The college I’m attending doesn’t technically have a maternity leave. Here are my options:
I could apply to FAFSA for a “leave of absence” but I wouldn’t be able to begin classes again until April 2010 (to get back into rotation). Because of how long that leave would be FAFSA likely wouldn’t approve it, and if I wanted to take the summer off, I’d be forced to basically “drop out.” Payments on my loans would begin, and when I wanted to begin classes again, I’d have to re-enroll and go through a long process. I wouldn’t, however, have to retake any classes that I’ve already taken. IF I were to take this time off, I’d no longer be considered a student, and would have to work 20 hrs a week to qualify for food stamps. I likely wouldn’t be able to find a job (pregnant, no one is hiring, more and more people are still being laid off here), and if I did find one, Dustin and I share a car and it’d make him going to college and finding a job difficult. We HAVE to work around each other until we can afford another car. So, the likelihood is that if I “dropped out” there’d be more bills and debts to worry us and we would no longer qualify for food stamps. But, I would have more than plenty of time to breastfeed and be at home with our baby.
I could continue school. I would get no leave. I would have to go up until the day my contractions start basically, deliver, get out of the hospital, and get my butt back into classes. If you miss more than 3 classes, you drop a letter grade. More classes missed, it drops another letter grade. I’m very worried about doing this, because if for any reason complications would arise or bed rest, and I missed too many classes, I’d fail out of all my classes and have to retake them – costing me more money in the long run. But, assuming my pregnancy has been great and I’m healthy and my delivery would follow the same course, the next thing I’d have to worry about is breastfeeding. I REALLY want to breastfeed. In fact, I’m dead set on it. I do not want my baby on formula. I know about nipple confusion and the sorts, and I’d likely need at least 2-3 weeks to get my milk supply consistent and me and baby get the hang of it. This would mean more time missed. And then there’s simply that babies are a lot of work. I’m worried how much I could truly focus on school and whether or not I could pass my classes. But, by staying in school, my FAFSA money would increase and I’d basically be paid to go to school. I could use the extra money to put it right onto my college loans, to save up for a car, and have extra cushion of money for the baby ontop of the assistance we already get.
The first option sounds just awful to me. I do want to continue going to school now that I know there is no maternity leave and I’d be so severely “punished” if I were to take time off. I’m just mostly worried about putting my child first, and also maintaining my grades. I’m such a hard worker, and I have one teacher who reassures me I could do it, but this is my first child and it is going to be a HUGE adjustment for all of us. I don’t want to spread myself too thin with school and leave myself too emotionally, mentally and physically drained to be there for our baby.
Anyone else ever gone to school and had a baby? Please tell me its doable, because I’m thinking it is the ONLY option right now and I HAVE to make it work. I do feel as if I can,.. I’m at the top of my class, I’m a very fast learner, I have a background and knowledge in animals already.. but I just don’t want to get over my head.
*chants to herself* I think I can, I think I can!*
Just remember if there is a will there is a way!
However, I’m still in the lecture portion of my rotation for now, and won’t have labs for another semester. So that will help. By the time I’m in labs and even more difficult classes, breastfeeding and everything with baby will hopefully be routine.
