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Original poster

Finally started my long awaited Teacher Training course, and have just found out I'm pregnant. I want to carry on, is this possible. Please help!

40 replies

youknownothingofthecrunch · 01/09/2008 18:45

That's it really. I am thrilled about the pregnancy as I am subfertile, so it was very surprising. I have given up my job to move to a new area where I can get to a university. I have moved my eldest to a new school. We have moved to a new house.

It's all those free pregnancy test kits' fault (the ones being given out by Clearblue on Mumsnet). I never would have known! I would now be blissfully unaware!

The course finishes next June and I reckon I could be due anywhere between March and May.

This must have happened before (she says hopefully)... there must be guidelines in place... there must be a way for me to continue... surely.

Don't tell me I can't. I've given up so much already, I can't put it off again.

Oops.

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vimfuego · 01/09/2008 18:46

Congratulations.

Original poster
youknownothingofthecrunch · 01/09/2008 18:48

Thanks

Oh, now you've made me all teary - stupid hormones!

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S1ur · 01/09/2008 18:49

I did three placements f-t all while pg and had older toddler.

one in first term sept-oct time, one in jan and one after easter.

ds was born August.

Inbetween placements I crammed in all the coursework and studying. But I suggest you talk to your tutor and make sure you can get your placements booked and sorted asap. You can work out a realistic calender for assignments together as well.

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S1ur · 01/09/2008 18:50

Oh yes, CONgratulations!!

limecrush · 01/09/2008 18:51

I finished a PhD with a newborn. It was bloody hard but you can do it.

You'll need a LOT of help though. I was lucky and had a nanny, if that is unaffordable, can your family and dh take up the slack?

limecrush · 01/09/2008 18:52

and so many congratulations!!

Moomin · 01/09/2008 18:54

Firstly - huge congrats!!

Is it a PGCE? If so, Your main practice will be in the spring and summer terms, so when you;re due basically. It's a stressful course and very hard-going at the best of times - not trying to put a downer on it for you but think you should be realistic. As far as I know you could defer the whole course for a year (really don't think it would be a problem) or maybe do your first practice in the Autumn and then carry as long as you can after the Christmas, and do a second proper practice in the next academic year (but not sure about this 2nd option). You need to ask your course leader/university but I wouldnt worry- you won;t be the first or last student to have been pregnant.

Original poster
youknownothingofthecrunch · 01/09/2008 18:59

It is a PGCE. This is what worries me.

It wouldn't interfere with my first placement (which is from October to Christmas) but I would be due right in the middle of my second (longest and most important) placement. I would be able to be there for all the university bits.

Don't want to give up now.

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Romy7 · 01/09/2008 19:06

do nothing and keep your head down until your dating scan - when it is 'real' book an appointment with your tutor and sit and discuss options. at the very least you should be able to defer for a year - but you'll have plenty to keep you occupied in the meantime! congratulations! i had to defer my final year for dd1 - stay flexible and you'll get there in the end!

Moomin · 01/09/2008 19:07

Then just see if you can defer the 2nd practice. I know it can be done for other circumstances (i.e. students who are failing are often given the chance to do another practice in the Autumn so they can improve and pass).

Surely you wouldn't want to be doing your practice 8 months preggers and knackered anyway?!

I'm sure you'll be able to sort something out. The Uni will have good childcare as well for a deferred practice in the Auumtn when your baby will be 4-6 months old.

LaTrucha · 01/09/2008 19:09

It is tough. I'd defer. You might end up breaking the course into bits as it stands and that would make it even more difficult. Universities are usually happy to accomodate this.

Sorry for downer.
Congratulations!

tudorrose · 01/09/2008 19:10

Congratulations! What a lovely surprise for you!
I don't want to put a donwer on you either but I would defer the course for a year. I did a PGCE and its fantastic but it does take over your life a bit, it's a very stressful and demanding year. As a teacher you won't ever work that hard again,even as an NQT. Well maybe for OFSTED
And the bits that count the most are your placements, the university bits are important but its the teaching that is vital and you have to give it your all.

Moomin · 01/09/2008 19:10

I'm a school assessor for PGCE stduents and I would be concerned for a student who is heavily pregnant during their 2nd practice, tbh. It's unrelenting and twice as much work as teaching itself due to the extra planning, college work and sorting your classroom management out too. It will be expected that you can step up a gear by the 2nd practice too so the pressure's really on. During both my prgnancies I felt sooooo knackered towards the end, It was all I could do just to turn up and be in the classroom (but then that might have just been me )

Original poster
youknownothingofthecrunch · 01/09/2008 19:11

So they do at least set up a second opportunity to do the second placement? That is fantastic news. So then I could finish my theoretical course bits and just postpone the second half of the practical bits. You have given me hope, Moomin!

(I really don't want to be doing it up until I'm due!)

Thanks Romy too. I need to start thinking along the lines of "Worst case scenario (deferring) is not so bad!"

I still wouldn't change things for the world either

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popsycal · 01/09/2008 19:12

A girl on my pgce got pregnant and didnt do her final teaching practice but came back during the first term of the next academic year and did her final practice in the autmn term

tudorrose · 01/09/2008 19:12

Downer even. I should not be teaching when I cant even spell!

TheFallenMadonna · 01/09/2008 19:13

What the others have said. Do the first practice, defer the second.

Congratulations! How exciting - both PGCE and baby!

popsycal · 01/09/2008 19:14

just to add - I am 37 weeks pregnant and a teacher abd am soo glad that the summer holidays began when I was 30 weeks pregnant - I have been teaching 11 years and would have struggled for much longer.

PGCE is very demanding so I would speak to your tutor asap and see what your options are - you won't be the first!

Congratulations btw

Original poster
youknownothingofthecrunch · 01/09/2008 19:17

I know deferring is the sensible and logical thing to do, but I don't want to do that - certainly not before I've got past the first trimester, to give it all up and then lose another baby would just be horrific.

I'll play it by ear for now and work on accepting that I might need to redo it all next year - I can view this as a practice run

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Original poster
youknownothingofthecrunch · 01/09/2008 19:18

(I mean deferring the whole year - happy to defer the second half )

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tudorrose · 01/09/2008 19:21

I'm on mat leave at the moment and used to be on my knees by the end of a day in the classroom towards the end. We had to have biscuit breaks each afternoon as I was always starving and felt bad eating while my class couldn't! Luckily it was only a small class or it would have cost me a small fortune.

chewitt · 01/09/2008 19:23

I found out I was pregnant at the end of the autumn term in my PGCE. I delayed my final TP until after I'd had ds1 and did it as soon as he started sleeping through. I was told that I was only able to postpone completing the course for one academic year. I was knackered doing my TP when in early stage of pregnancy and stopped my course at 32 weeks. It was all do-able but I found it very hard to leave my LO when he was so young to do my TP as I it was mroe work than a full time job. Glad its done though and am glad I have the qualification - will use it eventually! Congrats!

Original poster
youknownothingofthecrunch · 01/09/2008 19:24

Tudorrose - I have to say I was worried about being in a classroom while heavily pregnant. I do have classroom experience (teaching assistant with 14 to 16 year olds) so I'm not too worried about the first placement, particularly as it is key stage 3 based. Will just need to be sick quietly in a corner

Deferring the second placement until Autumn is the perfect solution to my "problem".

Is it not possible to defer the baby for a couple of months?

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Original poster
youknownothingofthecrunch · 01/09/2008 19:27

Thanks Chewitt. I do need to be careful not to underestimate how exhausting this will all be. I suppose it might be more sensible to defer the second half until the following Spring - but I can see how it all goes.

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tudorrose · 01/09/2008 19:36

It is hard being heavily pregnant in a classroom but being heavily pregnant anywhere isn't much fun! My class got used to helping, they would fetch things or pick things up. And it wasn't so much the morning sickness which was a problem it was not being able to go for a wee when I needed to as I didn't have a TA. I often had to lurk by the door and grab someone.