is it reasonable to plan on going back to school (v.low load) right after the baby is born?

Question

i will have my mom helping me at home, but basically, baby is due aug 25 and class starts aug 27. is it physically possible to walk to school and take two hours of class weekly with a baby at home thats just-born?

Answer 1

My second child was born when I was a college student. I was due September 9, but he wasn't born until September 20. Classes began before he was born, so I went in, spoke to my professors, explained the situation and made some contacts with other students in the classes with me. I went to classes for 2 weeks until he was born, took a week off and headed back to school when he was 8 days old. I was carrying 10 credit hours, 3 classes. Some days he went to class with me and some days he stayed with the child care provider who cared for my 2 year old. I was 23 at the time, he was born vaginally with forceps so I had a large episiotomy, but I did just fine, took a small pillow to sit on. As long as you have help and are in good health, I don't see any reason not to go to class. Just remember to rest when you can.

Answer 2

You may still be in the hospital when the classes start. If you have to have a c-section, which you could not even know until you go into labor, you will not want to be walking anywhere for awhile. Your milk is going to come in and you can get sore or start leaking if you are away from the baby and can't feed. Especially in the beginning. Your body over-produces until it figures out how much your baby needs. Plus you will be bleeding the first several weeks. New babies have check ups and you will have some with your OB doctor. Could interfere if you have day classes. It is possible if you pump and plan everything, but I would at least wait until next semester. Babies need a lot of attention. I think studying would be hard unless you are sure that someone else can take care of the baby so you have quiet time to do your work.

Answer 3

Well, hopefully you'll deliver a week early or something. If you are delivered right on your due date, which most first mothers aren't, you won't have time to take these classes because most hospital stays after a birth is 48 hours later. You are going to be exhausted with midnight feedings and really most likely won't be able to function successfully on classwork. However, I've been in classes where someone starts a week later and they are able to catch up fine since most full semester classes go over the book, syllabus, etc for a couple of days. E-mail your professor with your situation and say you'll start a week later, if you really want to go back immediately. If possible, try to schedule a few online classes or classes that starts later in the semester.

Answer 4

Wow. I just had my baby. You will need your mom there FULL TIME for the baby if you are going to attempt to do this.

First off, though, you can't assume that your baby will be born on the 25th. A good percentage of first babies go past their due date.

Second, even if you DO go into labor on the 25th, you will be lucky to get out of the hospital by the 27th. Even if you have a perfect birth, you probably won't be released until mid-way through the day on the 27th or on the 28th.

Doing the class will be tough, but your first major hurdle will be the timing of the birth. And you can't (and shouldn't) do anything about that.

Answer 5

Can you take online courses? That is unrealistic. You may be able to do it, or you may feel too weak, and being separated from baby gives breastfeeding a bad start. I know that school is important (after all, I'm a teacher), but your baby will only be a newborn once and school isn't going anywhere. I want to let the record show that I support you as a mother and as a student, and I respectfully suggest that you postpone school for a single semester. This country does not respect the postpartum period, but it's very important for you and baby.

Answer 6

It takes a while to heal. Can you do the work on line? Will the school work with you? Everyone is different. I've been told it takes on average a month to heal. You may still be able to do it. After all the baby needs care from day one and you will be sitting down. You just may want to bring a few more pads with you. You will bleed heavily for a while. Good luck.

Answer 7

I think that if you can handle being away from your baby for a few hours you can handle it. Hopefully you'll have the baby at least 5 days before class starts, because the first few days after childbirth you will want to rest. The baby will be young enough that I wouldn't let anyone make you feel guilty about it. After all you are trying to better yourself and make a finer life for you and him/her. It will be better to do this now than a little later. Good luck!!!

Answer 8

It is physically possible but how are you going to feed it (formula, I'm guessing?!). Don't you want to spend more time with your baby, considering it will be 48 hours old IF it's born on time, which they usually aren't. Physically, unless you need a C-section, you should be fine to walk, but you may not feel up to it, and psychologically you may not be able to keep up.

Answer 9

Get back to school as soon as possible. If you just had your child take some home or online classes. They are easier to manage since you are at home. There are also LATE START classes that you can take. Its harder since you have to catch up, but sometimes its worth it.

Answer 10

I don't know where you live...but at my hospital, you don't even get discharged for 48 hours after the birth. I wouldn't do it right now. I would try for next semester. After my birth...I couldn't even walk for a week!!! Much less concentrate on anything. All I wanted was sleep!!!