Pregnant and studying

[sirmione16]

I'm 37 weeks pregnant, and 2 years into a 5 year part time Open University degree. I've an assignment due on my due date, and 2 more to complete this year before May ends - over which period I'll have a newborn of course, too!

Is anyone else in a similar position? How are you coping?

Just feel like I can't be the only one worried about failure here and would love to see a sea of hands from people in the same boat is all, perhaps we can vent to each other or motivate each other - study tips, baby tips or the like.

I have made my tutor aware, it's factored into my study plan, and I'm very conscious of getting this assignment finished way before due date in case my other due date unexpectedly arrives early! Just seems like I'm biting off more than I can chew. The only thing keeping me motivated is picturing my graduation day with my boy on my hip. I want him to see his mum working hard and achieving so he knows he can do the same.

I am 22 weeks with Dc4, and studying my second level one module, have an icma due about same time as baby and ema due when baby will be newborn. I was in a similar situation when i had Dc3, I was trying to finish and submit my final tma as I had an extension when I was being induced, Dc3 was then on neonatal for a stay and I had bad long-lasting pre eclampsia, I was writing my ema whilst in and out of hospital. I passed with a very good scores. I have been and am struggling with motivation for this module, combination of reasons though. I keep telling myself it will be worth it, like you I envisage graduation day. Try and get ahead if you can, I have never managed this 😂. I found studying at home with newborn, ok. Baby in sling, they nap, you study. Feed and repeat. I only manage to study when my toddlers are in bed at night and on Saturday I go to the library which I have found very productive. I don't think you have bitten off more than you can chew, go for it. What are you studying?

Wow fair play @NatureGal for getting through all of it with a complicated pregnancy too - that'd drain me! Do you work at the moment too? I've just finished working full time on maternity leave but this is my first child.

I find I have to go out of the house to effectively study at the moment too, otherwise I'm all "oh look I MUST clean the oven RIGHT NOW even though it hasn't been so much as wiped over in months"

Currently studying child psychology - my aim is that it'll be a gateway into a more SEN based field or role of some sort (no particular job in mind, just need some knowledge and experience behind me to support anything I want to apply for eventually)

I'm in my final year of a HR Mgt Degree, due to graduate in July, and I'm really feeling the pressure. Have 3 module assignments to submit by end of Jan, due date is 15th Feb, then have 2 modules to complete after that, one being applied project. I don't know if I'm even gonna get these 3 submitted on time and not sure of my options for extension etc, but it's certainly stressing me out, so close to being finished too

I’m doing my PhD & am due in spring. I’ve opted to take a 6 month maternity leave & restart in Autumn. Then hopefully baby will start nursery a few days a week & otherwise I can study around naps etc plus the weekend with help from DP.
My first year assessment is waiting until Autumn and I’m just getting done what I can.

Good luck with your studies

@sirmione16 currently sahm, never went back after maternity leave ended two years ago after dc2. I know what you mean about getting out to study, I actually cleaned our oven last month, anything to avoid writing my tma 😁. I would struggle with anything psychology related, so well done. I am doing International Studies, switched from an open pathway. Like you hoping it will eventually support me when applying for roles that I want to do, and a regret that I never went to Uni years ago.

I finished my first level 1 module end of May. Baby was due in July (birth planned to fall during summer break) but 2 days after submitting my EMA I was admitted with pre-eclampsia then induced a month early.

Studying was quite difficult as I suffered quite a few complications throughout the pregnancy, daily hormonal migraines, pregnancy insomnia, really bad itching, severe SPD and Gestational Diabetes. Passed the module with a distinction tho, which came as a surprise!

Anyway, enjoyed the whole experience so much im doing it again 😁
Baby is due July (again planned to fall between modules).

Studying with a 6 month old and being pregnant was quite difficult at the start of the module with first trimester exhaustion and morning sickness ( which I didn't have last time). Now that's passing it is getting easier. I dong have any of the awful symptoms i had before, although i know i'll get SPD again soon. Baby is in a good routine and goes down for the night around 7.30pm which gives me plenty study time and DP takes DD out for walks etc when he is off work when I need extra study time.

I would be lying if I said I wasn't terrified about studying with 2 babies tho 🙈

I'm doing the primary teaching degree, but the module I'm doing this year in child psychology and childhood studies which is fascinating! Did make me contemplate changing my degree!

Such a good response on this thread!! You all inspire me to keep going with this.

@Bunnybaubles Open University as well? Is it E103 you're studying currently by any chance?!

Love this thread smash it ladies!

@Sirmione16 I did E103 last year, doing E102 this year. I'm hoping I get my degree and PGDE and find work as a primary teacher just as both babies start school.
Fingers crossed lol. Going good so far 😊

Hi all,
I have similar worries. I am due in June and that is when I need to start working on my dissertation for my MSc!!! Not sure how it will all work out with a baby and wonder if I should postpone for few months. Glad to hear I am not alone. Good luck to us all.

@Bella245 wow dissertations and masters seem a world away! Lots more pressure I can imagine as is "next level" as such. You can do it.

How're people coping with concentrating? I've found later into this pregnancy my brain feels tired more quickly - I used to be able to sit for hours and just crack on, but I'm getting headaches after a couple of hours now :( really doesn't help. Trying to take breaks and go back but it's hard to find momentum again

Writing my masters dissertation with morning sickness is summer was a dismal experience! I could only concentrate for about an hour at a time & found it like wading through treacle! Afterwards they said I should have applied for an extension but I’m not sure if that would have made a difference.

I was very pleased when I handed it in & the main thing I find now is I am tired but am also aware that I have a lot that I need / want to get done before I have the baby. I think it will be pretty much 7 days a week from now on!

I am 2nd year studying integrated health and social care I am 19 weeks pregnant and due on May 31st I will have 6 assessment before then 5 essays and a group presentation. I am really worried I am unable to do it as both my previous children have came at 31 weeks due to pre eclampsia. I have constant scans and hospital appointment thankfully most of these are not on same days as class but I know the minute I reach 24 weeks I start to get kept in alot from previous experience I have a 4 and 5 year old and they both spent 6 and 8 weeks in hospital after birth. We are all in the same boat hopefully we will get through good luck everyone!!

Hi you amazing, motivated ladies!!

So last year no mention of ethical statements, now my tutor has said I need one. All fine. But does it go into the word count at all?! Anyone know? Open university :)

Buy a stretchy wrap sling for when the baby is little. I wrote my social work masters dissertation with a newborn when she was asleep in the sling. Got my best mark of my whole course (as I wasn’t also working three jobs!). Finished my practical placements at 36 weeks.

I'm on a full time undergraduate course in my last year and my baby is due in June, so I know your pain! It's doable and they should grant you extensions or let you pause your studies if you need recovery time :)

@Sirmione16 yeh the ethical statement is included in your word count. Are you studying E103? I had to add an ethical statement at the beginning of each tma regardless of whether my tma focussed on real life classroom examples or the videos supplied by the OU. If you are stuck on what to write for the ethical statement let me know, I have a few variations of it.

@Bunnybaubles yeah E103. Just so odd it was never mentioned last year at all! I've done a generic "I confirm the following assignment follows all guidelines under the Open university 6.1 advice based on (whatever legal thing) regarding plagiarism and confidentiality of all mentioned" but in a much more fancy way of course.

I've got the online tutorial Wednesday evening for this assignment, so currently working out structure, getting all relevant notes, quotes and references together so I can basically drag and drop them into where they best fit when writing content.

How are you doing? Anything due soon? (Not meaning baby wise!!)

@Sirmione16 I think you need to mention BERA in your statement somewhere, if you already haven't. TMA 4 has you look more in-depth with BERA.

I wrote "In accordance with BERA (2011, cited in The Assessment Guide, 2017) names of all participants and educational settings mentioned in this report have been changed.

Did you do E102 last year? That's what I'm doing this year and we were told we didn't have to use the BERA statement as we were not writing about observing children.

I've got TMA 2 due the end of this month. I'm about 3 weeks behind with my studies, I never did anything over the Christmas period but I'm sure I'll catch up.

Student support replied to my email enquiring about being tested for dyslexia. I have a questionnaire to fill in and send back as the first stage of the diagnosis. I am so terrified it comes back that I don't have dyslexia, just thick 🙈 haha.

Babywise tho I have my first midwife appointment tomorrow morning. Same midwife I saw last time. I'm prepared for the disapproving look tho as I walk in 3 months pregnant with my 6 month old baby 😂

Help, stressing out! So they're concerned as baby is measuring very large therefore been booked in for sweeps and ultimately an induction on the 24th (full term) my first sweep is Saturday, another one then every 3 days! They're really wanting him out!!

I've got an assignment due on the 24th as well!! But my online tutorial for it is on the 16th and I'm reluctant to write it without having the guidance for it.

I've made all the plans and notes I think I can.... but I could have a newborn within this week. Am I going to want to write an essay?! HOW AM I GOING TO DO THIS NOW

I would write the essay beforehand even if you miss out on the guidance.
At this point a pass is all you need. Fingers crossed! How many words is it?
Good luck

@Bella245 I'm thinking I may have to, just so worried I'll type it all up and then watch the tutorial and realise I've done it all wrong and then it's just blind panic and wasted time.
But you're right - I am just aiming for a pass here

@Bella245 2500

Ask for an extension?

2500 is not too bad. Good luck.
Personally I would rather get out of the way, so it doesn't hang over my shoulders.