Now that I decided to keep the baby, what do i do first?

Question

hey guys, i decided to keep my baby. I am 22 and in my last three semesters of school...

Can someone tell me what should i do first? To prepare myself?

Also, i need some advice on what to do in the spring...the baby is due in March, but the semester isn't over till May. Should I just take the entire semester off?

I go to school six hours away from home. The father attends school with me. I thought about asking him to take the semester off so he can stay with the baby and i attend school. My major doesn't offer onlne or summer classes!

What exercises are safe...I want to stay as small as possible!

Answer 1

Concentrate on loving the baby. Everything else will come natural including tons of advice from everyone. Just learn to keep the advice in perspective.
You decided not to kill it but to keep it. Remember that a human life is the most precious thing in the whole world. The life should take precedence over school, career and everything else. Love first and logic will follow. There are more books out there to read about handling your situation than you can imagine. Likewise there will be many people willing to help when the time comes. But it will be the decisions that come from the heart that will count.

Answer 2

It depends on how much help you would have with the baby. Do you live near your parents? I got pregnant my second to last semester of college. I just took one class that semester at night. I took two weeks off from school and was fine to sit in class for the rest of the semester. You could try that but only if you have someone to watch the baby.

As for what to do first, you need to start saving money as much as you can so you don't go into debt over the baby. Buy yourself a good pregnancy book. It will have things in it like what to take to the hospital, what the baby really needs etc. Maybe even get a notebook and start brainstorming the things you will need. You are 22 so you are definitely old enough and responsible enough to care for this baby. I had my first baby at 18 and it was hard but I worked and went to school full time until I got my bachelor's degree. You can do it, and you will be so glad you did. Congratulations by the way!!

Answer 3

Is there any way you could organise special consideration, such as completing assignments earlier than everybody else etc. Whilst school is not the most important thing in the world it would be such a waste to come so close to finishing and then have to drop out. Don't know what it's like where you live, but in Australia we have special consideration for students who's circumstances may have affected their final grades. If you have anything like this, it would be worthwhile to work your butt off now so you can show that you know the course work etc, and when the time comes that you aren't able to put in as much effort at least the examiners will be able to see that you know your stuff.
In general, see your doctor as soon as possible, get some good books on pregnancy, and keep yourself informed. There really isn't much to do so early on, it's very much a waiting game. Make sure you eat healthily and don't drink/smoke. Set up a budget if you don't have the money to splurge. Make a list now of all the neccesities and you can pick them up over the coming months whenever they are special. Enlist friends and family to help you when you need it. Don't be proud and turn down help (financial, emotional, help around the house etc) you may not feel you need it at that very moment but accept it, if you keep turning down help because you think you are keeping up with everything, eventually it will all catch up on you, so say yes to even the little things. I hope this has helped a bit, And goodluck. It may be a hard road, but the good will out weigh the bad at every turn and the down will only make the ups seem so much better.

Answer 4

I faced a similar problem myself... I recommend taking that spring semester off, just in case of any complications. The last month or two are when a lot of women are ordered to bedrest... you wouldn't want to pay for the semester and then lose the money because you can't attend. Complications are unlikely because you are young and I'm assuming healthy, but you just neverrr know. I think it's great that you're keeping the baby... I was also pregnant in my younger 20's and I read a lot of books that were actually focused on teen pregnancy, but it helped me because it dealt with the whole "unplanned" issue. What to Expect When You're Expecting is also a good one. I recommend saving as much as you can, so the financial stuff is less of a burden... hopefully someone will throw you a baby shower and you'll get lots of good stuff there! Good luck and congrats! =)

Answer 5

Well, first of all- I was a single mom/student when I had my son. I took a year off of school and returned when my son was 1 and I felt that I could handle being away from him and allow someone else to care for him during the day. I've never regretted it a day in my life. It postponed but did NOT derail my educational pursuits. After I had my son I got my AA degree, my BA and my MA and I'm now a teacher. So please, please, please, finish school. Beyond that, I'd also say that you CAN finish the Spring semester but it would be really difficult to part with this little being that you have NO IDEA right now will be so important to you. When preparing to have my son I thought I'd go straight back to work and school with NO problems- just drop him off with a sitter and head to work or class. Then a week after I had him my mom caught my sobbing in her guest room (1 was visiting her and I was 25 and had my own place) and she asked what was wrong... I muttered something about not being able to part with him to go back to work and she said, "you didn't realize you'd love him so much, did you?" And I had to admit that I didn't have a clue until he was born. So my advice: take the semester off and trust someone a bit older... you'll need the time to adjust your priorities (a little bit) after having this baby even if you don't know it now. Go back when he or she is a little older and finish- and make your child proud. By the way, children of parents who complete college AFTER they were born (who saw their parents go to college) are 3 times more likely to attend college later in life. Just FYI.

Answer 6

yeah, I would take the semester off and concentrate on the baby. Then you can put the baby in daycare while you are finishing school. My wife was in the same boat. Now she has a 4 yr. old, and next semester is her last one. Then, My son and I will be the proud family of a mechanical engineer!! She only postponed school for a semester, if I remember correctly.

Answer 7

congrats! to prepare just start reading some of the books out there and talk to mommies your age that helps alot! its hard to prepare
if you really want to stay in school, its gonna be hard because you'll have the baby in march and will be out of the loop for a few weeks, like through april so it might be wise to take the semester off, or see if there is a way you can make it up

Answer 8

First get registered with your doctor!! And make sure you take care of yourself by eating healthily and keeping on exercising.

As to time off, I was working when I carried my daughter and worked right up to the day before. Its not a problem! And if you have support and help with the baby, no reason why you couldn't return to school for the last few weeks either. Good luck - brave girl.

Answer 9

i think it maybe unfair for you to ask him to take a semester off when you are unwilling to do so yourself. You need to take the semester off because after you have the baby its not like you'll be able to get up and go like normal. This little life is dependant upon you and relies alot more on you in the beginging then it does daddy. You should consider your baby, and the attention it will need from you at the beinging. Your best bet is really to just take time off.

Answer 10

Congratulations.And,take more care of yourself.About your school,I think you don't take entire semester off if you can go to school without big problems with your health.You can take it off if you don't want to let the others see you have pregnante.You can ask the school whether you can stay at home when you born even after that.So,your choice.Take care.