Attending College While Pregnant or Attending College with a Baby

Attending college while pregnant is a feat that can be accomplished in a community college or four-year university. I managed this while in a four-year university. If one, has the will-power it may be hard at times but is doable. If this is not the semester that you'll have your baby, things should be much easier. When the semester begins tell your professors about your pregnancy. Most will be understanding and let you make up missed work. If you get pregnant in the middle of the semester still let them know. It's good for them to know this. You'll probably be in and out of class taking trips to the bathroom if you're very nauseous and just for those potty trips. Also you may have to snack in class, so they won't find it rude if they already know your situation. Make sure to email them or let them know when you'll miss class for doctor's appointments and other such things. If it can be accomplished, schedule doctor's appointments for times when you don't have class. Last but certainly not least, make sure you study hard. Just because you're pregnant doesn't mean the professors will give you a free ride in their class. They may be more sympathetic with you than the other students, but, you're still expected to work.

Just know that this isn't impossible. You'll have to be very determined and make sure that this is the route you want to go. If you don't want to fall behind in your studies this is the route to go.

Now after you have your baby this is another thing. I took off six weeks from class after the birth of my daughter. If you haven't started the semester yet and you're going to be due that semester you need to check with the professors. Email them with something like this:

"Dear Professor ...,

I want to schedule your class for next semester. I am currently expecting and still would like to take this course and your class. I am due on 00/00/0000. I wanted to check with you before scheduling to see if you would allow me six weeks recovery time after delivering. I would come back after those six weeks and make up any class-work or exams I will have missed. I wanted to know would you be willing to work with me on this. I could even email assignments to you during my recovery period. A response letting me know your stance on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Your Name

The above email would be very appropriate to email to professors, or whoever else teaching the class, before the start of scheduling for the next semester. That way if they are not willing to give you ample time to recover you can go and email the next professor.

As for as types of classes, if you have some lower level courses or electives you can still take, this will be best. You don't want to have to study too much seeing as you'll be in your 3^rd trimester and have a newborn. So schedule so easy classes. Ones that you know you'll pass. You still may only pass with Cs, but most likely you won't have to retake them if they're electives and not a subject you're majoring in. You should probably only go part-time as well. Six hours at the most. If you can't handle that much schedule less or if you can handle more schedule more. But just as before do your best.

After the baby comes, you should have ample recovery time. If you have family to watch the baby after your maternity leave that's great!! If not, look into a child care center. Child care center finding should be done months before you have the baby. Most have waitlists for up to six-twelve months. Not all do, but some do. There may even be a child care center on campus, so that's an option to think about. Also since college students aren't the wealthiest people, you should look for child care assistance through your state. If you see that you qualify, make sure the child care center accepts this as a method of payment.

Finally, just make a plan for all of this and cover all of your bases. Labor and delivery throws out all plans so make sure the education aspect of your life is all planned out.