Pregnancy vs. Matriculation

[QWERQWER]

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Hi,
I got accepted to a dental school, yet I just found out that I am pregnant.
And calculated due date is November.

I am just afraid to call the school because they might nullify my acceptance.

So before I ask, I want to ask SDN people, especially the ones who have some experience with this matter.

1. Would the school be willing to take me next year? class of 2016?
2. If not, how challenging would it be to give birth to a baby on November while in school?

Thanks

 

[SSD1]

My sister in law had my nephew in her 2nd year....
She went to school through her whole pregnancy and relaxed on the weekends...
She had to work hard to stay healthy etc so that she didn't have to go for a C-section..she wen to school until the day she went into labor...she went into labor at around midnight after she had come back from the school that day....and she did consult the doctors regularly for that and the doctor assured her he would do a c-section only as the last resort to save the baby...
So she had a normal delivery and only took 4/5 days off from school and went back...
Family was a huge help during that time because her mother and mother in law would constantly switch and stay with her for 6 months at a time so that someone was with the baby the whole time....Her husband was going to school in a different state at that time...so she had to have a family member with her all the time to help with the baby...

It was hard but she didn't want to delay her education and graduated this year on time...Instead of making the baby her weakness, she made him the power and constantly thought that she was working hard to finish her education on time for him...

I am sure you can do it...just have a good support system...and ask family to help you out with babysitting when you are in school...

 

[QWERQWER]

thanks SSD1,
It will be a challenge I think.

But would a dental school allow me to postpone matriculation? with this reason?

I know the school usually let the studen take a year off while in the school.
But I am not sure whether they will allow me even before the matriculation.
Any opinions on this????

 

[Simiam]

I don't think (I don't know) they can revoke your acceptance based on pregnancy. If you have a strong support system for your pregnancy and newborn you should be fine...

 

[mamelons]

Hi,
I got accepted to a dental school, yet I just found out that I am pregnant.
And calculated due date is November.

I am just afraid to call the school because they might nullify my acceptance.

So before I ask, I want to ask SDN people, especially the ones who have some experience with this matter.

1. Would the school be willing to take me next year? class of 2016?
2. If not, how challenging would it be to give birth to a baby on November while in school?

Thanks

There is a girl in my class who gave birth in October/November-ish of our first year.

 

[QWERQWER]

I see , so the conveyed idea here is that it is doable.

 

[Just Peachy]

I feel like it might be/should be illegal for them to not allow you to matriculate because you are pregnant. I think you could do it if you have a good support system and really want to be a dentist. People always say that there is never a good time to have a baby - you could always be more prepared, more stable, etc. You could try to defer, but then there would probably be something else later that made you want to delay school again. Why not now?

 

[baseballjunkie]

There are two people in our first year class that are pregnant and I have a friend who is a second year and is pregnant. It's doable, just difficult.

 

[flapaTron]

congratulations on being pregnant & being accepted to dental school 🙂

your school may allow you to (and might actually ask you to) matriculate next august as part of the class of 2016 given the timing of your due date (essentially deferring your acceptance).

also, i feel like i've read somewhere that pregnant women shouldn't participate in gross anatomy lab (because of phenol/formalin exposure), but i'm not 100% on that.

best bet is just to call the school directly, be honest, and i'm sure it will all work out 🙂

 

[SSD1]

I definitely think you can do it and won't need to delay your graduation...you just need to stay healthy and follow all the doctor's orders to avoid any complications....
You just need a great support team and have family members baby sit when you are in school....

 

[Noble6]

I know someone that delayed matriculation a year for that reason. They'll probably allow you to do it. Just let them know.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

I know several people who have had children during their first or second years of dental school who did great in school.

The school CANNOT withdraw the acceptance because you are pregnant. That would be classified as discrimination. There is no legit reason for them to revoke the acceptance due to being pregnant.

As far as delaying your entry date for a year, that is possible, but will be on a case by case basis. People have delayed entering by a yera for a wide variety of reasons to include starting a family.

 

[dentaldawg32]

If you can handle being pregnant (and everything that entails) during dental school, then more power to ya. I, for one, can barely take care of myself, much less a little person growing in my body, but I say go for it. I don't think there are any people in my school who are currently pregnant, though.

 

[UBDent19]

I have three young kids and will be starting this August. In my opinion, the problem is not going through labor during school but rather it will be the first few months of a newborn needing your attention every minute (and you wanting to be with the baby as well), especially during the hours you're supposed to be getting precious sleep.

I'm lucky to have a wonderful wife to help with the kids during school so I hope you have a strong support system in place. I sympathize strongly with you.

Good luck and enjoy the pregnancy! It's a beautiful part of life.

 

[SeattleRDH]

If you can postpone, do. My son is 2months old. He was born a week after finals last quarter. Those 9 months were a piece of cake in comparison to how the last two have gone. I'm just finishing my postbac and took the DAT yesterday. I expect dental school to be more difficult. There in NO WAY I could have done so well if my mom hadn't moved in with us.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

 

[Olgasl81]

Hi!

First of all congratulations on your pregnancy! I am a mother of 1.5y.o girl myself and 1st year dental student.

Usually dental schools do not allow you to postpone matriculation. However after a first semester/trimester you can take a leave of absence. However it would be best if you call the school directly to find out the policy in regards to that as it will vary from school to school. It would be illegal for the school to revoke your acceptance based on the fact that you are pregnant. It would be considered discrimination.

However if you are concerned -- you do not need to tell them your name when you call. Also, you can even stay away from specifics and just tell them due to "health related concerns".

A friend of mine (who is 2nd year now) gave birth in beginning of February of first year. And I know that every school is obliged to give you a maternity leave (i believe 6 weeks) and they will work with you so you can make up missed classes. I know that my friend, was still going to school and even taking some exams, but the school worked with her to accommodate her needs. With this said, she was breast pumping for 6months, even while taking NBDE I (they took it after first yr) So it is really up to you.

Usually schools and faculties are quite understanding as you are attending a grad school. In my school faculty always says--if there is something--please come and talk to us, we will try our best to accommodate your needs.

However it is very important to have a good support who you can rely on. My friend had to move for school 2000miles away from her husband (as he has a dream job) and she has a live in nanny. In my case, I also had to move 3000miles away from my husband and my mom is currently helping me out, though I would be switching to live- in nanny.

Don't be concerned. Just call the school. And if they can't postpone, just start it. I am sure they will be very accommodating.

Good luck!

 

[Olgasl81]

Also I forgot to mention that it would be very hard and challenging, but it is doable! Just like someone said—make it your strength. You would be amazed how much you can accomplish. Just have to be very organized!