University and found out I’m pregnant

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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?

Social work placements often start in Year 1 of the Bachelor's and are 10 weeks plus full time. What is the set up for the course you're planning on?

I did a social work degree and fell pregnant in the last year towards the end though. I graduated in the May and had baby in the July.

If im honest, the degree is full on, I’m unsure how you’d take time off when baby is born?

It’s the undergraduate social work degree. 3 year course, I could defer a year I just don’t want to get too comfortable being home with baby and then defer even longer. Once I have completed my access course at college I think I only have a set amount of years maybe 2 or 3 to go to university with that qualification.

You need a good understanding of the exit points So you don't waste any study if things don't go to plan.

I do understand why you just want to crack on with it. Once life gets in the way you may not get another opportunity and if you've started there's much more incentive to finish than just never starting.

You would need to be in paid employment to do shared parental leave.

It’s the undergraduate social work degree. 3 year course

Which university? It feels like you are underestimating how much is entailed.

Can your partner take 9 months paternity leave at full pay?

No employer I know is offering 9 months full pay on paternity! My org offers 6months and that’s incredibly generous!

Derby university. I am not saying it will be 2 days per week and no home study, that would be very silly of me but during the first few months I would hope the baby would sleep much of the time.

Somebody just said I would need to be employed full time so perhaps he wouldn’t be entitled to the 9 months paternity leave.

So much to consider, it’s a very big decision it could not have happened at a worse time for my life personally.

You don't have to continue with the pregnancy if it isn't right for you.

Remember on placements you’ll be working full time

Why on earth would you have a section if you don't absolutely have to?!!

Complications with my first child’s birth has injected a fear into me giving birth naturally.

Fell pregnant in my first month of uni due to contraception failure. I was full time and just carried on. Gave birth in the June and went on to complete the degree without deferring. It's doable but you need to keep to a schedule and accept help where possible!

Talk to the university. It may well be that they can accommodate you (creche etc) and that if you find you're overwhelmed you can take a leave of absence and return later. But you do need to ask them all this.

If you're 29 you're still very young, and I applaud you for having the energy to do all these things.

I was in the same situation, minus the partner. My university allowed me to do one semester online. Talk to them and see what support they can offer.

Derby university. I am not saying it will be 2 days per week and no home study, that would be very silly of me but during the first few months I would hope the baby would sleep much of the time.

Are you certain that it's only 2 days per week on campus?

Definitely research this carefully. I'm presuming your partner has a pretty amazing job? Mine has a good job but only had two weeks full paid paternity leave.

What about when the paternity leave is over. Do his wages cover all household bills plus the cost of a nursery place- accounting for you not earning?

Congratulations!

I am a university lecturer and several years on the trot we had international students arrive pregnant, take 2 weeks off, and then get on with their postgraduate studies (1-year MSc). They did have their families with them, and I suspect may even have brought child minders. But anyway, if you have the support at home, you’ll have the university encouragement to continue your studies.

If you’re due November 2025 and start the course September 2025 then defer a year and start the course when your youngest is 10 months and in nursery. Or wait another year, which I think would be for the best so September 2027.

You don’t need to be employed full time, but you would need to meet the criteria to be entitled to SMP. Are you working now?

I run a postgraduate course on a topic of applied psychology.

Every cohort has one or two pregnancies. The percentage of students who believe they can manage university uninterrupted is about 80%. None of them have managed without eventually taking leave after a period of distress. The extensions start to pile up and babies are unpredictable.

I am legally obligated to nod and smile and offer all possible accommodations. I try and advise that the years to study and the years to have a baby do not need to be the same. I’d advise to defer the course, then enjoy your baby and your studies.

I would say something, I haven’t even done my ASYE year yet and my child is 3! And I doubt I’ll be doing it now. As long as you are happy to start that straight away too… I didn’t want to leave my baby so quickly.

You know youre having a C-section already??