How long after birth should I wait to study?

This might sound like a weird question, but I'm basically due to give birth at any point now (I'm 1 week overdue, but that's a WHOLE other story...) and I was going to start studying on my degree again next year, through Open Universities. I've already completed a few units, and have about 2 and a half years of study left. I was going to start from Study Period 1 next year, which starts at the start of March next year, but I'm quite eager to get started as soon as possible, as I know that the sooner I start, the sooner I'll finish it, but Study Period 4 for this year starts on the 30th of November which will mean that I'll be studying with a 6 week old baby (or thereabouts, depending on when he decides to join us... lol)

Does anyone have any experience with this, and whether I'm expecting too much of myself by doing this?

For me I'd be looking at how much time needed to be set aside for study / assignments etc - and working it out from there.
If this is bubs number one for you then it may be a little easier to get time for study, even more time if your partner is a 'hands on' kinda dad ;).

I've just spent the last 6 weeks studying at every opportunity for a big exam I had yesterday and I think I almost turned into a witch from the pressure of trying to study, but having either DD or DS needing me! I'm so glad its over now!

Good luck!!

This is bub number 1, so hopefully you're right in that respect.

Support wise, I should be OK. I hope... lol

I guess my strongest motivation for starting earlier (and only doing one unit to start with instead of 2, which I will start from Study Period 1 next year) is that I won't miss having the extra time - if that makes sense? I'm just concerned that I'm kidding myself...

Thanks for the quick reply, leesa!

Nup, you have a good point there.

I too, could have put of doing this exam till next year - but then I'd have two kids who are a year older and definately wanted more of my time - they can't / won't just lay there / sit there and google at a fluffy toy as easily ;). I wanted to get it out of the way while they were younger so I could spend more time with them when they're more 'mobile'...IYKWIM.

I think everyone's different when it comes to this kind of thing...only you know how organised you can be, and how good you are with time management etc. Being your first bub, I guess it's hard to gauge how you will feel about a range of different things after the birth, but if you have that motivation there to do it, it can be done. I have a friend who started her Bachelor of Business (with a double major, but I can't remember what it is) when her 2nd bub was about 3 months old. She juggled fine, loved it, but was EXTREMELY busy and is just really lucky she copes ok on just a few hours sleep (like sometimes 2 or 3 hours) if necessary.

Me...well I was all set to start a degree at the beginning of next year, because my youngest is off to prep and I KNOW that for myself, study and kids both full-time won't work. I can't do a long-distance course (it's psych and has to be done full-time and on campus). And I'm not prepared, personally, to juggle like that - I chose to be a SAHM first and foremost. My study has now gone out the window, for now, cause bub #3 snuck up on us LOL I was really looking forward to it all - it's something I've been waiting to do for awhile - but couldn't be happier that we are adding to our little family and I have the rest of my life to start that. The most I will contemplate in the next 4 years, tho, is maybe doing the odd TAFE subject or the like that will help with credit points when I eventually come to do the degree - stuff I can do from home in my own time, but I am talking when bub is a bit older, cause although I'm not a stress-nut when it comes to having babies around, I do know that it's a busy, full-time job and for me personally to stay sane, I have to devote myself just to that without committing to anything major.

Perhaps have the bub, settle into a routine and see how you feel ;) It could be perfect for you - or you might decide to take it slower than anticipated ;)

It's really personal - it all depends on how organised you are, how motivated, how easily distracted you are, etc! I started a Post grad cert by correspondance whilst pg with DD, just doing one topic at a time. My final assignment for the topic was due about a month after she was born, and I had great aspirations of getting it done in the 4 weeks before DD was born, after I had finished work. Needless to say, I am a great procrastinator, not very organised you are and very easily distracted, so it didn't happen and I applied for a month extension. Still, the week before the new deadline, I still hadn't really got going! Luckily for me, my mum was on sick leave, recuperating from having her veins done, so was still well enough for me to go to their house so she could look after DD and I could get my essay finished. I ended up postponing the course for a while. Although I am thinking of going back to do a different course next year, in semester 2, when the new bub will be around 6months!

I agree that it is a very personal thing... a lot depends on how much support you have... how well baby sleeps (I spend the first year in a haze of tiredness after having all my babies).

To be honest... but I'm not saying you should follow my lead.... this is just my experience: I have done the uni study with a child before and I waited until she was at school. I now want to do more study... and am putting it off until my youngest is in full time kinder. I know my limitations. I have VERY high personal standards when it comes to study and I also have no support from extended family. I wait until they sleep through the night and are at full time care/ kinder. But that's just me. I guess someone has to be the wet blanket :redface:

I went back to study when my DD was 8 weeks old which meant taking her to uni with me. I was really lucky to have a very supportive university where they allowed me to have her with me in all classes.

It worked really well for me as my DD was a really settled contented baby and allowed me to study and keep working one day from home for the first 6 months.

It really all depends on what your little one is like and how helpful your other half is. This is something that is difficult to predict. (I thought my DH would be a help but he was so taken up with his own work I was pretty much on my own, and I thought DD would be much more difficult to manage than she turned out to be!) Can you perhaps begin study and if it gets too much pull out/defer before you are forced to pay for the course? I know you usually have a month or so grace with most higher ed.

FWIW, I didn't go on to do semester 2 with DD and I am so glad I didn't, it would never have worked. She became much more demanding of attention at 7-8 months, rather than being happy to sit and watch me while I worked. Also, her sleep started to go down hill at the 6-7 month mark after being a good sleeper in the first months. Plus, I really wanted to play with her more as she got older too!

Hope that helps rather than confuses more!