Postpartum vs. School

[cch1029]

I wanted to go back to school for the summer quarter. My due date is June 7th (I'm aware babies don't usually come on their due dates). It's my second child. The quarter starts June 20th which only gives me about 2 weeks of recovery time(if the baby came on its due date). I was looking forward to going back but after seeing the academic calendar for the term got a bit disappointed. I understand that your body needs as much recovery time and you'll be exhausted because of the baby, but has anyone ever attempted to go back to school or work during postpartum?

[cch1029]

Thanks everybody...I think I'll definitely wait til fall quarter...with my first son I had him in July and he was just 2 months when I went back to school. I just wanna get school over with haha.  But I think it's best to just wait and be there for my baby. Plus I plan on breastfeeding again and I would have to plan everything ahead making sure he has enough milk and stuff. It was just a though. I was thinking they would offer like a term in July. They do for another school but I would have to pay out of pocket and I don't want to do that. Thanks guys!!!

[Ldkalleck]

I went back to school 6 days after I had my daughter. I started out taking as many online classes as possible from my school, and stuck with them until my daughter was 7 months old. Then, I took evening courses so that my husband was home from work to watch her while I was in school. I guess it really depends on what is available to you and what resources you have.

[MamaBear0612]

I'm a professor and I would honestly recommend that you wait until the fall. I teach pregnant women and moms with new babies, and I see a lot of them struggle in class and often even fail because they've just taken on too much too soon. You may not even deliver on time, so you could be talking about a week or so of recuperation or less...it's just safer to wait. For a lot of instructors, the first weeks of class are very important, and I would think in the sciences in particular it would be very easy to fall behind. They offered me summer classes, and since I'm due in mid-June I believe I said something like "are you crazy?!" lol...just kidding, but it's good to know your limits.

[always_smile]

I don't know first hand but my friend went had her daughter by csection and went back to work 3 weeks 4 days after. That's the soonest I have seen someone do that but sometimes you got to do what you got to do. I think 2 weeks is a little to soon but depending on how you feel and how you heal is might be possible. :0)I good luck with what ever you choose.

[cch1029]

Yes I'm a college student...I'm so close to graduating I'm a few credits shy I was hoping on going to school this summer. But I might just wait it out. I need  science classes and I never really asked them what their policy was for pregnant students because you have to take labs and things of that nature. I've been taking online classes but I wanted to actually be in class for science. With my first I was tired but I did have a little bit of energy after 2 weeks, but I was also a single mom so I had to stay up during the wee hours of the night with him. But every pregnancy is different so I'm not sure how I would feel after giving birth.

[sorenr]

Just reading your post again and realised that I may have misunderstood, do you mean you are a student? Maybe your college will send you work home so that you can keep up with classes?

[sorenr]

I have never attempted to go back to work until my full year's maternity leave was up! Fair play to you for even considering it!! I wouldnt personally be able to handle doing much after only 2wks recouperation, its been a while, but I do remember after taking each of my kids out for the first time a week or so after delivery that when I got home I was an absolute mess and felt like I was dying! It was just sheer exhaustion, even though I felt great while at home, even just  a short walk was too much for me.
I would try to leave my options open about a return to work if its possible, dealing with 2 kids was much harder than I anticipated, you may find that however well your birth experience goes the settling in at home part may take longer than you expect...