Pregnant at uni

[EllaK1999]

Hi, I've been diagnosed with endometriosis, me and my boyfriend are considering having children soon, however I am at university. Just wondering if anyone else has been in a similar position and had children whilst at uni?

I know its done, op, my uni had a creche on site for parents and I'm pretty sure there were family rooms available in halls.

I also have a friend who had her third and fourth child while studying successive degrees. I would approach the unis your considering and ask. Good luck!

I had DS a month before my dissertation was due. Another lady on my course was early pregnant at the same point. It's doable but not necessarily easy

I am 24 weeks pregnant and at Uni, however I also work so my situation is slightly different to yours.
Uni have been great and everything pauses but it’s going to be hard when I go back. Just hoping I manage ok with the year I have left.

@JMPB

I am 24 weeks pregnant and at Uni, however I also work so my situation is slightly different to yours. Uni have been great and everything pauses but it’s going to be hard when I go back. Just hoping I manage ok with the year I have left.

Do you recommend getting a job ?

Do you want children now? Endometriosis is quite unpredictable in terms of how I affects your fertility, some people with severe disease actually then get pregnant very easily. So don't jump into anything you don't actually want to do!

How old are you exactly? Your username would suggest 23?

I have several pregnant students every year. Generally they do underestimate the impact and tell us their plans are to take 2 weeks off then come back……it never happens this easily.
Those who have really good family help and are already really committed to their studies do well. For example last year one of my students did come back after a few weeks maternity leave and her mum sat outside the lecture room or walked around with baby so she could be on hand to feed.
Your institution should have a maternity leave policy for students and you would need to read this. Unless your course is validated to be delivered online you’ll be expected to be back in face to face sessions when your maternity leave ends.
You would need to speak to student support about interrupting studies/ taking a year out/ going part time so that you have all the information you need in case these things are a possibility.
Of course there are also sometimes complications, Caesarean sections etc and mitigating circumstances (long extensions for work) would be granted with medical evidence. But usually a healthy pregnancy is not seen as grounds for extensions before the baby arrives.

Honestly, I’d advise you finish your degree or get really close to the end of it first - if you’re serious about getting a good quality (classification) degree. Most of my students underestimate how difficult it is to care for themselves, a new baby and commit to full time study.

@workingmomlife

How old are you exactly? Your username would suggest 23?

Yes 23.

@whatcangowrong

Do you want children now? Endometriosis is quite unpredictable in terms of how I affects your fertility, some people with severe disease actually then get pregnant very easily. So don't jump into anything you don't actually want to do!

Yes would love children now, me and my boyfriend are both ready, live together in our own home

I had my first during my first year of uni. Planned but didn’t expect it to happen so quickly!
Being pregnant and at uni was fine, I didn’t have a job. I was due at the start of July so finished all my 1st year exams, had the baby and then went back in September. This was hard physically due to a difficult birth and emotionally, I did miss some lectures and didn’t go in on one day a week because it was only 1 hour and I didn’t enjoy the class. Obviously this is less than ideal/good but I needed to do this to get through. It’s been more than worth it for me as I completed my degree in normal time, did post graduate qualifications and now have a good job, but it has been really hard at times! Doing my dissertation was hard work!

Id be wary of how you can fund the baby. My husband was on NMW and we qualified for little help from student finance! So childcare while I studied made things tight.