Pregnant in Law School?

[Slumdog Lovebutton]

I'm a mom of 2 so I would like to think I know a few things about this.  There is no way to predict what kind of pregnancy or baby you will have.  The first 6 months or so after you have the baby will be a time of little sleep and a lot of stress regardless of your baby's temperament. I would highly recommend you put this off for a year and try it with a 1 year old instead, possibly even PT.  My first child had severe colic, didn't sleep more than 1.5 hours at a time, and I went back to school when she was 4 months old.  My grades suffered horribly and that wasn't even law school.  It was the hardest time of my life.  From what I understand, first year grades at law school are the most important.  Why put yourself at an even greater disadvantage?   Babies are the hardest the first year, after that time you should find it much easier.

Feel free to PM me if you want.  Best of luck whatever you decide.  Don't let the few negative comments in this thread make you feel bad.  You can be a great mom and a great law student, too.  You just want to make sure you have the timing just right.

IAWTC, especially the bolded part.

[siski]

From what I understand, Ruth Bader Ginsburg did law school while being pregnant and a new mom.

Other interesting facts about Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

* Ruth Bader Ginsburg doesn't read casebooks. She stares them down until she gets the information she wants.
* If you have five dollars and Ruth Bader Ginsburg has five dollars, Ruth Bader Ginsburg has more money than you.
* There is no 'ctrl' button on Ruth Bader Ginsburg's computer. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is always in control.
* Ruth Bader Ginsburg is suing Myspace for taking the name of what she calls everything around you.
* Ruth Bader Ginsburg destroyed the periodic table, because she only recognizes the element of surprise.
* Ruth Bader Ginsburg can kill two stones with one bird.

:: bows down to Ruth Bader Ginsburg ::

[TraciRai]

I agree with what seems to be the majority consensus, that having a baby in law school is totally doable.  But because your due date is basically during orientation week I would defer a year. 

[botbot]

being pregnant in law school can only detract from your legal education and is therefore inadvisable. if you stop your route to becoming a lawyer and find these other priorities more important, than you did not prioritize law school as the most significant aspect of your legal career.

This post actually made lol.

You should defer though, mainly because the due date is going to be so near exams.

You have exams in August?

Good call.

I would have it then, 1L isn't nearly as hard as 0Ls think it is.

[aerynn]

Someone at my school had a baby who was due the week of finals.  The considerate child wisely held off until 3 days after our last final.  This was at the end of 1L year, so she had the summer to be with her newborn.

I think it is probably very hard, but you can do it if you want to.  You might have to give up being on Law Review, though.

[verytired]

Thanks to all for the input. I have not yet decided whether or not I will try to defer. My orientation is on August 25. The baby is due the 26th. The school that I am planning to attend is not located nearby any family, although I do have their support.

[saradsun]

Also, I think you need to realize that until you've had a child, you have no idea what the hell its going to do to your emotions. I was sooo going to put my babes in daycare, have them sleep in a crib, they'd be on a schedule, etc, etc... Until, that is, I actually HAD a baby I had no idea I would be unable to leave them.

I became hippy mama to the max, had 5 babies total, breastfed them a total of 7 years (altogether) and still am co-sleeping with the 2 year old. Hippy mama ness is not terribly conducive to law school, imo, for the first 12 months especially.

And that explains why though I intended to go to law school in 93, or certainly in 95 or 96, here we are in 2008 before I'm finally going.

I wish you the best, with whatever you decide.

[mbw]

Also, I think you need to realize that until you've had a child, you have no idea what the hell its going to do to your emotions. I was sooo going to put my babes in daycare, have them sleep in a crib, they'd be on a schedule, etc, etc... Until, that is, I actually HAD a baby I had no idea I would be unable to leave them.

I became hippy mama to the max, had 5 babies total, breastfed them a total of 7 years (altogether) and still am co-sleeping with the 2 year old. Hippy mama ness is not terribly conducive to law school, imo, for the first 12 months especially.

And that explains why though I intended to go to law school in 93, or certainly in 95 or 96, here we are in 2008 before I'm finally going.

I wish you the best, with whatever you decide.

TITCR (and also did seven eight consecutive years of breastfeeding (four kids.)

[gowi]

Thanks to all for the input. I have not yet decided whether or not I will try to defer. My orientation is on August 25. The baby is due the 26th. The school that I am planning to attend is not located nearby any family, although I do have their support.

Wow, those dates make life very tough. You plan to move to a whole new area at 9 months pregnant? Yikes. You'll also have to change doctors/hospitals very late. In fact, you may have a hard time trying to find one willing to take you on so close to the end.

You have a lot to think about, but I think you know the right thing to do. It's just a matter of comign to terms with it.

Also, everyone is different. Anecdotal (like above  ) but there are women who have a baby and return to work/class 2 weeks later. They are satisfied with their lives. You just have to know yourself and what you want. And be prepared to be criticized no matter what you decide.

[just dot]

Also, I think you need to realize that until you've had a child, you have no idea what the hell its going to do to your emotions. I was sooo going to put my babes in daycare, have them sleep in a crib, they'd be on a schedule, etc, etc... Until, that is, I actually HAD a baby I had no idea I would be unable to leave them.

I became hippy mama to the max, had 5 babies total, breastfed them a total of 7 years (altogether) and still am co-sleeping with the 2 year old. Hippy mama ness is not terribly conducive to law school, imo, for the first 12 months especially.

And that explains why though I intended to go to law school in 93, or certainly in 95 or 96, here we are in 2008 before I'm finally going.

I wish you the best, with whatever you decide.

Great point, saradsun.

Soooo true.  I had planned on going back to work after my first child and the minute I took one look at her I couldn't imagine leaving her (my classes were all online the first year after I had her).  I was a semi-crunchy mama with my kids, I guess.  I BF and did the whole sling thing (co-sleeping, baby-wearing, homemade baby food).  I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything.  Then again, some women are perfectly able to go back to work.  My cousin is one example.  She says she went nuts just during the 6 weeks she was home with her son on maternity leave and couldn't wait to go back to work.  I guess everyone is different.