Uni with a 5 month old. Or take a year out.

[alwayswrong123]

Hi, I was wondering if I could get some advice. I'm currently in my second year of a social work degree and pregnant.

I can't decide if I want to take a year out after finishing this year, before going back to complete my third and final year, or push through and do it when baby would be 5months in September.

Part of me feels like just getting it over with and pushing through but the other part of me thinks I'll never get this time back and to just enjoy it with my last baby and I should take the year out.

In third year I'll be on placement for 100 days, 5 days a week Monday to Friday so feels like a lot of nursery for such a small baby.

I went back to work when my son was six months before but that was only to work two days a week not the 5 it would be this time.

I've been in uni for so long this isn't my first course so it feels like if I delay again it's more time wasted....but on the other hand I don't see me ever having a whole year off work again once I graduate so do I take it?

Sorry for the long post I just want to hear other peoples opinions and experience !

Depends what support you have around you I guess. Uni in its own, presuming not too much of a commute is probably manageable. But the 100 day placement might put me off.

Depends on the course. I see you've mentioned placement. Do you have a good support network around you to look after baby when they're poorly with nursery bugs?

It's possible, it would be a hard year though, and I agree re alot of nursery time for them that young. As other have said also depends on support for child illness etc or you could be pulled from pillar to post weekly plus have assignments on top of that.
I'm sure you can plan to take 6months out of uni and then defer a further 6months if need be? See how it goes? (If nursery places etc aren't toouxh if a problem)

If you’re going into social work after I’d take the extra year. Sounds like an intense course, then it will be an intense job.

I would advise, take the year out. Don't risk burnout. The year will fly by, and when baby is nearer 18m they will enjoy nursery more and you won't have that mum guilt. A job is just a job. If they're holding the place for you anyway, take the opportunity to be with your baby.
Have you heard about the first 1001 days of a child's development? As a future SW you'll become familiar x

Do you have a supportive partner who pulls his weight? That would make it possible.

But social work is hard work and takes a lot out of you. Maybe the year with the baby is best so you don't resent how little time and energy you have for the baby. But again with a partner to fill that gap it would be fine.

I would take the year off. I was in the middle of a PhD when I had my first. I took a full year off and I’m grateful I did. It didn’t set me back (in fact I still finished before a lot of my cohort did - who didn’t have children). I was properly ready to go back when I did.