How do you jugle everything?

Not sure where to post this....we are not preggers yet, but will be TTC in a couple of weeks/months.

We both work full time and I am in process of going to grad school part time. Waiting until I finish my Masters will be another 2 -3 years, so that's not really an option. I am just worried about going to work and school while pregnant and after when the baby us born will be too much to handle??

Just curious if anyone else is in a similar situation and how did you handle everything?

TIA

Message edited 6/12/2006 2:11:58 PM.

Re: How do you jugle everything?

Not in a similar situation but will put my 2 cents in anyway. I work full time now with 2 pre-schoolers and worked through both pregnancies in Manhattan.

Being pregnant can be tough - even on those in the best health. Depending on how you generally deal with illness & being tired, getting your Masters could be extremely difficult. Some people have great pregnancies, others can't get their head out of the toilet. I consider myself having 2 piece of cake deliveries & pregnancies - and there are times I would fall asleep at 7pm. As long as you're prepared for it, then great. You also need to keep in mind that post partum, you're considered disabled for 6-8 weeks. You're not supposed to go to class, etc. In fact, I can't imagine being able to do it unless you were to time your pregnancy around your Masters (stopping & starting when you can).

Working & going back to school with a newborn would be extremely challenging. You're sleep deprived in the beginning & your body is still adjusting.

If it were me, I would TTC while in school. See how the pregnancy goes, get as far into my courses as I can & then go back to school when they're older. If getting your Masters in 2-3 years is really important to you, it may be less important once you have a baby. I'm not sure whether that's a good or bad thing. Only you can tell.

Good luck!

Re: How do you jugle everything?

Thanks for sharing your advice! I guess the best thing to do is wait to see how everything goes. I guess i am thinking too much about everything, but that's what i do best I can always take a semester off if needed, I just have to finish it in 5 years.

Thanks again

Re: How do you jugle everything?

I worked full time and was in a masters program part time when I was pregnant. It was uncomfortable at times to sit in lectures, but otherwise it wasn't that hard to manage. Being pregnant doesn't require much effort, just tolerance for discomfort.

I can not imagine balancing full time work and part time school with a newborn, unless you are willing to turn over all responsibility for the baby to others. There just aren't enough hours in the day or enough energy to go around!

Re: How do you jugle everything?

my pediatrician told me not to go back to school so soon (I had 18 credits left), but I did anyway. and I am so happy I did. I had a lot of support from family members who would watch DS when I had to leave for class and DH came home from work.

There were days that I was gone at 7am and home at 9pm, but with support you can do it. I'm glad I ignored my ped.

I took off the session beofre birth (b/c being preggo is uncomfortable and exhausting (more so than motherhood sometimes) and the session after birth, but I have seen MANY preggo women in my classes


good luck

Re: How do you jugle everything?

Thank you all for your advice

Re: How do you jugle everything?

Like Barbara, mentioned, it all depends on how your pregnancies go, and how you react to pain, stress, or any type of situations and how you feel about school. (IS it a possitive or negative stress for you?) If you WANT to go back, it might not be as hard, since you'll have the drive to pursue and accomplish it. Thats how I viewed it.

I just finished my masters "3years and 3 kids" later. I started applying when I was preggo with my first. I started when he was 3 months old, and I just finished, now that I am preggo with baby # 3. When # 2 was born, it was March, I did not want to take the semester off. I asked the head of the dept whether any professors would let me just do work from home for a month, and he strongly suggested I take the semester off, that it probably wouldnt work out well.

Of course depending on the support you have, your hubby's schedule, etc. IT CAN work out. Most of my classes were evening classes, hubby was home, and I enjoyed taking a breath of fresh air and going for a quiet drive by myself. I really wanted to do this (go back to sschool) so I had all the drive in the world.
I did have babysitting help as time went on if a class started earlier or if I had to get other things done. TO study or work on major things, I went to the library on weekends, stayed up late, etc. I really dont think it was the hardest thing to do. and I also dont think Im some sort of supermom for doing it. I worked on and off through most of it, mostly part time, so thats another big factor, that I wasnt working f/t. I knew that Id be home with the kids and I knew Id want to teach in the future, so I figured there was no better time to do it than now. and it was great to know that my hubby was my biggest cheerleader the whole way. He was there to hug and hi-five me for every little accomplishment and credit completed, he really was a huge part of it for me.

Do whatever works best for your schedule, your lifestyle and your family

Re: How do you jugle everything?

When I was finishing my masters I was working full-time, interning at 2 places, in school full time, I thought I was tired from that and then I found out I was also pregnant. When I graduated I was two months pregnant and then I also started looking for a new job. I got a new job at 5 months and worked up until my due date. When people asked me how I did it all, I just shrugged and said I did what I had to do and somehow got through it all. I also had a supportive husband which helped alot and now dd is 5 months old and I am back to working fulltime and I feel like I am back at just doing what I have to do. I wouldnt change a thing.
Somehow it all works out!
Good Luck in whatever you decide.

Re: How do you jugle everything?

I think it depends on how rigorous your master's program is and also on how difficult your pregnancy is. even though i had a pretty easy pregnancy i was always soooo tired! It would have been hard to go to school. when i got my masters i went to school full time and did clinical internships at the same time. it was very challenging for me personally. can you take maybe just one or two courses a semester? that might not be too bad. when you do get pregnant you could always cut back temporarily. good luck!

Re: How do you jugle everything?

I am currently 15 credits into my master's program which I started in January -- plus I teach 1st grade full time and have an 8 month old daughter. Trust me, it is SOO hard sometimes. I know I don't always have as much time iwth her as I'd like to but I am lucky to have a very supportive husband who loves to take care of our DD sothat helps a lot.

If I can offer any more advise please feel free to FM me!

Melissa