Studying while pregnant/with a young child?

[Lorrainbow]

Hello,

I was supposed to start a part-time distance learning masters on September 26th but turns out I'm 6 weeks pregnant with my first child!

I work full time at the moment.

The course is two years long. I'm not sure what to do about it.
I'm going to get in touch with the university and see what options they have, like doing a few modules each year... but I just can't see myself having the time in the next two or even three years?!

Anyone have experience of studying with a young child/whilst pregnant?

Thank you,
L

I did OU law while pg and then final exams when DS was tiny. I got a first

It's ok while baby very small as they nap. This is provided you don't have anything else to do, like other children, or work.

You've probably timed it pretty well, 9m pg so you'll be finishing the academic year when baby due. Then Mat leave so you'll maybe be able to do a bit then?

I'd still do it.

In any case don't make decisions yet, it's very early days.

my friend is doing her law degree too with 2 young children (3 yrs , 6 month old) altho its quite demanding and i dnt knw how she is managing she is doing quite well at uni.

I did a BSc full time with a baby - I got pg in the year before I started but was able to start the course when DD was 3 weeks old. It was hard work, but I had a fantastic childminder and I always tended to study at night, so staying up late wasn't too different anyway.

I did very well and continued to do an MSc - my only regret really is that it took up so much time and emotional energy in my DD's early years. I missed her a lot when she was in childcare and it meant I couldn't do regular things with her like swimming, Surestart etc. Looking back, I would have preferred being there for her milestones even if it meant I didn't achieve as much as I did. Those are my values though and I suppose many women have to spend time away from their babies at work anyway (if I hadn't been studying I'd have just been at home with her).

I did a 30 credit OU module while working full-time and preg. Then I did the OU foundation course while preg/ with new baby, 60 credit course as a SAHM with toddler and preg again, started a 30 credit course with toddler and 2nd baby but gave up, restarted the following year and by the time I graduated I was preg again. I got a 2.1.

Breast feeding is better than bottle because it leaves you a hand free to hold a book, make notes, etc. Part of the reason I breast fed the DCs past their first birthday was because bf guaranteed me time to sit down! As DH couldn't help with the feeding, he got to do non-book friendly baby care.

I thought it was perfect for me; I got to be a SAHM, which is what I wanted to be, but felt I was doing something which would ultimately further my career at the same time.

My mother would tell you though, that my standards of housework were very low indeed.

Have done a distance course which finished when dd2 was 6 weeks old and DS was 3. I did not work at the same time though.

I was halfway through my course when I got pregnant. I finished the module I'd started but it was really hard- I think, because my pregnancy was so difficult.

I've found that I've had loads of time since having my baby though as they do nap. I would have appreciated more, actually, as I felt like my brain was stagnating.