Having a baby while at uni reading medicine?

[rach4581]

hi, i asked this in another forum but i thought it was more appropriate here-

i was just wondering, a lot of mature students go to uni when they already have kids, but do any have more when they are at uni???? 5 years is a long time, ive applied to ncl, but my son is 9 month old and i worry if i leave having another baby too long there will be a huge gap in ages or ill get so wrapped up in my career ill never make time! i dont want another baby for years yet but im just wondering as people keep asking me what ill do when i want another baby as uni will be so very heavy people keep saying ill end up dropping out etc etc etc. which i most certainly will not!! but anyway, its got me thinking...... is it impossible? does anyone know someone who has had a baby whilst at uni doing medicine?

People keep saying to me that i have to have another baby realtively soon ie. in a few years, which would be smack bang in the middle o my degree if i follow their advice! perhaps im being very premature about this, i hadnt put too much thought into more children until recently when it seems i get asked about it everytime i talk about being a doctor! i suppose i should consider this more closely as it seems a prime concern for everyone else!!

[rach4581]

also, i had one reply saying that someone knew a lady who took a year out as she became pregnant in her first year, and the uni was very supportive. I really dont want to delay as im 25 already, so has anyone had a wee one and continued their studies?

[Frank's mum]

Hi, there have been people who have successfully managed to time the babies to arrive straight after exams so they have the summer at home then come back to uni in the autumn. There is at least one person I know who has done this.
However, it does depend on how you feel about having such a young baby and going back to uni. I have one child, I had him when I was self employed and returned to work when he was only 4 weeks old, he came to work with me. It was not the ideal start to motherhood, but we worked it out, it would have been a lot different if I'd had to leave him somewhere while I went off to work.
In my opinion, a year out is the more ideal situation, med school is hard enough. If I were going to do it (which I don't plan to), I'd have year out between preclinical and clinical, when your classmates may be intercalating, so you'll still keep with a lot of your year group.
Hope you get your place first, if you decide to have another child you'll find a way through.
Alison

[Kim leanne]

There are people who have done it. I found an article in the bmj archives on the web by a woman who had one baby in the first year and one in the second year!! Another med student accidently got pregnant and her boyfriend was also a med student but they managed it beteen them somehow.

[midnite-oil]

Someone on my course had a baby at the end of the first year, born in Sept, and took a year off, so she's returned to do 2nd year and her baby has turned a year.

It's not Newcastle though, and different places make take a different view. Personally, I don't think they can do a lot about it really, that would be discrimination, and certainly not a reason to chuck you off the course. Especially not if you prove you can do the juggling with one child.

Good luck. Go with your heart.

[rach4581]

thanks everyone, a friend of mine suggested i could employ a nanny if i did get pregnant, which means i wouldnt have to take time off but thats not a huge concern, its the workload with a newborn! anyway ive decided to wait an see if i even get in first!! i wouldnt want a baby until Jack is at least 2 1/2 -3 anyway, so its not something im too concerned about. im sure it will be ok. i just wanted to know if someone else had done it and survived!!

[welly]

Thanks Rach for asking that question.
I was going to ask something similar.
I hit 30 this year and if I get in (if, if!) I can't wait until I'm 35 to have kids.

I really wanted to know how supportive the med schools were thats all really!

Welly

[Catherine]

There have been at least two ladies who used to be in my year at Sheffield who have had babies during the course. One gave birth after our third year exams (which took place last December) and then took a year out and is due to start back in January (our years run Jan-Dec after 2nd year) and I saw the other one looking trim in the library the other day so it's definitely possible!

[clairetrayers]

yup, we've had people here at UEA take years out to have babies, or time it wonderfully and have em just after exams and not even then take time off. It'll work out fine I'm sure if you decide to do it

[rach4581]

actually i think im gonna see how it goes, me and my husband both come from families with large age gaps between siblings so we know its not the end of the world! (11 yrs between me and my bro, 9 between me and my sis) so i think we just gonna shelve the idea for now and see how i cope with things (IF i get in!!) I just wondered if it was possible to succeed in med school with kids i have had several private messages from people who have done it and although not an ideal situation, they have organisation is key, and a nanny is very helpful as apposed to day care. so i have got some good advice from others who have done it and survived!! One supermum even had two children whilst at uni!!! RESPECT!!

so to sum up i am reassured, and am gonna relax and just concentrate on doing well at my interview on tuesday (eek!!! eek!!) at newcastle. fingers crossed eh? soooo wanna get it! please God please God!!