this pregnant 3L thing

Hope this post is interesting for the pregnant-in-law-school crowd or those considering it.

Yesterday I met with the woman in the Dean of Students office who does wellness and accommodations. As you might imagine, she is very sweet and calm and looks like she does yoga. She said in past years the baby thing had just been for law school guys whose wives were giving birth - but now there's finally a crop of law school moms. Interesting.

My basic philosophy about this pregnancy is that I am not trying to win any awards and I will take help from anyone and anything: bus riders, epidurals, law school staffers.  So I laid on her my Big Plan to graduate on time, and tried to convey that I will take any and all accommodations offered to me. I think it's going to work.

For fall, they're going to make sure I get aisle seats in the classes I'm missing the start of, and work out something for my take-home final  (I will be huge) where I can either get a comfier-than-usual commuter room or can just email in the exam. Excellent.

During the three-week winter term, all I need to do is take the winter writing credits, find an understanding professor, and then basically do nothing academic while I give birth, recover, and deal with a newborn. Maybe look up a case or two, think of a snazzy title. Then I finish the paper in the spring. If something serious happens with the birth where I literally cannot do a thing for school, the administrative board has the ability to waive winter term credits entirely.

In the spring, we'll make sure I get a distance clinical that works for me so I can do some units from my couch. Also, the school's putting in a nursing/pumping room. Awesome.

Things are looking up.

Comments

[Cait]

My sister in law gave birth in April of 3L- I don't envy you the experience, but it certainly can be done while remaining sane, happy and productive.

[Dizzy]

Reading this post was so helpful to me. I am trying to get pregnant and just started 1L. My husband and I are suffering from infertility, so we don't want to wait until I'm finished with school to try to conceive. Of course I'm VERY concerned about balancing school and a possible pregnancy. I stumbled on your blog and was so heartened to see that it can be done. Thanks for your thoughts!!