Going to School with a First Time Newborn

Hi
I recommend staying with your child - this time will not happen again - L.

Yes, you are crazy...but it is also doable. I finished my Masters program and had a baby at the same time. I took a quarter off of school when I had my baby, so that gave me a little time to settle in and get adjusted. The biggest challenge was finding time to get everything done. Luckily, I have a very supportive husband, and aside from breastfeeding, he took care of everything while I was studying. If I had a choice to do it over again, I would...but if I had a choice to do it before I started my family I'd definitely prefer that.

Good luck!

It's typically easier with a newborn because they sleep a lot! You will be TIRED, but plan a schedule and it IS possible. I took one night a week, left 3 children with my husband, and used the local Community College library from 6-10pm to do homework, write papers, finish reading (because I could not get such dedicated time at home with hubby/kids). You could do a shorter time while nursing - but make sure you have a schedule.

Good luck!

Mom of 4 (baby due 10/1)

Congrats! I have a good friend who is doing a Ph.D. with 2 little ones! She has been in school for some time, so she did it when her first boy was born and then when her second boy was born! So it is definitely possible. Good luck!

Congratulations on your new little one! I think it is definitely possible to continue school with a newborn, although it is very difficult and takes a lot of determination. After my now 15-month old daughter was born I finished up research and writing for my PhD (my daughter was born in May 07 and I defended in Jan 08 and now have a postdoc position). I took about 4 weeks off after her birth, then went full-force back to work. It was definitely hard to concentrate on work when all I wanted to do was spend all my time with her, but I knew I was doing what was best for my family so I kept at it. For the first few months I was getting very little sleep (1-4 hours a night) which made working much more difficult, but I managed. I certainly would not have been able to do it without the support of my husband and mother-in-law, who both did much of the care of my daughter while I was working. So I definitely think it is possible, but you certainly shouldn't be disappointed in yourself if you decide to wait until spring to continue your program. Best of luck in whatever you decide! And congratulations again!

First, let me say, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

I gave up school when I had my girls and I wasn't in a Masters program, only community college. I was barely able to work a part time job when they were 3 months old out of necessity, I can't imagine having enough brain cells to rub together to be able to pull off working through a Masters program. Of course I was also a single mom and didn't have a lot of support financially, emotionally, or with babysitting.

You may be getting very little sleep and be intellectually challenged by hormones for the first year. Most women I know don't get their brains back fully for at least a year, sometimes more. Not to mention how drastically changed your life will be with regards to responsibility. Most first time moms I've talked to were not prepared for the reality of the amount of responsibility and complete shift in life focus. And many of these moms are highly educated, mature women.

Anything is possible, and I would look to what is the highest good for everyone involved, especially the baby. Many Blessings to you and your Little One!

Congradulations! You can definately do both!. I started grad school pregnant with my first & working full time nights. Later I was able to reduce my work schedule to just every other weekend. I ended grad school pregnant with my second. When my third was six months old I went back as a post-grad and worked 80%, which was really 100% over 4 days instead of 5. For grad school I had a duel major, so I did the work over three years and I took off a quater after he was born. Help from the Dad is esential. I had childcare for my son (a family daycare) when I was in school. I added a third day of childcare - that was my day to do research, write papers etc, as well as do other things needed. When I had to write my thesis, near the end of the deadline, I had my mother come stay with me for a week. She could respond to many of his needs so I could hve more concentrated time to finish. Going back for post-grad school was the most difficult. By that time I had a nanny since I had been working full time for awhile. That was a very hard year, but my husband was supportive. We can do almost anything for a year. Very much worth it. I love my job and my kids think I am doing something worth while. I have never heard them say anything bad about that time - they may not remember much of it. When I had my fourth child my husband made me promise not to go back to school. My kids are now 17, 15, 12, & 8. Also talk to someone at school about how they can help with you being able to get the work done while your little one is new. You are not the first woman to go to grad school with newborns. Over the years I have had other classmates do it as well. Some are able to not work and go to school. Some cut down their class load and go longer. Some power on through. To me two classes twice a week (you didn't mention working) sounds very manageable. Best of luck!

A year ago I would have said, it would be hard to impossible, but now I have a friend who not only stayed in her masters program, she went back to work full time when her baby was 6 weeks old. She seems to have managed just fine. She has LOTS of support form family though, and I think that is the key, along with the personality and drive to do it. Don't sell yourself short, if it's important to you then you can find a way to do it. You just never know how you will feel after that baby is born, so know that you can ALWAYS change your mind!
Good luck!!!