Retrain before or after DC?

[CurlyRover]

I'm 27 and seriously considering retraining - or at least trying to get on the course. As a couple we can't afford for me to apply for September 2018 entry so it would have to be for 2019 entry. The course itself is funded in the sense the tuition fees are paid for but minimal expense etc are paid so we'd be surviving on one wage. Which is fine but we wouldn't like to bring a DC into the equation 1) when studying and 2) on such a limited budget.

The course is three years so realistically speaking we're looking at 4.5 years before ttc.

DP is older than me and in his mid thirties. I'm wondering whether to try and retrain and put off having DC or to start ttc after our wedding early next year and retrain once they're in nursery / school. But then that would mean not starting to retrain for a good few years, especially as we think we want more than one DC.

Does anyone have experience or thoughts on taking either path and how did it pan out? WWYD in this situation?

I was in the same position, I was 28 and training plus a year in the field would have taken me to 33. I chose to have kids and still haven't retrained. I sometimes regret that I didn't retrain as it's impossible for me now financially and I love being with my kids as much as possible so wouldn't want to lock myself away studying in the evening after work.
I will never know what would have happened if I'd waited five years. I may have had trouble conceiving, I would certainly not have my lovely friends who I've met through kids but probably would have other ones.
It's really hard, I think I'd say do the training but you never know if you could miss your opportunity to have kids as my friend who is 35 is struggling to conceive for 3 years now.

Consider that even after qualifying you would probably want a year or so within the role to gain experience while it’s all still fresh in your mind.

I would love to retrain but I’m just 30 and currently 5 months pregnant. I didn’t want to put off ttc purely on the basis I didn’t know how long it would take me to fall.

Many people retrain later on in life and let’s face it we will be working to an older age. If I still feel strongly about retraining I will recinsider. For now it’s about putting my soon to be family first.

That's true sausage. So realistically we're looking at me being around 33 before we can start ttc.

That's really sad about your friend nineinch

I'm really torn. I hate my job, I'm struggling enough with the concept of me being stuck in this field for the next 20 months (if i got accepted for sept 2019 course) let alone many more years. But then I'd feel gutted if we couldn't conceive