Dealing with pregnancy, maternity and studying

Students must be supported emotionally and academically during pregnancy and maternity periods in their university. Without centralized policies and procedures for students’ support during these periods (pregnancy and maternity), the student will face with challenges due to the competing and conflicting demands of their mothering roles and studentship. These challenges have a negative effect on academic progress and achievement (Netshikweta 1999).  Moreover, everything may result in psychological depression of the pregnant students. Depressed students cannot exert themselves to their studies. In this regard, this post examines student pregnancy and maternity conditions in Nazarbayev University, namely GSE’s policy on supporting its students during pregnancy and maternity. Also, it is worth sharing with my own experience and unplanned pregnancy while being enrolled as a full-time student at GSE.

 “Pregnancy is a unique condition in that it is the only state which affords two people to live under one skin” (Mamhute, 2011, p. 28). This two-in-one state affects the physical well-being of the mother. According to Netshikweta (1999), 89% of her respondents experienced physical discomfort during pregnancy because the body undergoes some changes such as backache, morning sickness, muscle cramps, heartburn and hypertension. Physical discomfort tends to negatively affect academic performance. Academic progress is held back as coping strategies and attention spans are reduced. Besides, the physical demands placed upon the students can cause stress which also has a detrimental effect on their studies (Adams 2002). This is supported by Zwolak (2008) who points out that students felt that they could not cope with the demands of pregnancy and study hence they requested for maternity leave. As a result, pregnants and student-mothers are caught in a dilemma where they feel forced to choose between their education and their child.

 When a female learner becomes pregnant, she also adds the status of mother to her academic role. The pregnant student has to put effort in balancing the two roles. Both roles require commitment and devotion. In order to succeed in both endeavors student-mothers need to work extremely hard. With regard the effort to combine university study and motherhood, Hoffman (2002) sees it as a heart-wrenching activity filled with guilt and exhaustion. In the struggle to serve two “masters”, the student may fail to satisfy both. Her physical and mental states might adversely affect her studies (Netshikweta 1999).

Although all the staff at GSE are keen on providing a supportive environment for current and expecting mothers, school policies and procedures are limited and undeveloped that concern the welfare of students do not explicitly touch on pregnancy-related issues. For instance, in the Students’ Handbook there is only a short paragraph concerning the maternity which says about a possibility of taking academic leave if needed.

According to Askhat  Bekzhanov, the Director Department of Student Affairs, the university provides parent-students with accommodation only in cases both of the young people (wife and husband) are the students of NU and allow them to live together as a family (from the personal conversation). Since the university is new and the pregnancy or maternity related issues are very seldom among university students of NU, the university hasn’t yet considered appropriately the requirements of students during pregnancy and maternity in developing their existing policies, practices and procedures.  There is no support group at NU who acts as a social and support function to help current and expecting mothers to overcome difficulties and actualize their potential.

Some advice for pregnant students from my personal experience:

•   Firstly, inform the associate dean (academic) about your pregnancy
•   Then, feel free to quest any question related to your studies and pregnancy
• Do not make haste to take academic leave or to give up the study
•  Support from peers and teaching staff is important so do not hesitate to ask for help
• If you cannot manage to submit your assignment in time, do not get stressed, instead, request for an extension in advance
• Try to participate all scheduled classes since attendance is essential for successful completion of the programme

To summarize, the primary task of education is to help the learners to possess in-depth understanding of their domain of study and demonstrate high personal integrity. To realize their educational goal; current and expecting mothers need a supportive environment in order to succeed in both pursuits.

References:

Adams, E. (2002). Vocational teacher stress and internal characteristics. In Crous, SFM, Schulze, S. & Smit, W. A. (Eds.), Adult development and the world of work (pp. 7 – 22). Pretoria: Unisa.

Hoffman, R. (2002). Mothering on the edge. The Women’s Review of Books, 19(8), 21.

Mamhute, R. (2011). The educational challenges of pregnant and nursing adult learners: a case study of Morgenster Teachers’ College. Unpublished masters’ dissertation.  University of South Africa.

Netshikweta, M., L. (1999). The problems associated with pregnancy amongst student nurses in the Northern Province. Unpublished masters’ dissertation. Pretoria: University of South Africa.

Zwolak, P. (2008). A pregnant student requested maternity leave? American School Board Journal. Alexandria: National School Boards Association.