Pregnant at university

[Chlosavxox]

I'm currently 7-8 weeks pregnant (due in July) I'm in university

I haven't decided if I'm going to take a year out yet after this year or go back straight away in October 2020 (my mom will be having the baby whilst I'm at uni - I'm only in 9 hours a week) but that's not what my question is about

I'm quite worried about telling my lecturers, has anyone been pregnant in university before and been in this situation? I have anxiety so I don't really like talking to people anyway so this just fills me with dread and I'm worried they'll judge me 😂

Any advice if anyone's been through this? I'm not sure whether I even 'have' to tell them but I thought it was best to make them aware of the situation

They are used to this, there's quite a few a year. Please don't worry and timing is good to be able to complete the year

Hi OP,

Im 38 weeks pregnant and into my second year of post-graduate study. Im taking a year out and have found the uni very supportive if a little chaotic. My advice would be to first talk it through with a member of staff that you trust/have a decent relationship with although the way that universities are ran now there will likely be some bureaucratic hoops to jump through.

The university probably has a very wordy policy on supporting students to 'interrupt studying', and you can usually find this through the intranet. More than likely you will need to speak to student services to get a form to complete, and they usually ask for your MAT B1 form which you get from your midwife at around 20 weeks.

You can tell them whenever you want, but worth bearing in mind once you have told them they can offer support with regards to risk assessment and if necessary extenuating circumstances.

Congratulations!

oh, and you dont actually have to tell them at all if you dont want to, although in my experience it would pretty hard to hide

I'm a university lecturer - I don't think anyone would be surprised or disproving. I think your own personal tutor is likely to be supportive and as helpful as they can, but it may be that they haven't personally supported a pregnant student before. So I would also talk to the student support service at your university - they are likely to know how all the systems work and how to help with accommodation and child care and exams and all the practicalities!

I was pregnant through my first year of my law degree, had my daughter in the summer of that year and I'm now in my third year. It's not unheard of. I have two other children pre-degree studying, but there are so many students of varying ages that it's quite common.

If you don't have to take a year out, don't. It's much easier to stay in the swing of things if you can. Obviously, if it's too much it's best to take a year off but I found everyone was telling me to take a year out and I'm still doing well.

I was at university when I had dc1. In my case help was born in the middle of the academic year and one of my departments was closing so I didn't really have the option of taking a year out. I went part time and did 2 modules the year dc was born and the rest three following year. I was back in lectures 10 days after birth. I don't recommend it!

Others who became pregnant around the same time or in the next year or so mostly took time out. One ended up not going back but put the credits towards an OU degree.

It is manageable but if you can then taking a year out makes sense, in the grand scheme of things delaying graduation by a year is nothing and spending that first year with your baby is invaluable.

Yeah I have no issue with taking a year out! But if it gets to October and I feel ready to go back then I will, my course is pretty laid back and a lot of the work is done from home and luckily I have amazing support but it's early days yet and I had a miscarriage in July so I'm gonna wait til the 12 week mark anyway!

Thankyou all

I had a baby before Uni - sat my A levels weeks after she was born - and it was fine. I didn't really need to tell the lecturers, I think the tutor who was accountable for the pastoral side of things knew, but apart from that it didn't come up...and I was in Uni for over 33 hours a week (Chemistry)!

I'm a lecturer and wouldn't judge in the slightest, although because there's no mature students in my classes I'd be concerned as to whether you had enough support. Once I realised you do, I'd just feel solidarity (young toddler and early pregnancy myself).

It's not unusual, we have one every year or two in our school. Just make sure you know what support etc you're entitled to.

Congratulations!

I was one of 5 girls to be pregnant during our last year of uni. I got told at least 3 happen every year. They were totally supportive, happy to help, and excited for us.

DD1 was born 7hours before the first of my 3rd year finals. I completed them in a side room with the clock stopped for feeds and changes

They were really supportive throughout and accommodating during the actual exams. Never had a bad word said about it. I did get a comically large card from the entire department when she arrived though, and a big congratulations when I got the result I needed for the career I wanted. So be prepared for a little fuss, perhaps

My normal job is in university student services and this is not unheard of! I know you've said that you're only in uni for 9 hours a week but remember you've likely got independent study on top of that and assignments. In our department we'd certainly encourage an interruption even to give a bit of breathing space but maybe see how you get on over the summer and apply for an interruption then? I'm currently in the process of getting one approved as I've been doing a masters alongside my ft job and there's no way I can do the dissertation I want to with a newborn (currently 34+1). Is there someone in your department - student services or your supervisor you could chat to? You may also qualify for mitigation in your assignments as you don't know how pregnancy may progress and if the dept know then obviously it makes things easier.

I had one during the course and graduating next week at 33 weeks pregnant. They are very used to it, especially if there are mature students. I had to tell fairly early first time as was going on a placement so required a risk assessment but had an early private scan. The second time my mentor guessed at 8 weeks so didnt have to tell them at all!
Try and think about what you want prior to meeting with your personal tutor. Mine was pretty rubbish and insisted on a full year off, there was no flexibility and I had teaching in sept 2016 but wasnt allowed to submit a written assessment in Jan 2017 so had to submit in Jan 18 when the assignment had of course changed and I had a lot less time to write it. Have confidence to challenge things which they say have to be a particular way. I found this document www.ecu.ac.uk/publications/student-pregnancy-and-maternity/ pretty helpful in knowing what other unis are offering to support their students.

Also..congratulations! It's hard to combine uni with a baby but a great sense of achievement when you get to the finish line.

Hey OP - I was doing a MA on day release from my FT job when I found out we were expecting our first baby.

I didnt actually tell any of my lecturers, didnt really see them needing to know. However, I did ask to sit in the resits due to expecting either very due or with a newborn during the exams and that was granted with no penalty.

Once I had a newborn and was on maternity leave and actually found that there was plenty of time in the day to keep up with studies and coursework. Once my baby returned, that was when I felt I did need to explain to my lecturers (although they obviously knew I was pregnant having seen my bump growing over the past semester) that I may not be able to attend every class. Lecturers were amazing, said I didnt need to attend as long as I checked in with them and kept up with the work. I was also offered an extension on my dissertation (but I declined it).

Good luck and I am sorry about your previous MC x

I had my daughter in my final year of university so I didn’t need to take any time off. I didn’t tell my lectures until I was 20 weeks and they were supportive. I had my daughter in June and it was a little crazy because I had her at the end of the year of my final year so I was trying to get everything done so that I could graduate and get my degree. It was stressful and it was hard being super pregnant, my daughter was 10 days overdue and I went into University until the day before I had her.