Has anyone done a degree while pregnant/ with a baby?

[ButterYellowHair]

Hello everyone, I wanted to query this because my life has developed in such a way that I am now 30 and finishing my first year of a 4 year degree (retraining, I am passionate at the subject). I’m married and we would like two children, preferably before I am 35 but we’re ok if the second is a touch beyond that.

As you can tell… that would mean I need to get pregnant and have the baby during my degree.

Now, I have done two degrees before - I know I can complete the degree under normal circs (current grade 86%). However, I have never had a baby or been pregnant. So I have no idea the extent to which this will make it harder and I wanted to hear the experiences of those who had done it. Am I insane to consider getting pregnant part way through my second year?

Furtner notes:
1 My degree is healthcare, so there are two semesters of lectures and 13 weeks of placement each year.
2 I do not need to work outside of the degree if I do not wish, but if I don’t do so while pregnant then I will not get maternity allowance.
3 I would defer one year after giving birth as ‘mat leave’ so would be pregnant or have a 1 year old during the degree. The newborn stage I wouldn’t be doing it.
4 My course allows me to leave part way through the year and return at that same stage the next year.
5 I am self funding so don’t need to worry about SFE.

I haven’t attempted to do a degree while pregnant, but I will say that I didn’t even have time to go to the toilet with a baby, let alone anything else.

I have seen people on here saying they’ve managed to do it though, but there’s no way I could’ve done anything other than survive with my first baby.

Many years ago.my daughter conveniently arrived during the summer break and I had very supportive parents so was able to return part time when she was very small. It wasn't easy but it's possible

Yes, I'm sure that if you can time the baby to arrive at the start of the summer break that will probably help a lot

I know two women who have both done scientific PhDs and had 2 DC during the process, which sounds impressive to me, especially as one of them wasn't a native speaker of the language she did it in.

As I said, the baby would be one year old when I returned to the degree :) I’m not planning on doing it with a newborn :)

So I would be pregnant and then 12mo+ baby.

I did one albeit part time so 6 years rather than 3. Started when dc1 was 8 months old. Handed my final pieces of work for year 3 in 6 days before I went into labour with dc2. Year 4 started when she was 3 months old.

I didn't find it difficult at all but I didn't have placements to contend with.

Retired academic here. Universities are used to this and will support you. There may be a nursery on campus. Good luck.

Thank you for another side of the picture. It’s good to know universities are prepared and supportive of maternity.

How will you find/fund childcare for the 13 week placements? In my experience healthcare placements aren't generally 9-5, meaning nursery is usually not possible.

I did this and it was fine, I just had to be disciplined and see it as a 9-5pm job where I did lectures and fit my study and revision into the day when DD was in nursery. I was lucky in some ways as I got 6 months paid maternity leave as part of my course as it was funded, but then I did have to go back after 6 mths rather than 12 but it worked out ok.

The hardest part was the pregnancy because I got morning sickness all the way through and often thought I was going to be sick in the middle of a lecture. I just knew my exit routes to the nearest bathroom, carried sick bags and sat on the end row near a door. But not everyone gets that so you may be fine.

I could have done it with my babies as they were "good" pregnant no chance as I was sick as a dog for all nine months. It is impossible to say what kind of pregnancy birth or baby you would have, also how long it might take you to get pregnant in the first place.

I think it depends on your baby (which obviously you can't predict).
My dd didn't sleep through for the first three years and looking back I was a bit of a zombie for the first year. I would have struggled with lectures, let alone placements but if your baby is a relatively easy one maybe it's possible? Not sure I'd want to risk it given a choice.

My placements are generally daylight hours (somewhere within 8-8 usually 9-5) as it’s a specific AHP that only operates during the day. I will fund it via my husband’s salary and a childcare bursary on offer for my course by the NHS. We also have the savings to cover this.

I wasn’t really asking about finances, I am happy with those. More the workload, sleeplessness, doing work around a baby etc, concentration levels.

Also… my husband can care for his own baby outside of his working hours too. That’s not all my responsibility and he works 9-5.

Thank you this is really good to hear

Yes this worries me. But I guess I won’t know until I try… and if I didn’t have uni then I would have work instead. It’s not an option of staying at home or going to uni. It’s uni or work. So I think I’ve answered my own main question there actually… I find work a lot harder than university.

This is very true. It could take me the rest of my degree to become pregnant. Another major consideration.

Thank you everyone. I think I have decided to go for it. The alternatives are less attractive to me than even having a bad sleeper. And worst comes to worst with a terrible sleeper and ill health my course can be deferred up to 6 years.

I’ve done a short term (6 month) course whilst on maternity leave. Found that relatively easy with young baby as was all online, so did it during nap times/evenings. Wouldn’t attempt it whilst toddler at home though as it’s too difficult having a laptop out with her

My mum.
Degree and Bar Finals.
Started with 2 children.
Ended with 4 (deliberately!)
My sister’s birth and DM’s call to the bar were announced in the same paper on the same day.

I think you could do it. I wouldn’t want to, particularly. And I wasn’t at my brightest while pregnant (brain fog!!) and on maternity… but it isn’t such a difficult, academic degree and they seem to be flexible with you taking the year out. I’d go for it, it might not be easy and you might not get top grades, but you can complete it and if you’re not working while pregnant then all the more reason to. I worked until 3 weeks before giving birth without much trouble in a very full on role. Most people do. Have you got support from partner and family? That will be the key.

Not personally but I do have a few friends who have done it. Taking 9 months-1 year out will be pretty essential, or if you wanted to go back earlier do the degree part time over a longer time period if that is an option.
If you’re not working outside of the degree you treat it as a job basically and have childcare sorted and be disciplined about when you complete your degree work .
Also don’t necessarily plan two babies during the degree, have one then see what happens. Plenty of women have babies after 35

I did my nursing degree I fell pregnant in my first year, went back fairly soon 5month but I started again so didn’t need to repeat my modules which were completed. Made it easier as it wasn’t so full on. He was an easy baby and had good childcare. Was a while ago now though (he’s nearly 25) and I did placements etc also

I mean it’s definitely difficult. Lots of biochemistry, anatomy, disease pathology etc 😂 My husband is supportive. No wider family support as my family live hours away and his are elderly.

Thanks - how did you find placement with a baby?