University and found out I’m pregnant

[UltimateDigestive]

Hello, I need some advice regarding university. I have been accepted to study social work at university in September but I have just found out I’m 8 weeks pregnant, I am on the pill so it has come as a massive shock.
I am due the end of November time, I really want to continue with my course and don’t want to defer a year, childcare wouldn’t be an issue but I would need a few weeks off to recover from the caesarean.

Does anybody have any advice on how to deal with this situation? Am I going to lose my place on the course?

Talk to the university. They can sometimes accommodate pregnancy. However, might you be better deferring a year? Social work is an intense course ( I know as I did it 5 years ago).

Are you definitely going to need a caesarean?

Do you want to have this baby now?

Where is the father?

Btw they won’t take your place away but you need to discuss with them his it will work asap.

Agree with others - I’d defer entry. Speak to admissions/student services. They will have come across this before.

And; congratulations!

I don’t really want to defer as I feel like then it’s easy to put it off a few years rather than just 1 and I’m currently doing an access into social work course so whilst being back in education is still fresh I’d rather keep at it.

i will be having an elected caesarean and the father is very much involved, hence why childcare would not be an issue. University is only 2 days on campus

Talk to the university.

How old are you?

Start the course, much will depend on how you feel and the temperament of the baby. Is it your first baby? You can always start and defer. You may need childcare for the duration of the course to suppprt you to complete assignments.

Does the father not have a job if Mon to Fri childcare isn't an issue.

29 so not a spring chicken

I have 2 children already they are 10 and 8. I really want to take the place and hope they can accommodate, they said at the induction they are able to facilitate lessons online if people are off sick so potentially an option.

I just wondered if anybody had been in this situation before

Is this your first baby? Involved father or not, when they’re here it might not be as simple as “childcare is sorted” and you leave them at 2 weeks old to go back to uni

Ahh ok, that changes things. When you said you were starting uni in September I wrongly assumed you were 18. If you think you can continue then go for it.

Yeah he does work full time, he would see if he was able to take the 9 months paternity leave. If not we have family between us to cover just for the 2 days I’m at university.

I must sound awful saying I am happy to leave the baby so young but like I said it was very out of the blue and unexpected. I feel like I really need to push through and see if I can manage

Have you had a baby before? Me personally, I would defer a year.

I say this both as a uni lecturer and tutor, and as someone who had a baby in the middle of an intense degree programme.

You will be giving birth right at the very intense end of term and then going back after Christmas presumably when your baby is only a few weeks old and not sleeping. I was barely able to make myself lunch or remember to brush my teeth at that stage!

I took a year off when I had mine in the middle of my course and it was very worth the delay. I actually finished sooner than about half my cohort who didn’t have a baby as many of them had to take time off for various reasons. I needed the time with my baby and to get back on my feet. And it saved me a year of childcare costs (at the time £1100 a month). I have absolutely no regrets about the time I took and it’s not impacted my career at all.

As someone who supervises students now, it’s exactly what I’d recommend to my students. Their health and wellbeing and family should always come first. There is always the possibility of flexibility on the course and we do our best to work with them.

I had a friend at uni that had a baby during Easter of year 2. She came back as normal and completed her degree.

hello! I also got pregnant while on the pill and also while at uni. I ENTIRELY understand not wanting to defer and I applaud you. I felt the exact same way. For me it was a little different in that I got pregnant during my course rather than just before I went. The reason I didn’t want to defer was because I knew it would be SO much harder to return to studies after a year of being with my baby than it would be to just keep going.

I can tell you more about my experience and how it went if you want BUT, the single thing I will tell you and the ONLY thing which matters. Do what feels right. Do WHATEVER feels right FOR YOU.

being a new mum is hard. Either option has its harder aspects but ultimately yiu just have to do what is right for you. Whichever decision you can live with. Because it’s your life and you are the one who will be living with the possible regrets.

I would just defer and make sure you do start the following September. Childcare will be easier then, especially with 2 older DC you don't want to burn yourself out and risk PND or bonding issues, or not coping with the course then giving up.

I've never been in this position but every year we have graduates who have had children during their studies.

On a course like social work I wouldn't think it uncommon as many of the students are older.

Speak to the university. You can then make a more informed choice on whether to defer.

A lot will depend on timings for placements etc.

For the ordinary academic year November is close to the end of term/exam time but social work is often different.

I've known people have babies and sit exams the same week. I know someone who had twins and completed her final nursing placement while they were just a few weeks old. She had support and decided they were probably at the easiest stage she was getting for a few years.

None of this is easy but it doesn't mean it isn't possible, especially when you are already an experienced mother. Good luck.

Social work will be A LOT more work than just being on campus for 2 days as you state in the comments OP. I don't know how you'd cope, you will have to defer which is better than failing first year. What about coursework? Professional placements? I'm on an allied health professional course (nearly finished) and we had to complete 1000 hours of placement, we've been up to our eyes in coursework and lectures 4 days a week.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. I would talk to the university. I don't know but surely social work would require placements? Uni placements are full on and missing part of them usually ends up in failing and requiring a resit year anyway.

Financially can you manage if you are attending uni full time does your partner work? Also just the logistics of uni, your older kids and baby how will you manage school runs etc. You are putting yourself under alot of pressure starting a course 6/7months pregnant what happens if you are unwell or you need longer to recover, sleepless nights etc. My friend was in hosp for 2 weeks after a section and another was readmitted after being discharged both took several months to fully recover

Also op I see you have mentioned its "just" 2 days at uni...I did a postgraduate where some weeks I was only on campus 2/3 days it did not mean that was all thst needed doing there's academic reading, assignments, admin all needing completed too so please don't consider you just need some1 to help out 2 days a week most full time courses are a 35 hour week commitment

Surely a social work degree isn't just 2 days a week in university?

Can your partner take 9 months paternity leave? Is that on full pay?

Every institution will have Maternity guidelines. At the least you have will get 2 weeks after delivery. If you need longer, you might have to suspend for a year- that's how it works in mine. You will also undergo a risk assessment whilst you are pregnant and attending classes. The Inclusion Services and Personal tutor/course leader will be involved in that. However, just because you are in for only 2 days, doesn't mean the workload is less. What level is the course- UG or PG? Are there placements involved? All of this is factored in as a full time student and requires commitment.

Placement would start September 2026 as opposed to 2025 as placement is years 2 and 3.

Ahhh I am honestly so conflicted, I will take advice and speak to the university for some more guidance.

I think I am being naive and not really accounting for any complications as my other pregnancies were quite straight forward but now I am older my body might not recover as quickly. Terrible timing 🥲