Anyone studied/studying whilst pregnant?

[Hittingthebooks]

I am currently 21 weeks pregnant and am facing one more term of my (intensive, FT) degree before baby is born in September and I (hopefully) take a year off.

I will be doing my exams at around 30 weeks. I already feel pretty brain dead, tired, and in pain/sleeping badly with SPD. I also have a toddler.

If you study/studied whilst pregnant, how do/did you cope? How do/did you motivate yourself?

No idea tbh. I had dd then finished a few months later. She came to grad with me. It's all lost in a haze of one handed typing whilst in the middle of the night... I don't remember the pg bit at all, but I must have been!

I'm pregnant for the 2nd time during this degree! First time was unplanned, took a year out and then carried on, and I am now 16 weeks pregnant and due to graduate in a couple of months. Luckily for me I never had to study whilst extremely heavily pregnant, but both times the begining bit has been tough. Sickness and tiredness don't help whilst studying. But it is possible, and though my grades might not be what they would have been without my babies, my 2:1 will feel like a 1st because I know how hard I've worked to get it!
Good luck ladies!
xxxxx

I'm doing it for the second time around now, but I'm 12 weeks and finished in 3 so I've not had any problems yet...When I had DS I was 6months pg when I finished up for the summer and then I took a year out as it was DH's last year in college. I was just asked today about seeming distant in lectures and just put it down to stress, its my final year and I've been finding things tough anyway.... Best of luck with your studies Hitting!

Thanks for the replies. Good to know I'm not alone :)

I am finding it very hard to get into the 'zone' of studying ATM. It isn't like a lot of jobs (IME) where you can kind of coast through - it involves some serious thinking, which I seem to be rubbish at right now!

If anyone has any tips for how to shake off a bad case of baby brain I'd very grateful...

I gave birth 3 weeks after my exams in 2010 so heavily pregnant. It was my first though and didn't get too many health problems and didn't notice get a baby brain so can't give useful tips. I can give you empathy though

I quite liked the fact that if one worried me I could think about the other, both were good distractions and counterpoints.

However I am now doing finals while pregnant with second and finding motivation a major issue. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and just want the degree over and concentrate on my baby. Uni is taking such a backseat. Hating myself as I am being really shit and no-one knows - everyone thinks I am working hard, but I'm not. :(

I'm doing this for the 2nd time.

First time was 4 years ago, part time while studying full time. Gave birth 2 months after finishing but a few days after stopping working :(

Went back to college (not work) when DS was 5 wks. It was part time attendance but full time studying IYKWIM. I got DS in a strict routine asap and it worked well.

This time I'm 18wks, due in October and should finish (for good!!!!!) in June - exam in 6 weeks! Was really ill the first 3 months and struggled a bit but I'm better now even though I can't put as many crazy late nights as I used to. Can't wait to finish and claim my life back - it's going to be weird being sleep deprived but NOT feeling guilty that I'm having a nap this time round!

Hang in there, you're half way now. Just keep thinking it's almost over, you can do it! Good luck!

Got to go, assignment to finish...

I'm a medical student and sat my 1st year exams while 28 weeks pregnant. It was tiring, but I think you just have to keep up a steady pace - no rushing. Now my daughter is a toddler I just have to be disciplined and study whenever she is asleep/out with her Dad etc. Once the exams were over I realised I was very tired, so make sure you do build in plently of rest to your studying!

I know how you feel, I'm 16wks with DC2 and in exam revision hell for two exams next week. Its hell because I'm finding it hard to get motivated, don't feel like I'm retaining the information like I usually do and have a 2yr old to look after too. I'm having the day off today because I have no childcare (and I figure it'll do me good to recharge the batteries) but from tommorow it'll be back to the hard revision slog all day. Bloody hate exams, they're a test of memory rather than understanding!! I never remember things in enough detail during exams even though I have a perfectly good understanding of the material. Oh well, I keep telling myself it'll all be over next Wednesday and then I can focus on having a lovely summer with DP and DS, and get prepared for DC2.

Good luck to you all, I feel your pain :(

Am already able to sympathise and only 7 weeks. I'm doing a full-time Ph D and have conference papers to write/ present, and loads on interviews to conduct, all while feeling really sick, dizzy and exhausted! I wish I could give you advice on how to cope, but currently I could do with some myself.

Good luck to everyone with exams looming x

Equimum - I have a PhD (got it before I had DS) and I've no idea how you're managing to do it pregnant, it can get so hectic and such long hours at times!! Just came back on to say well done you really , hang in there, the 1st trimester will be the hardest in terms of gettting things done.

I'm in my second year of a nursing degree and on maternity leave at the moment. I just had my baby 2 weeks ago. I found out I was pregnant on the first day back at uni for year 2 and found it really hard to concentrate. I also have a 7 year old and found studying for exams and writing essays really challenging in my first trimester due to tiredness and then I also had to deal with placements on wards which meant I was on my feet doing a physical job for most of the day plus trying to study in the evenings. I ended up finishing up on maternity leave at 32 weeks. It's going to be difficult going back to it with a young baby I think

I was pregnant on the middle of this degree. It was hard work as I'd miscarried twice before hand so was constantly worried over this pregnancy. I actually submitted an assignment and gave north a few hours later.
Studying while ds2 was a baby was a lot easier than it is now he's 2. I'm on my final module now and will finish in september, I'm meant to do around 12 hours study a week but I'm only managing between 4 and 6, because he's a poor sleeper, and that has an effect on me.
The only advice I can give, is have rest when you can, but your get up when your doing reading. Good luck.

I didn't give north, I gave birth

I had a 'multiples' pregnancy while studying for my PhD. It was really the hardest thing to do, yet I got through it with my baby brain and severe sickness (several admissions to hospital for rehydration). I had to write endless lists of what I needed to do so that when I could get in the study zone, i was very productive. I studied as and when the brain was active so if this was late evening for a few weeks, so be it! When I couldn't focus I did menial tasks like number crunching, stats, ref lists, surfing for articles, formatting etc where concentration was not required. Above all keep doing something otherwise once you stop it is harder to get going again. I knew that I would have no time once they were born so I decided to do as much as possible before they arrived, so this was my motivator! I think you can ask for the uni to consider your exam grades in 'extenuating circumstances' with a supporting letter from your GP/obs consultant, maybe worth considering. You could ask to delay your exams but seriously, I think your baby brain and tiredness will be worse post delivery!!! Depending on what stage of your degree (ie level 1 or 2) you could drop the poorer grades from your overall result.