Hello My feelings about this are ambivalent. On the one hand I admire you all for being "super women" I did exactly the same when my children were younger. I did a diploma with my first and a B Ed with my second. I also found co students very supportive and I appreciated that, in fact when I attended a residential at UNE it was one of my first trips to country NSW in January, I didn't know what the weather was going to be like and it snapped really cold - so my co students all raced off to the store and bought winter outfits for my newborn. I was given the tutors flat in the res so I had privacy but the baby was not allowed into the lectures.(12 years ago) I placed him in the uni care and raced over at each break to feed and left EBM if he was sleeping. Yes it was all hard at the time and I had a wonderful sense of achievement and was glad I did the study than 'cos I found as the kids got older they needed me more and more and it was easy to studying when the baby was snoozing. I don't think I'll be attempting any study now until they have left home or get myself a good set of head phones! Teenagers play such loud music.
However, given my time again I wouldn't do it, I think I missed out on so much, they change so quickly I would just want to treasure every moment of their lives and now they are grown up Everything is better said with the benefit of hindsight Enjoy your children, they are yours for only a brief time before you share them with the world Janet -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jessica Simms Sent: Saturday, 1 March 2003 6:58 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] studing and baby hi everyone, I dont often write on this list but couldnt resist putting in my 2 bobs worth! I had my third child in the easter break of studying post grad mid last year and was back in class when she was 2 weeks old. If she cried I just put her on the boob. She came with me to every class until the end of the year when she was about 7 months old - I got the highest mark in the class for one subject and equal first in the other with another mother whom I was in a study group with. It was pretty full on and hard to write essays once the kids were in bed (when you just want to crash yourself) but it was very bloody satisfying in the end. The lecturers and students were very supportive and (i hope) not too inconvenienced by us being there. Leaving classes I had an entourage of helpers carrying out nappy bags bouncers etc - we were a funny sight and got a few strange looks. I think it was actually good for some of the younger girls to 'follow through' with someone and meet a real live homebirth woman! By the by, I was listening to 3rrr the other morning and there was talk of the breastfeeding in the workplace thing. A young guy called complaining about how 'its just not on', etc, and 'you dont see me pissing on the microphone stand when Im at work'- what a moron. love jessxxxxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: "Rhonda" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2003 11:51:04 +1100 (AUS Eastern Daylight Time) Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] studing and baby WELL DONE!!! You should be very rpoud of yourself!! Rhonda -------Original Message------- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Saturday, March 01, 2003 02:16:28 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [ozmidwifery] studing and baby It is really hard studying and having a baby at the same time, but it can be done. I had my son at the end of my first year at Uni studying my undergraduate degree and went back 3 weeks after he was born Being a single parent didn't help and I got alot of people saying to me "Now you will have to either quit your course or take a year off." I was very lucky to have a fantastic and supportive head of nursing (she was a midwife!), who said I could bring him to lectures and made a room where I could breastfeed and change him. I only took up the offer a couple of times when I didn't have a babysitter but the times I did he wasn't a problem. I remember going to lectures then racing back to my babysitters house during lecture breaks with full leaking breasts, feeding him then racing back to attend more lectures. I have photos where I am breastfeeding, studing and eating dinner all at once. Night feeds were done in bed half asleep. Hard at first but then we both got into the routine and I breastfed him for 2 years. I didn't take him to lectures because I couldn't concentrate because I was so focused on him and afraid that any noise he made would disrupt the class so I found it more benefical to go during lecture breaks to the babysitters. I guess it all comes down to support and working out ways that work for you, and always keeping in mind your goals. He has just turned 5 and I have just finished my Graduate Diploma of Midwifery which was my goal. We have both survived! Veronica ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2003 10:53 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Today in Parliament... In a message dated 2/26/03 3:53:33 PM W. Australia Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: My daughters friend who is due to have a baby in the next few days -and is enrolled to start a doctorate in psychology at Melb uni has been told by her supervisors that she is under no circumstances to BRING a BABY to lectures. -these damn babies must be so disruptive -how are women meant to live their lives?? And when they are psychology lecturers who dont get the motherbaby bond what hope is there?? I have just started a Grad Dip Ed at Uni, and one of my fellow students has a baby of (I guess) around 8 weeks old. She BF's in the lectures but I have to admit that when baby starts crying it is quite disruptive, and very difficult to hear the lecturer (it is quite a large theatre). Mum takes baby out when he starts crying, but then, of course, she misses out on what s been said. I am in awe of her, when my kids were that age, I was still trying to get my head around getting out and about let alone thinking of doing a Grad Dip. Debbie Slater Perth, WA -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
