Student nurse 2nd year and pregnant. Help.

[Beckyrts]

Just started my 2nd year as a nurse and also just found out I'm pregnant, it's very early days and I haven't told anyone out of fear. I'm 22 years old, I live with my mum and we have 3 dogs that are not child friendly. I'm really happy I'm pregnant but it could not be at a worse time, just wondering if anyone else has been in this situation? If I keep this baby I will have to leave uni and move out, i can't afford that! But on the other hand I have witnessed still births (in placement) and it's very upsetting I always said I'd never go through with a termination and I don't think I could do it. Has anyone been in a similar situation? As a parent and a student how much money could I expect in terms of finances and is their any help out there in terms of housing. Maybe I'm just better off leaving my degree completely but it's been one hell of a rocky road getting to be a 2nd year. Please help I'm so worried

Hang on.

Firstly, if you decide to proceed with the pregnancy. You can take maternity leave during your degree and return to your studies. It doesn’t have to be an end to your training, just a temporary pause.

Your course handbook should have advice re pregnancy during your course. You can also speak to your uni (student services) about what is available to you in terms of emotional, housing and financial support. You may find there is more than you think.

Thank you, I think that will be the first step before I do anything drastic

Where is the father in all of this? How is he going to support your child?

One of the reasons the bursary was removed was the sheer cost of grants to pregnant nursing students and subsequent child care costs. Which all used to be available under a grant (bursary). Since September 2017 you now have to get a loan like all other Uni students with the same pay back terms.
There is a 'grant' of £1k for child dependents available for each year if the course but that isn't really going to be terribly helpful to the cost of bringing up a child.

How is the child's father going to financially support his child ? Maybe between you all it can be done with everyone pitching in with child care if they are willing.

The line 'I'm really happy I'm pregnant ' is a bit strange for someone who has committed to a 3 yr course and has nowhere suitable to live with a baby.

Personally I would make a decision as to career or baby. With age being the biggest factor . At 22 I would need to get qualified and some experience before having a baby. Unless your babies dad is super supportive and financially able to help you through college/cover child care .

Hi , I’m also a second year student nurse and pregnant. It’s not as bad as it seems. I’m 17 weeks now and have known I was pregnant since 5 weeks I spent two or three of the the following weeks in an absolute state about uni but it’s all working out just fine. I’m taking 9 months maternity leave (my choice I can have a full year if I wanted) I’m a bursary student so will receive my bursary as a maternity type payment whilst I’m off and will still get it once I’m back because the funding is already secured for me. Uni have been so supportive and so have my fellow students.
Please feel free to pm me I’ll help wherever I can. I can’t always keep track of theses threads 😂 xx

It depends if OP is on a Bursary or a student loan. Bursaries have been stopped now for this exact reason. People , who are students , signing up for courses and then having babies and claiming maternity payments .. in one case I was involved in the woman had 3 children, 3 maternity payments , and three lots of childcare payments for 3 very young children not to mention taking 6 yrs to qualify.
Complete Mickey take.
Very very common though. It's why it was changed from Bursary to Loan. Now perhaps they will think twice before having babies if the state doesn't foot the entire bill. ?

@fontofnoknowledge Bit of a tangent about the political side: would there have been a legal way for them to amend the regulations and provide the bursaries either without maternity benefits or limited to one, rather than using it as an excuse/reason to stop them all together?

I had not heard before that this was part of the reason. It looked like only government cuts.

Sorry OP, I hope you find a good solution for your circumstances.

As she is in second year at the moment I’m assuming she’s a bursary student because most places still gave bursary until September of 2017 as far as I am aware.
Yes it’s not good that people take the Mickey but then again sometimes it just happens and can’t be helped. I did not intend on having a baby during my training but it’s happened and I am very very thankful that I still receive my bursary whilst I am off because otherwise I would be quitting the course which seems a shame to do.