My student teaching semester lasted from January through April. However, my first son was due in the middle of July. That left me pregnant and dealing with all of the awesome side effects during my student teaching experience. It wasn’t easy, but I got through it and had a great experience. To help you get through student teaching pregnant, remember these 5 tips.
Keep Snacks on Hand
When I first started as a student teacher, I was dealing with morning sickness. Of course, I lucked out and morning sickness meant all-day sickness for me. To combat this, I kept crackers and other snacks on hand. Rather than eating 3 square meals every day, I had several healthy snacks throughout the day. Also, keep mints on hand to freshen up your mouth, as needed.
Drink Plenty of Water
According to BabyCenter.com, you should drink at least 64 ounces of water every day when you’re pregnant. It’s difficult to stay hydrated when your struggling to get to the bathroom between classes. And let’s face it — you’re going to use the bathroom regularly throughout the day. Keep plenty of water bottles on hand, and sneak to the bathroom whenever you can.
Rest Whenever Possible
One of the biggest obstacles for me was fatigue. Luckily, I found my energy again during the second trimester. In the meantime, I made sure to get plenty of sleep every night. If you find yourself getting tired during the day, take a quick power nap during your planning period or rest your eyes during passing periods or recess. I wouldn’t get in the habit of doing this every day, but do what you need to do to get through the day.
Speak to Your Doctor
You’re not the first educator who’s given birth. As such, your doctor probably has some great tips for you to keep in mind. Let your doctor know about anything that might be worrying you, so you can work together to keep you and the baby healthy. If you need to go on bed rest, you might want to consider withdrawing from student teaching until a later time.
Share Your News
Definitely tell your university supervisor and cooperating teacher that you’re pregnant. Although you shouldn’t expect any specialized treatment, it’s helpful for them to know about your health and how it could affect your student teaching experience. I also announced my pregnancy to my students. They loved getting to hear about my doctor’s appointments, see the ultrasounds, and brainstorm baby names with me. It was fun including them in it, but it’s up to you whether or not you decide to announce it.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you. Student teaching while pregnant adds a whole new obstacle that you need to overcome. However, you can do it! And in the process, you can develop traits and skills that you can use when you get your own classroom. Good luck and congratulations!
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