When most women look at pregnancy, they see it as a new chapter in their lives, something to obviously look forward to. I was a child that grew up in the standard four person household and had always dreamed of having a large family.

So, why exactly did my heart drop when I stood in the bathroom holding a positive pregnancy test?

You'd think that if my main wish was to be a caring mother to many children (I originally wanted five), my reaction would be anything but disappointed.

But something major loomed over my head. "How am I going to deal with school?" Now, somewhere inside of me, I was happy that I was pregnant. However, I had become so in love with my major that plans of bearing a child had been placed in the back of my mind. I knew that I wanted to focus on school and still carry my child, but my main concern was how I was going to achieve a healthy pregnancy and still be successful in school.

No one knew how I felt. All of my friends who have had children had either dropped or flunked out of school.

According to USA Today, 23 percent of undergraduate students are pregnant and 10 percent of those students drop out of school.

That is a double negative for me. I needed to graduate, and in good standing. After doing research and reading stories of mothers who dealt with pregnancy while attending college, I thought that there had to be a way for me to be a successful college graduate.

I started the fall semester at the beginning of my pregnancy and had my daughter the middle of my spring semester. I've reached my trial and tribulations, but, after coming up with a plan, dealing with pregnancy while also being a successful student was easier than I thought.

Based on my experience, here are 7 helpful tips for getting through a pregnancy while studying in college.

1.Take a light class load

One of the major concerns that I had was graduating with my class. I feared that, if I reduced the number of credits that I took, I would graduate late. However, I was going to be a mother, and being a mother meant making sacrifices.

If you can and if you have time, try to go through your schedule and see if there are any classes that you can wait to take. If you are used to taking a minimum of 16 credits, try to cut it to 12 credits. You will still be considered a full time student, and you will have time to rest as well.

Trust me, you do not want the extra stress during your pregnancy. Stress+ Pregnancy = DANGER.

2. Try to look for online classes

It is helpful to take classes online if you can. This will give you a chance to work, stress free, on your assignments in the comfort of your home. Almost all colleges and universities have online programs. You'd be surprised at how many required classes can be taken outside of the classroom.

3. Talk to professors

I made the mistake of waiting to talk to my professors towards the beginning of my pregnancy. I had the worst morning sickness and found myself missing out on class because I felt so horrible. After sitting down with my professors, especially towards the end of my pregnancy, they all were understanding and helped me come up with a plan to either study independently or find other methods which would help me succeed in the classroom.

4. Find Your Support Team

Pregnancy is NOT easy, but having someone there for you can help lessen any negative feelings you may have. For me, it was my family, friends, and my husband. If I did not have them, I would truly feel alone. I needed someone to talk to. It's understandable, though, that some would like to keep their pregnancy quiet for a bit, but would still like the support. There are many different resources out there, such as counseling, which can help you in your situation.

5. Ignore The Looks

Though pregnancy is very, VERY common today, some people might think that seeing a pregnant student walking around campus is a bit odd. Trust me, I've gotten those looks. I have seen students whisper behind my back, and let's not forget the classic comment: "But you're so young!" I have even gained the nickname 'the Pregnant Girl'.

No matter what people say, it should never influence you to feel ashamed of your pregnancy. Like I said before, it is a wonderful thing! I won't lie, you will get looks. A lot of them, too, but just keep your head up. What you are doing is incredibly brave and inspiring.

6. Pack Ahead Of Time

I know this tip might belong more in the "Tips to Be Successful in School", but it is completely necessary in this case as well. If your pregnancy exhausts you like mine did, then you'd come to realize that getting up in the morning becomes 10 times harder than it usually is. With lethargy and morning sickness becoming an annoying gift of pregnancy, all I wanted to do was skip class and lay in bed.

Before I started packing beforehand, I was often late or would not be motivated to get to class. An easy way for you to have a stress free morning is to pack your things the night before. All you have to do is get ready and head out the door, simple as that!

7. Request Time Off a Few Weeks Before Your Due Date

Okay ladies, the last thing we want is for our water to break right in the middle of a lecture! Not only would that be embarrassing, but that would truly be frightening as well!

That was actually my real fear.

I did not want to lose days in the semester, however, my time was close. Labor was unpredictable and I needed to make sure I was close to the hospital. At the beginning of the semester, I informed my professors that I would be leaving in the middle of the semester. Not only did I have to speak to each professor individually, but I also had to go to the school's disability department to make a formal request for absences. It is important to have this kind of communication with professors as well as other faculty members.

Requesting time off from school a few weeks before your due date is a key to a safe delivery. You do not want to have to drive yourself to the hospital in immense amount of pain, do you? With time off from classes, at least you will be able to study and won't have that worry about anything happening while you are in class.

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Being a pregnant student in college is completely doable, but it is a challenge. I know that if I could do it, then anyone can.

Every day, I look in my daughter's eyes and smile. Everything that I am doing, I am doing for her. She is my main blessing and I do not regret a thing. I cannot wait to walk across the stage and look out in the audience to see her smile.

After all, I did have my little best friend cheering me on every step of the way.