Could you be pregnant?

Female students who frequent the Health Center at Fairfield University routinely hear this question from doctors and nurses when students seek medical attention.

But what if the answer is yes? What if the student wants to keep going to school while pregnant?

According to Anne Cole, director of the Fairfield University department of health services, if you become pregnant, you can stay in the residence halls until delivery and can return afterwards only without the baby. Cole confirmed that Fairfield students have become pregnant but would not discuss how often it occurs.

Residence Life has a protocol to make sure the student is under medical prenatal care and to offer support for her decisions. “Res Life staff members are not to be judgmental about a student’s choices,” said Laura Cantrell, associate director of Residence Life. She also noted that Fairfield has no restrictions about being a pregnant student or being pregnant while living in a residence hall.

With all the physical symptoms that come along with pregnancy, it is not unreasonable to assume that a pregnant student would need some “sick” days. However, the university has no policy on this and does not offer any special privileges to pregnant students regarding missing class or heavy workloads.

“I know professors at Fairfield that would give you a zero for the day if you were in the hospital giving birth on a test day and ones that would let you have a make-up for the test you missed,” said Cantrell. “It is up to each professor.”

“If a student has any valid reason (for missing class), including health care during pregnancy, I do my best to help the student make up the material they have missed, and to make up any tests they might have missed,” said Dr. Victor Newton, a physics professor. “Healthcare needs due to pregnancy should be considered at least as important and needful as any others.”

Not all professors feel this way. “Pregnancy isn’t an illness,” said Dr. Phyllis Braun, a biology professor. “There is no reason, unless a medical situation occurred, to miss class. A doctor’s excuse is the only excused absence.”

Dr. George Lang, a professor in the math department, feels that pregnancy does not interfere with students getting work done as much as its aftermath. “In my 33 years here, I have not had students miss class, as far as I know, due to pregnancy,” Lang said.

“Most women find they can continue most of their activities throughout their pregnancies. Students have had more attendance problems due to child care. Women who are pregnant and planning to continue their studies would be wise to work out the logistics for child care well before their due date.”

“Being pregnant would require lots of doctor’s visits and days of feeling sick. I think a professor should treat that as they would treat any other important doctor’s visit or sick day,” said Meghan Sullivan ’06. “As for missing class for childcare, that would understandably be unexcused. If you are going to have a baby and remain in school, you need to take responsibility and figure out how you’re going to work that.”

When a student finds out she is pregnant, there are many options she can explore. According to Cantrell, Fairfield offers counseling from many different levels of expertise, from the resident advisor, residence hall coordinator, Health Center, Counseling Center, and outside agencies. “Res life staff members are not limited in what can be discussed with a student,” she said.

If a student decides they want to terminate the pregnancy or give the child up for adoption, they can contact Planned Parenthood in Bridgeport to find local options.

If the student decides to stay on campus during pregnancy, the Health Center will help as a liaison between the student and the hospital where she will give birth. “We have had pregnant students here, but they choose to havetheir care elsewhere,” said Cole. “Of course we are available for any medicalcondition, but we would refer to an obstetrician for pre-natal care.”

According to Cantrell, the OB-GYN doctor can help find lamaze classes for the student, most of which are at the hospital where the student decides to deliver, and are taken during the third trimester. Bridgeport Hospital offers childbirth prep classes, breastfeeding classes, and child readiness classes.

When the baby comes, if the mother wants to stay with it, she cannot return to the residence halls. Many larger schools such a the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the University of California at Los Angeles offer family housing for married students or students with children. Fairfield does not offer any such housing for students who become mothers.

“Many of the six schools I have worked at did not have family housing,” said Cantrell. “Fairfield University is a school geared towards students from high school and thus does not provide family housing since it is not the market that we draw our students from. I would venture to say that the majority of our peer institutions and other Jesuit schools do not have family housing.”

“Regardless of the fact that most students do not procreate during their time at Fairfield, family housing should always be an option,” said Michaela Smith ’06. “We are a Jesuit school with somewhat strict standards, like single sex floors, etc., so it is something that the school is probably against, but it should be available for students in various domestic situations so that they can finish their education.”

Does Fairfield’s Jesuit affiliation have anything to do with its policies on pregnant students?

“Yes and no,” said Cantrell. “Fairfield handles students as individuals and is interested in them finishing their education thus no students would be asked to leave due to a pregnancy. Fairfield University does not give out birth control at the health center, but will discuss options with you and liaison for you to explore birth control options.”