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Original poster

To think I could study on maternity leave?

140 replies

SunflowerOwl · 25/04/2021 18:14

Not sure if this is a crazy plan or not, but there is qualification I've been wanting to do for ages and I'm wondering I'm my upcoming maternity leave would be a good time.

The course takes approx 10 weeks to complete but there are online providers that let you do it over a year before booking onto the exam.

I'm due at the end of August but have a big chunk of holiday (around 6 weeks) that I was planning on taking before, and then I'm going to take 10 months leave when the baby is here.

Is it completely mad to think this is possible? It's all stuff I know bits about from my job so it would just be getting the formal training.

OP posts:
Thistimelastyear · 25/04/2021 18:52

It depends how you feel at the end of pregnancy, if you feel great you could get most of it done before the baby is here. I planned on studying during pregnancy but have been so ill it hasn't been possible. For the same reason I'd be hesitant to commit during maternity leave until its clearer how you'll cope.

MySocalledLoaf · 25/04/2021 18:53

If you go to term or even over it might work. Not sleeping has a huge impact on how your brain works and my memories of some parts of the first years are a bit vague so if the idea is to learn stuff for a test later it might not work out.
If the costs and the consequences of failure are low, go for it.

mynameiscalypso · 25/04/2021 18:55

@pigglepot

I think it's a mad plan. The issue is not necessarily time as babies sleep for long periods in the day. It's the fact that you have very little headspace when you've just become a parent and have a newborn. Hormones are everywhere, you are totally preoccupied by your baby whilst feeling at the same time not your old self anymore. It's hard to describe. It's joyful but I wouldn't add pressure on yourself by trying to study at the same time. In the evening you will want to pass out or flop with a glass of wine before passing out!!
For me, all those things are reasons why I actively wanted to do something that was academic / not connected to my baby. I love DS more than I can say but my identity is very much unconnected to being a mother so without something for me, I felt totally lost. Having a 'hobby' (which is what I equate it to) was the single best thing that I did to improve my mental health post-baby (severe PND) and my relationship with DS. That's not to say that other people will feel that way but it was just my experience.
Sleepyquest · 25/04/2021 18:55

I always thought this would be a good option and then I had a baby and realised this is in fact a terrible option!

AntiHop · 25/04/2021 18:57

I did a postgraduate professional course on my 9 months mat leave. We didn't have any family help. It depends on how intense the course is, and what your baby is like. My DH was very supportive and his work schedule was fairly flexible.

Babyboomtastic · 25/04/2021 18:59

It sounds fine to me. I'd do as much as you can before the baby is born and then (contrary to what a lot of people have said) I'd personally get the rest done in the first few months.

I did some work from 3m with my first and 6w with my second, and it was certainly easier in the first few months as even if your baby contact naps, you can set your laptop/book up by your side. Or you can work with your baby dozing in the sling. It was much easier working at a couple of months old than nearer a year.

40 hours isn't much at all really.

Lknocsqq11 · 25/04/2021 19:01

I started my PhD when my baby was three months. It takes a ton of discipline and organisation but you can totally do it.

pigglepot · 25/04/2021 19:04

@mynameiscalypso well I'm extremely impressed- good on you! I was very pleased to go back to work when DD was 9 months to have something else to occupy me but I don't think I could have managed to study during those early days. But as you say it's entirely personal. I suppose the risk for OP is that she commits to something that she then feels she can't finish or finishes but hates everyone minute of it. On the other hand of course she could not bother but then find she feels she would have loved the distraction as you did. It's a tricky one!

TheChosenTwo · 25/04/2021 19:04

It’s totally doable! You could theoretically get 40 hours done in 2 weeks of dedicated study before the baby is even here.
Depends on so many factors of course but you sound motivated and driven and like you’ll find a way to make it work regardless. Some people have an easier time of being heavily pregnant and having a new born than others.
Good luck! Flowers

altlife · 25/04/2021 19:04

I completed a course I started while pregnant over the course of my maternity leave, so it can be done.

However I had A LOT of help and support with baby. I've no doubt that without the support I had, I wouldn't have been able to do it

anxietyanonymous · 25/04/2021 19:05

I did a masters on my second maternity leave! It is doable with support. X

DNAwrangler · 25/04/2021 19:05

Can you arrange the 40 hours however you want? Can you basically get the whole thing done in a couple of weeks before the baby is born?

Yubaba · 25/04/2021 19:08

My sister did her masters on her maternity leave, she was very organised and her MIL pick up a lot of the slack, they basically tag teamed on the days where she needed to be in university and when she had exams.
My sister is much more organised than me!

Japa · 25/04/2021 19:09

I think that it would depend on:

  • your health at the end of the pregnancy (you might be hospitalised)
  • how well the birth goes
  • the health of you and the baby afterwards (eg. if baby premature or has disabilities or health issues to be followed up)
  • how well the baby sleeps and feeds
  • how much support you have with the baby
  • whether you have a cleaner
  • how good you are at functioning with little sleep

I couldn’t have done it with any of my children but I had a number of quite unforeseen things happen regarding the births and health of the babies.

Crimblecrumble1990 · 25/04/2021 19:10

I had a friend who told me she was going to learn french on her maternity leave, we have a good laugh about that now!

I found I had zero attention span after having my son, could only really commit to watching something if it was no longer than 20 mins etc. No idea why as I had plenty of time to sit watching tv when he was a newborn in lockdown!

I would say it is definitely doable but just be prepared that you might not feel the same way when your baby is here. Best of luck!

YourCakesAreShit · 25/04/2021 19:16

HAHAHAHA no

My baby wouldn't sleep unless she was on me. She also never slept for longer than 40 minutes to an hour. I've had to apply for an extension for my MA on the grounds of maternity leave.

On the other hand, you might be like DH's aunt, who got lots of assignments done during her DDs' nap times. It so depends on the child.

But I wouldn't bank on it.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 25/04/2021 19:17

I started an OU degree when dc1 was a baby. I'm due to graduate this year (fingers crossed) and had dc2 in the middle of it so I would think it's absolutely possible.

I'm also not particularly disciplined about anything.

partyatthepalace · 25/04/2021 19:17

It will be hard but not necs impossible.

Get as much done in 6 weeks before as you can. Once the baby is here the things that will make it easier are - not breastfeeding, using something like baby whisperer schedule to get the baby into a routine ASAP, having someone who can give you a couple hours uninterrupted time. If you get a challenging baby it all may go to shit anyway, but if you don’t - it’s possible.

Alonelonelylonersbadidea · 25/04/2021 19:17

I sat in hospital after my c section with number 2 surrounded by law text books and started my finals the following week. Completed my masters with another baby (and a job) it's doable. You just have to be organised and determined. Go for it!

User0ne · 25/04/2021 19:21

It's totally doable.

Currently doing my masters while on maternity leave with DS3 (5 weeks old). Ds1&2 are in preschool 3 hours a day mon-fri. I do some in the morning and some at night. I do have to be disciplined about it and organised about assessed work. And I had a 2l pph so if someone says you won't be able to if you have a C-section/similar that's potentially bs too.

I won't finish my masters until after I'm back at work pt with 3 DC under 5.

Lovewinemorethanhusband · 25/04/2021 19:25

Honestly depends on how your baby sleeps and how you cope with day to day stuff, I have 3 children abs honestly the first year with them was the easiest , we were in a routine and I loved it, could have a course if I had wanted to , but my babies always slept through from an early age so doing everything day to day was easier, my friends baby is 7 months still wakes 3 times a night and she is constantly knackered !

Ilovelove · 25/04/2021 19:26

I thought exactly the same thing and signed myself up for a course...anyway my situation changed and I had to go back to work full time. So I found myself working full time, small baby and doing a course. Anyone of those things are enough. I would advise caution.

There are just too many variables and unknowns and really you need to see.

BendingSpoons · 25/04/2021 19:27

If it's only 40 hours, you could potentially do it all before the baby arrives. 10 hours a week for 4 weeks would be doable, or even quicker. I worked full time until 37 weeks.

After the baby is born, it is manageable if flexible. There were easier and more challenging points in the first year. If your partner is on board, you can leave the baby with him, say on a Sat AM or if he has AL. For me I would have found it easiest at about 8-12 weeks (baby slept fairly well, quite chilled) or after about 7m.

Calmestofallthechickens · 25/04/2021 19:29

I did the last year of a postgraduate qualification while on maternity leave (mainly distance learning, revision, and writing up). I sat the final exam when DS was 13 months.

I didn’t do much when he was very tiny but once the naps got more predictable I could do a bit during the day and a bit in the evenings, and a bit occasionally when he was out with grandparents etc. I didn’t do as much as I would have without a baby but I passed! Sometimes it wasn’t easy to be disciplined when I was really tired but equally it was a bit of me time that was more engaging than Netflix.

ElleDubloo · 25/04/2021 19:34

I did an online teaching diploma during my first mat leave. It’s achievable if the motivation’s there. Couldn’t do anything like that during my second though as had a crazy toddler too!