Pregnant Student

Holly10921

Hi, I'm Holly.

I've just passed my second year of university & have discovered that I'm pregnant and due mid way through my third year.

I currently have no income, only the little bit left of my April finance payment, I have to pay back a £1000 overdraft if I am going to defer for a year. Although I will get less help than if I quit?

I also have to get a deposit together to move out by October with my partner who earns £180 a week but still pays rent at his mums house.

Does anyone have any advice on what to do next or if I would be entitled to anything. Any help appreciated.

This is not an abortion debate.

Lokolo

So are you planning to defer for a year or continue?

How old are you? Some benefits are age related.

I honestly have no idea what you are thinking but no income on your side, and only £180 a week from partner is not enough for you both and certainly not enough to raise a child.

Holly10921

I think I will have to quit, or continue and take 2 weeks off in January.
I am 20.

I have a meeting at uni tomorrow/bank Friday to discuss everything
I just wanted advice from people who have experienced this.

Nat1990

I got ill at the end of my first year and was facing having to stay at hospital. The university let me suspend my studies and come back the next academic year. This was to ensure that I was fully better and that my treatment wouldn't effect my participation in the course. I know a few other people who have done this as well with relatively little hassle, but it often unfortunately depends on how supportive your uni is. In this circumstance, I would think that they would let you defer as it seems like your best option. With regards to benefits etc. I wouldn't have the first idea - but I am sure the uni can help you with that information. If not, citizens advice or the job centre?

On a seperate note, I do know of some students at my uni who have taken a year out to have a child - it's not ideal, but it is doable. They often even end up with better degree classifications, because they are more likely to stay in and study than go out partying. Good luck!

Holly10921

Thank you, I'm going there tomorrow so I hope they'll be some help

Prothet_of_Doom

Can I ask what your BF does ?
Could he become a Full time stay at home dad?
Is it a 3 or 4 year course ?
You need to research grants and loans system for families.
Problem is that you will have to loose some time from studies due to birth, just like you could not go back to work too soon, so how much you miss depends on how modular it is.
Lets assume you have to loose the last 2 terms of the third year, and have to wait a whole year to recommence. Could 6 months of that year out be part of an industrial placement ?

nimbo

OK two weeks off after child birth seems to be a very short time....

Last year, one of my class mates got pregnant, and had the baby around June... At the end of the year she wasn't allowed on campus - they'd risk assessed it and everything.... She had to miss an exam, and did it when people did the resit, and passed fine....

She finds it massively difficult, and there was again a full on meeting to assess if she would be able to come back this academic year.... Speak to your tutor, and get them on side...

Hope it goes well today.

GoldenShadow

At my uni you can resit semesters/defer a semester. Can you sit the Sept-Jan one and then do the Jan-May one in Jan-May 2015 instead? Give you more time for dissertation if you do one too.

What degree are you doing and what are your marks like? Not desirable but with resitting a semester you are capped with results but you would be financed through the semester, just depends on your uni's attitude really. No one wants results capped but its a better option than dropping out. I imagine that only one semester left would be more doable than having to do a full on year after a kid too. You'd know it was just 12 weeks etc.

Dunroamin

I'm sure I asked this on your other thread but are you planning on continuing with the pregnancy?

cte1111

Dunroamin wrote: »

I'm sure I asked this on your other thread but are you planning on continuing with the pregnancy?

She's already said that this isn't an abortion debate.

Erinnire

Hi Holly,

How did you get on today?

Financially the support you will get once bubba is here is quite generous, so affordability with budgeting hopefully won't be too difficult for your family.

But I'm not too sure on how it you will work around your studies. I do know a few people that have had or are having babies at uni no and they have managed as if with super powers so I am in complete awe but you decide what you think is best for you.

Hope your pregnancy is a happy and healthy one