Writing dissertation in final weeks of pregnancy

[clops2000]

Currently studying for a masters, all the coursework's out of the way so it's just dissertation left but i'm finding it so hard to keep going. I'm now 35+5 and wondering where the time went! Have arranged to now take some maternity leave and finish the dissertation whilst on mat leave, prob working on it June to Aug next year, but really don't want to leave myself tonnes to do.
Anyone else studying whilst pregnant and finding it tough? Any advice for getting my head down in the last few weeks? Just don't know how to get going again!

Maybe break it down into short stretches of work (some people like the Pomodoro technique) and remind yourself that every minute of work you get done now is a minute you won't have to do later when you'd rather be with your baby!

You have my sympathy, I was trying to work on my thesis during my last pregnancy but I found it really hard to concentrate and felt really unproductive.

While not a masters I have been studying a post grad course and have the equivalent of a dissertation to do. The due date is December but my baby is due in three weeks so the plan was to get it done by the time baby arrives. The plan has not worked out...I am so disinterested in it! I just want to be pregnant and enjoy these last few weeks. Not sure it will get done tbh. I have some crazy idea I will fit it in once baby is here... If anyone can kick my arse into gear I'd be most grateful completely unhelpful to OP

Thanks for the tip hefner - I do try to break it down but generally fail at getting started these days! On the day you posted though you gave me a great boost and I actually got something written thank you so much - love the idea of the pomodoro technique. I then also woke the next day with motivation...though that was soon put aside when I started getting flashing lights/ auras and spent most of the day in bed waiting for midwife to arrive to check me over! ~(all ok now)
Hoping to get back to it today and be productive once more.
honeybear I know exactly how you feel - you convince yourself you'll be able to get it all done and that the motivation to get it out of way before baby will get you through but you're mind is just always somewehre else! My supervisor must wonder what i do all day! I sit and stare at computer for ages!
I've extended my deadline so can work on it next summer, are you able to do something similar so you're not having to work in first few months with baby? I'm hoping that I'll be interested in it again when I get my own body and brain back, as I usually enjoy studying...I convinced myself pregnancy would be easy but I feel as though i'm not myself a lot of the time - the hormones can change how you feel from one second to the next! Are you into your 38th week now then? I'm 36 weeks today eek!
Keep in touch and let me know how you're getting on, nice to hear from someone in same boat :)

It's one of those annoying deadlines that isn't 'real', so in effect I can hand in whenever I like, but I won't be qualified until it's done! The tutor aims for December for everyone, but of course now I have baby on the way she really wants me to get it done before baby arrives. I know what you mean about getting your brain back, getting my body back will be great but to be honest I feel like I have massive baby brain issues! I find it hard to concentrate on anything except mumsnet.
I'm 37 weeks today, just been to see the midwife and baby is well and truly engaged. I've been having a show for the past ten days or so as well, you'd think the pressure of this imminent arrival would spur me on to get my work done but it's the complete opposite, my head is saying 'rest and do nothing while you can!,'. Maybe I should aim to do two hours a day or something. That's only a small amount but then it's work I won't have to do once baby is here. I wish it was a real deadline to be honest, I work much better for those.

I was in the same position- I managed 700 words, most of my field research and a lot of sitting around doing nothing for my dissertation while pregnant. I am now enjoying the snuggles with my 10 week old, and finally feeling motivated to get on with the other 14000 words. I have currently managed to do some reading while lying down with my DS while he takes a nap. He also sleeps really deeply in the sling, so I am planning to try getting him to sleep and hopefully managing 1-2 hours a day working on it. I think I am lucky to have such a sleepy baby (for now), but also feel a lot more proactive about getting it done than I did while I was pregnant.

Sorry I haven't replied, still not worked out how to see if new posts have arrived!
If I'm anything to go by honeybear, having a real deadline hasn't made me work better at all...thought I expect knowing I was pregnant and having a 'get out of jail free' card didn't help that! I'm now 37 weeks and have got approval to take maternity leave and submit with next year's cohort instead. Its the dissertation deadline today and after a crappy skype session with my supervisor yesterday (asked lots of questions that I don't know the answer to because i'm making it up as I go along at the minute!) I'm feeling pretty rotten and beating myself up for not having gotten on with it - i'd be submitting right now if I;d have worked harder etc etc etc.....

Soooooo good to hear from you dragon as that's exactly what I'm hoping will happen - to hear you're feeling motivated with a 10 week old has given me fresh hope - thank you! I'm planning to put it away for 6 months, maybe with the odd bit of reading here and there and then spend a couple of hours on it when I can after that, and some full days when hubs is on his school holidays. Are you feeling back to your old self then dragon? Am I right in thinking that the old me will return once he's here?!

Hope all's going well honeybear - perhaps your show has now turned into something more baby-like?! I'd have given up on the work entirely as soon as I had any signs of imminent labour so well done for keeping going! As my supervisor said, you're pregnant - you have a trump card - and so they should do everything they can to support you and help you get your qualification whilst not putting you under too much pressure. Good luck!