Studying with young baby

[CobaltRose]

Hi everyone,

I'm 21 years old, currently a full time student, and am six weeks pregnant with my first child.

This pregnancy was very much unplanned (contraceptive failure) and I must admit I wasn't especially happy when I first found out two weeks ago, but now we've had time to process it and get over the shock, my fiancé and I couldn't be happier! I cannot wait to meet our little person in October.

However, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't terrified at the prospect of studying with a baby. I'm currently in my first year. I'm planning on completing my first year (which will be April/May) and then deferring my second year, so instead of starting in Sept this year I'll start in September 2019, at which point baby will be almost a year old (weird to think of that now!). I definitely don't want to drop out completely, but I don't mind delaying my graduation for a year.

Thankfully my uni has a nursery on campus, so I won't need to fret about finding childcare, but I'm terrified at the thought of juggling revision and exams with a little person to look after.

Has anyone else managed to complete a degree with a baby/young child? Please reassure me it can be done! Haha

I completed a qualification and sat 3 exams with an 8 month old, 4 year old and a part time job. It is hard I’m not going to lie and it is exhausting but organsation and time management is key. Once kids were in bed I went and sat in the kitchen to study, when they napped in the day I studied etc I also registered for the online material so if I was out and about anywhere and had a few minutes I read over material etc.

Organisation that should say.

I completed my masters during pregnancy and first year with a baby (albeit on a part time basis). It was tough, really tough, at times, and I came close to calling it quits and taking a diploma than the full masters degree a few times. But I got there in the end - largely due to a very supportive partner who would make sure I managed plenty of time in the library etc. when needed.

You can do it! The very best of luck - it'll be hard but worth it in the end.

Yep. Finished my (part time ish - course was spread over four years rather than three, so not a huge step down) degree during DS' first year, did my full-time MSc the following year (finishing when he was a little older than two). He didn't sleep for more than an hour at a stretch at any point in those two years. 😱 It broke me, but looking back now (he's nearly six) it's probably the achievement I'm proudest of. You can totally do this. And congratulations on your pregnancy!

Thank you very much for the helpful replies, everyone.

Thankfully, both my fiancé and both sides of the family have been wonderfully supportive. My parents and my fiancé's mother have both offered to babysit if I needed time to study. I know it's going to be tough but the support from both sides of the family will be invaluable.

In fact, knowing I've got a little one on the way has made me more motivated to succeed. Now, I'm not just doing it for me but for my child as well.

I did a teaching degree that started when my DD was 8 months old. You can do it!