wasn't able to continue working three days a week and full time uni so I dropped back to two units per semester and continued working (we had a mortgage to pay...).

Once DS was born in December '06 I started the next semester in February '07 and was lucky enough to find a unit I could study externally. For the second semester I still only did one unit, by then DH had graduated but was able to leave work and mind DS for an hour or so while I was at lectures and pracs.

This year I have done two units each semester and DS has gone to childcare two half days and one full day a week. He has coped well and really loves the girls in the little toddlers room now.

I think how you will cope is very dependent on what type of degree you are doing.
My degree is Agricultural Science with all bar two units of the four year degree having around 7-8 contact hours per week which is very different compared to friends who are doing business or arts degrees with 4-5 contact hours a week.

I use my childcare hours to my advantage by doing all my assignments and extra study when I'm not in lectures, tutes or pracs. I never study while DS is awake so I usually stay up much too late - with two night hours worth the same as one day hour brain-power wise.

Looking back I think I could have coped with doing two units when I first went back but that first year is so precious it wasn't worth it. With each year I think an extra unit is doable ie. under 1 year old = 1 unit, 1 year old = 2 units, 2 year old = 2 units.... In all honesty considering you are so close to finishing your degree why not finish before having a bub?

I've only managed to complete 8 units in nearly two years and now won't finish until 2012 as I just don't want to and can't financially study full time now. Had I waited to fall pregnant till now I would be graduating by the time the baby was born. Of course none of that matters now as I wouldn't give up DS and the way things have panned out.

Logically if I was you I would wait, but it can be done and who's to say it wouldn't be just what you need.

Good luck :hugs:

[Yummy_Mummy]

I was pregnant this year doing my 2nd year of nursing bachelor. It was tough but if you are determined to do it then you will make it through :) but i couldnt do 1 placement subject as it was mental health & too risky but that was fine with me and i have to sit an exam later but thats also fine!

I plan to go back to studying next year so i will be doing my final year over 2 years part time instead of doing it in one year & having to defer..i will be doing 3 subjects first semester but one is online so only 2 of them have face-to-face teaching & then 2nd semester i will be doing 1 subject which is a placement subject :)

My advice would be that when you fall pregnant talk to the uni (as they were sooo good about everything to me) & they will offer solutions and everything for you :D if you have any questions feel free to PM me

Good luck

[jalibali]

Hi, I started my masters in July 07 and DD was born in August 07. I only do 2 subjects per semester to lighten the load. I am now pregnant again and bub will be born in the middle of semester again.

I have a wonderful supportive DH as well as my parents and I definitely could not have done it without them.

While it was a lot more difficult to study with a baby than i anticipated it was 100 times easier studying with a newborn than it is now with a toddler! At 15months my DD demands my attention constantly and is also awake a lot more.

I did everything by distance and only went to uni for exams which was ideal. I also found I was absolutely craving to use my brain, I love being a mum but I need to have something to focus on besides expressing milk and pureeing apples!

It's definitely possible to do it, as long as you ahve people to support you.

[Xanthesmummmy]

I am 2/3 of the way through a business degree (majoring in accounting) and am going to start again next year. I study by distance education so Im hoping it will all work out.

[OJandMe]

I finished my Education degree falling pregnant and having my twins. I dropped to one subject the semester they were born, then back up to full time.

I then went on to do my Masters... half way through that now :D Haven't stopped studying yet and I've had 2 more kids in the meantime. :yes: