Taking a Semester Off

Dating by sonogram after the first 9 weeks of pregnancy is notoriously inaccurate. The rate of error is +/- ten days at that point, which is almost two weeks. I would switch care providers if I were you, as this happened to me and I ended up with an unnecessary c-section when I went past their new due date for me (even though I knew when I conceived, and the first due date was more accurate). This could also lead to them inducing you early or coercing you into an early c-section before your baby is ready. This would be dangerous for both you and your baby.
Go ahead and try to finish up school this summer though. Trust me, you won't have much time for school after the baby gets here.

Well we have a lot in common. I'm now 23 and was in college when I became pregnant. (We got married when I was about 4 months pregnant and I ended up fainting during my wedding! hah!) Anyways, I took a semester off b/c Kaylie was due in November and I knew that it would be too close to the end of the semester when everything is due and there's no turning back. Considering that yours is due in September, it wouldn't be QUITE as big of a deal. However, I would recommend only online classes (you won't want to be leaving home often towards the end of your pregnancy or right after the baby is born) and only taking a couple. I totally understand wanting to finish, but you don't want to waste money if you end up failing the classes. About the summer classes, try to take online ones as well, that way you can do the work when you have the time and the energy. Also, you could hopefully work ahead. If you can talk to the professors of the classes you wish to take and get their advice. They will be able to tell you if they can work with your situation or if you'd be out of luck if you went into labor on a test day! Another thing we have in common....my husband works about 10 hours a day 6 days a week and other than school and work 4 hours a week I'm home with Kaylie! If you want to talk more just message me!

If you want to continue with your schooling, I can give you a ray of hope. I was in the middle of my online education when I gave birth to my daughter (also a September baby). I just let the professor know that I would be giving birth during that session and that I would be behind for a short time until I could catch up. She came week 2 of a 5-week course. I took one week off, but was still able to complete the course on time. Most professors are pretty generous if you let them know ahead of time what is going on, and then keep them updated on how you are doing. I even posted pictures with my assignments so everyone could see what a beautiful bundle of joy I had.

I was even caught sitting at the computer with my baby on my lap nursing during my online sessions. What fun that was! I think my hubby got a good kick out of that!

I do not regret for a minute to this day deciding to continue with my education with a baby on my knee.

Oh, and both of my kids were ahead of schedule in their development, too. No worries! Just be prepared to birth a big boy, unless he comes early like my son did (3 1/2 weeks early).

May God bless you!
S. W.

The first few months w/ a baby are tough. There's a lack of sleep and a lot of stress figuring out your baby. If you want to be successful, I would take the time off from school in the fall. I would try the online classes over the summer and see how it goes. If it doesn't seem like you can handle the classes w/ the extra work hours, drop the classes. School will always be there. Good luck!

You are the only one that can decide what is best for you and your growing family. If it was me I would take summer class and take next semester off when the baby is due since you wont be able to finish the classes anyways with the baby due in October. People who take time off are less likely to go back. You might be telling yourself I will go back but once you start making money and have the expense and emotional aspects of having a child you will have a tough time going back. Leaving your child to go to school and doing homework will be tough plus once you start making money you will try to convince yourself that you can't afford to go back and not work. You need to do what you can to finish school quickly. As for the baby's due date I was measuring 3 weeks further along and the doctor final decided to induce me a week before my due date because they baby was so big. I was told that the due date they give you during your first ultrasound is always the most accurate and that measuring larger normally means a big baby not any earlier due date. Good luck but I wouldn't anticipate any earlier due date.

just b/c the baby is large doesnt mean you are further along than you originally thought, and if you are pretty certain of your last period or possible conception, and 2 weeks isnt a huge deal. The risks of having a big baby are preterm labor and bedrest you could possibly be gestational diabetic....but to the real issue, school doesnt seem like the real issue, if you are going to take some online classes it shouldnt be a big issue, I owuld take 1 at a time...but working all the overtime you plan to work is what you should worry about? What kind of work do you do? If you do more labor intense work then overtime should be limited if you do a desk job then the OT may not be that big of a deal. After the babiy is born do you plan on breast or bottle feeding? If you are going to breast feed I wouldnt suggest taking a class while you are on maternity leave...you will need that time to esstablish a good milk supply and stress among other things can hinder that...
hope this helps a little

I to am a full-time student with 2 semesters left as well as a mother to 4. I started college 10 yrs ago while pregnant with my now almost 10 yr old daughter. Two weeks into class I went into labor but I had a great professor and ended the class with a B. Since then I have taken both online and classroom classes and to me the online seemed easier, just a shame all my classes aren't offered online. My opinion is if you can pull it off by taking all online classes then go for it so you can go ahead and finish up, but talk to your advisor to make sure all the classes you need are offered online, as not all classes are offered online or every semester.

Hi, I go to FCCJ and I am about to graduate (THANK GOD)and I never took time off. I have a son 15 months now, and the same family situation. If its nly two classes go for it. Have you thought about taking them in summer instead?Once your son gets here, it will be evn harder to concentrate. I actually delivered my son 5 weeks early and was in my final exam week, and all of my teachers worked very well with me, in letting me finish a couple days late. Good luck

do what you want you are almost done did the doctor tell you to take off because he is the one you need to listen to i know othe classmates are tryin to help but you only have 2 months left i say go for it get it done and over with then you wont have to worrie about it i am goin to be starting school in jan and workin full time with a dauther who has 7 different doctors so if i can do it so can you go for

Take your classes now... especially if you are so close to finishing! I was WAY more productive while I was pregnant than I was after that beautiful little bundle was in my life! Trust me... do whatever you can do now while you still have control (SOME) over your own life. You'll have none with a newborn in your life!

Good luck,
K.

First of all, congratulations on your baby boy! Please finish your school! If you take time off in the beginning it will be much more difficult later. I am 40 with 3 children and have been in college for a year and a half now. My oldest is 21, 19 and youngest 10. Once children came life took over and I could never get myself to school. I started after my oldest graduated high school. Some of the other advice people have left for you talk about how hard it is to have a new baby and although it is tiring and all consuming it is easier to get away to an obligation when they are young and easy for someone to help with. Once they become mobile everything becomes more difficult. The other thing is if you have a little time for yourself going to class it can be a good mental break for you. On line classes are also an excellent option as you can get your work done around the baby's schedule. Having higher education so that you can better your life is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child and you will be teaching him a beautiful life lesson as well! Best of luck to you. B

Stick with it! I went through the same thing when I was finishing my masters degree. I was having a difficult pregnancy, and then when my daughter was born she had a birth defect that required a lot of travel and doctor visits. I also had 2 semesters left, and everyone encouraged me to drop out for a while, even my academic advisors.

But I didn't listen, and I'm very glad I stuck it out. Now that my daughter is older, I see that it only would have been harder to go back if I had waited. At least when she was an infant she slept a lot. I was totally exhausted, but I completed my classes online while she napped and after she went to bed at night.

It won't be easy, but you will feel such a sense of satisfaction when you get that degree! It felt great to accomplish something people told me I couldn't. Keep at it and good luck! You can email me if you need any moral support.

L.