Pregnant in the First Year

[louisek]

So it looks like I might start medical school pregnant. I'll be on a 5 yr course and this is my first child. The baby is due in April -- maybe during the Easter hols -- and my final exams will be about 5 weeks later. I feel a bit overwhelmed by this and I was wondering whether anyone has any advice for me. I will also have an SSM to complete after Easter but I have a feeling that I might be able to make that into an independent study given my circumstances. What do you think? Are medical schools supportive about this kind of thing?

I really don't want to defer a year because I'm getting on a bit (I'm in my mid-30s) and it seems like a waste of a year. If I take a year off I would prefer to do it once I've had the baby but I might not even do that since the baby will be over 5 months once I begin the 2nd year and I will have the whole summer to spend with it.

Am I crazy to even consider this? I would just add a couple of things: I have a very supportive partner who works from home so he would be able to contribute a lot of childcare support but I have no extended family that could help out. Also I'm currently finding my first trimester very hard - not sure what this means for the rest of my pregnancy and how much this will affect my work ethic.

Will that first 4-5 weeks after the baby is born just be so all-consuming that I won't have any time to prep for finals even if I work hard throughout the year?

Do you think the med school might let me sit my exams in the resit period as a first sitting? I would love to sit them in May but maybe this isn't realistic?

Thanks so much in advance for your advice.

[sadielou]

Hi - I was in a similar position to you last year. First year med of 5 year course, had first baby during mid-semester exams & he was six weeks old when I sat my finals for the year. It is possible!! Not easy, and I miss out on the social aspects a lot, but love it. Feel free to pm/email me if you want to chat more about it...

[louisek]

Thanks for replying. I can't believe that there is someone who uses this board who went through such a similar situation! It's extremely reassuring to know that you managed to get through it.

[Mahlina]

I had my second child during the Easter holidays this year. I was in the first year of a a four year GEP course and finished the year, exams etc. Am a few weeks into the second year now, babe's nearly 6 months old and it's hard but doable so far. Hopefully you'll feel better in the second and third trimesters - I certainly did and even did OSCEs when I was 39 weeks although there wasn't too much stress as they didn't really count. PM if you want. Good luck.

[louisek]

Thanks for your reply, Mahlina -- it's such a relief to hear that other students have managed to do this. GEP courses are supposed to be more intense too plus you had another child to deal with -- so I'm really impressed and inspired by your experience. I'm actually about to enter my second trimester and I am feeling a LOT better so that's good. The first semester really took me by surprise -- I had no idea I could feel so sick and for so long! Thanks again.

[pharmstar]

hi, i am so glad that it is possible to be pregnant and be at med school- i was almost considering not applying as i want to have a child after i get married (possibly next year)--- you have given me hope of applying!!! thank you

[Schiffs]

First of all congrats with the pregnancy,I hope you enjoy it!

I got pregnant during year one so my circumstance are difference that yours.However..this is my opinion so don't get stressed by it.If I were you I wouldn't start the year.I would wait for the baby to be born and then spending some proper solid time with my family and the new arrival before embarking to studying medicine. It is a risk to have such a few weeks before your finals and have a newborn. Again this is my personal opinion..if you are an achiever and you have a good family network you have nothing to worry though.
I admire all women that have made it.But I don't think I would handle it cause my hormones were all over the place after I gave birth and wasn't sleeping enough due to breastfeeding.
So there you go another opinion.

Good luck with pregnancy and Med school!

[louisek]

Thanks for your opinion schiffs.

You know deferring might have been wiser and i did consider this but ultimately I was so eager to get started that decided not to wait another year. I also thought that if i were going to take time off i would rather take a year out after finals so that i could spend the year with the baby.

So far i'm loving medical school and the second trimester is going very well. I know things are going to get really tough once the baby is born but i take heart in knowing that other students have gotten through this and i figure that as a last resort i can always sit my finals in september but hopefully it won't come to that. Anyway at the moment the decision feels right but i hope i won't be regretting my decision come April.

Thanks again for your advice.

If anyone has anything else to add, I would welcome more opinions.

[mistyblue]

I had my baby in Aug then did resits a week and a half later and passed so again it is possible
Just make sure you take as much help as you can when your baba comes if you have family nearby who can help then take them up on it, also make sure you have you get your sleep when baby comes as I found that is what affected me the most, no sleep!!!

[medicmum]

Originally Posted by louisek

So it looks like I might start medical school pregnant. I'll be on a 5 yr course and this is my first child. The baby is due in April -- maybe during the Easter hols -- and my final exams will be about 5 weeks later. I feel a bit overwhelmed by this and I was wondering whether anyone has any advice for me. I will also have an SSM to complete after Easter but I have a feeling that I might be able to make that into an independent study given my circumstances. What do you think? Are medical schools supportive about this kind of thing?

I really don't want to defer a year because I'm getting on a bit (I'm in my mid-30s) and it seems like a waste of a year. If I take a year off I would prefer to do it once I've had the baby but I might not even do that since the baby will be over 5 months once I begin the 2nd year and I will have the whole summer to spend with it.

Am I crazy to even consider this? I would just add a couple of things: I have a very supportive partner who works from home so he would be able to contribute a lot of childcare support but I have no extended family that could help out. Also I'm currently finding my first trimester very hard - not sure what this means for the rest of my pregnancy and how much this will affect my work ethic.

Will that first 4-5 weeks after the baby is born just be so all-consuming that I won't have any time to prep for finals even if I work hard throughout the year?

Do you think the med school might let me sit my exams in the resit period as a first sitting? I would love to sit them in May but maybe this isn't realistic?

Thanks so much in advance for your advice.

Hi Louise, Congratulations!!
All I really want to say is if you have the chnace to take a year off then definately do it. I had a baby during the first year and i deferred from just before the baby was born for a whole year and I definately think it was best for me and my baby. You can't predict how you will feel but i absolutely loved being a mum and feel so lucky to have spent all my time with my new baby for almost a year. Having a baby totally changes your priorities and although i'm still dedicated to medicine i feel i have done the right thing for both me and my baby. The first few weeks are very exhausting and i'm in awe of anyone who finds time for anything much other than feeding (esp breast feeding) and caring for their baby. Obviously it can be done as others on here have done so but just be aware that you might not want to be studying then,emotionally it could be very hard to leave your newborn. It wasn't until my baby was about 6 months old that i felt i even wanted to be away from him for more that 5 mins. Hormones are a weird thing and the maternal bond is very very strong!
I'm also in my 30s so understand your desire to keep going with medicine but don't think you can't come back to it after time out because you can and the uni will support your decision. The bottom line is that uni can wait but a baby will only be a newborn for a very short time and personally i'm so glad i didn't miss a second of that precious time.
It's a very personal choice and you'll make the decision that is right for you, but just please be aware that how you feel now may be very different once you have a tiny baby in your arms.
Good luck with the rest of the pregnancy.