How nursing mothers can cope with academic activities in school

 Written by Blessing Etti

Recently some tertiary institutions were either banning or suspending nursing mothers from tertiary institutions.

Students of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) Television College in Jos had to stage a protest against the college’s decision to suspend some female nursing students whom the school management claimed disrupted lectures with their infants.

Also, the Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Trans-Ekeulu, Enugu State warned female students with pregnancies and those with babies to stay away from lecture rooms.

A nursing mother with her child writing an examination
PHOTO CREDIT: BLESSING ETTI

So, should a nursing mother be punished because she wants to acquire knowledge in a school setting?

Granted that it is not easy combining academic works and nursing a baby. It can take a toll on the mother and even affect her mental health and ability to concentrate.

But nursing mothers can do a lot more to help them cope with taking care of the child and academics.

Here are some tips:

Get a Nanny

In order to have time to participate in your school activities, you need to get a helper e.g your younger one or relative can come stay with you to assist you  take care of the child when you are busy with academic activities.

Create separate time for reading aside attending lectures

Student nursing mothers can create a study plan that will help them make out time to attend to academic work. For example they can choose reading time to coincide with when the child is asleep.  

And with little distraction the can even do their assignments and attend to other academic work.

Set a daily routine

This will help the nursing mother know when to wake up to take care of the child-bath, feed and prepare for classes or other activities.

Take permission to attend to your child if need be

Every lecturer will understand when it comes to attending to your child. Never hesitate to seek for permission if need be.

Understand your child

As Student nursing mothers, you need to understand your child’s mood especially what the child likes and don’t like.  Try to know how your child responds to crowd, space, and weather.

This can help you know how to attend to the child in a way that the child won’t be disruptive.

It’s not a crime to be a student nursing mother but they can still go the extra mile to ensure they cope with taking care of the child and meeting up with academic challenge.

Let’s have your thoughts!