New RN and starting a family - advice please

I am a new RN that will be starting my first nursing job middle of June at a SNF/LTC. My husband and I are considering trying to have a baby sometime in the next year to year and a half (I am not sure if I will be able to become pregnant immediately or not as I have PCOS and other hormonal issues, so it may take several months of trying before I actually conceive... then again, it could happen immediately, no one knows yet and we haven't tried yet lol) but my concern is, I am going to be 29 in October and am obviously in my first year of working as a RN in the next year to year and a half... I don't really want to wait, if at all possible, much past 30 to have my first child (I would really like to have my first child either just before I turn 30 or shortly after honestly), however, being I am a new nurse, should we wait til then? Should we not try for another year and a half, or will it not make much difference either way in respects to working? Should we take the next step in our marriage and begin our family now that I am out of nursing school and will be working consistently, or should we still hold off so that I get a year under my belt and then start trying to get pregnant? We want to have a baby soon also because his mom is already going to be 70 this year (my husband is 33) and we want her to be able to enjoy a grand child since she really wants one, as well as my parents who are in their early 60's and late 50's. Any advice/experience stories would be greatly appreciated as I really want to hear from experienced nurses who have a family or started a family while a new nurse and hear if you would do it again or not lol. I am just mixed between the idea... I don't want my career to control our family, but at the same time, I don't want to mess up my career in any way, especially in the very beginning... if that makes any sense at all! Thanks in advance!!
My opinion is to go ahead and try to get pregnant, or should I say don't try to take measures to prevent a pregnancy Like you said, because of your history of PCOS, it may or may not take awhile. Your health and family comes first, and the career can always wait. It is possible to do both but speak to your doctor about your health issues because nursing, especially the first year, is stressful and can take a toll on you. Best of luck to you!

It took me 4 years to get pregnant. You never know how long it's going to take until you try. You sound like a planner, but there are not ever going to be solid plans with babies. They happen when they do, come out when they are ready. I wish you happy family planning. I agree with ijuannabehappy just stop trying to prevent it. If you don't get pregnant in 6 months call your OB. Another word of advise... all pregnancies are different. Mine was very difficult and I couldn't work most of the time I was pregnant. I am the "bread winner" in my family. If I didn't have short term and long term disability insurance from my employer we could have lost our house or starved. This is usually pretty inexpensive but a life saver if you ever need it. Good luck. I hope you have a happy healthy family!

I would get short term/long term disability insurance for sure. That at least in my hospital is super important for an expectant mother. I have to agree with the other posters. Your job can't fire you because you became pregnant after you started working with them. Life happens. You will have them to go back to after you have the baby. I hope everything turns out well! I'm excited for you!

Thanks everyone! Yes, short/long term disability insurance is a very good idea. Thanks for the well wishes too! I appreciate the advice/suggestions!

you're never REALLY ready, but it's wonderful when it happens. Just do it. You'll figure out work/childcare stuff. It all falls into place.

I agree with everyone else arabstar. If you had to choose which one ---career or additions to your family that you HAD to sacrifice having, which one would you choose? I think your answer would be career. Not saying that you'd necessarily have to sacrifice either but especially in your situation I would go with what my heart is saying to do. Do you already have a job? Are you financially able to not work if your pregnancy becomes complicated? What would your plans be after the baby arrives? Stay home, work part time, work full time and utilize day care? etc.I am in a similar situation as you but I do not have PCOS and I'm 25. My sister does have PCOS however and she has two healthy beautiful children, girl and boy. Right now we would like to conceive within the next few months, I'm aiming for either August or December because I love the months of May and September. I graduated in December and the only job I could get was at a Pediatric Doctors office under a major hospital system working prn but almost full time hours. I am already pretty much trained on this job so my goal is to try to get in the hospital and work part time along with this prn doctors office job, work throughout my pregnancy which will equal out to over a year so that I can get FMLA. This would give me experience in the hospital which will keep doors open after the pregnancy but working the peds clinic will allow me to work more flexible mommy hours in case I find I want to stay home with the baby more.Reading back over this I sound like a planner too and I realize that alot of this may not work out like I've planned but you gotta have some type of plan in mind when making such big life decisions lol.

I agree, get short term and long term disability insurance for if you are unwell during your pregnancy. I personally wouldn't put off having a baby unless you were perfectly healthy, still in school, and in your early twenties. Beyond that, I would NOT try to prevent a pregnancy, since you do not know how long it will take when there are medical issues going on. I worked one year, then switched jobs and was working only 4 months when I became pregnant with my first. (I had her when I was 27, I really couldn't see waiting just b/c I started a new job) Things ended well for us, I just had my third baby a few months ago at age 32. Some say it is career suicide to have 3 in 5 years while working/taking some time off, but really, am I supposed to just not have kids? I was getting older and wanted to be sure I had the # I wanted before that clock stopped ticking.

Wow this was like reading my own words. My partner and I will be in the same dilemma when I finish nursing school, I will be 29 and I always wanted to be a young mum (mid 20s) but want to finish nursing school before we start trying. I decided that once I have a job and am 6 months into it, I am going to stop taking my pill and just see what happens... I feel the same though, its scary when youre JUST starting out, to have a baby. But then I think, well I have already put it on hold for so long and nursing will always be there. All the best for you both and your future bubba!

Quote from arabstarRNThanks everyone! Yes, short/long term disability insurance is a very good idea. Thanks for the well wishes too! I appreciate the advice/suggestions!