Lourdes D'Cruz and baby Hannah.
Lourdes D'Cruz and baby Hannah.
10 December 2012

New graduate Lourdes D’Cruz would have had a good excuse for extending her thesis submission deadline – considering her baby’s due date fell on the very same day.

The Bachelor of Psychological Science graduate of The University of Queensland fell pregnant not long after embarking on her honours research studies, but it was the baby’s due date that surprised her more.

“Wednesday, October 10 was the date for the thesis, and I was due to have my baby on the 10th,” said Mrs D’Cruz, who graduates on Monday, December 10.

Baby Hannah D’Cruz arrived a day earlier than expected at Mater Mothers’ Hospital.

Mrs D’Cruz managed the situation well, submitting her 10,500-word thesis on the Friday before, heavily pregnant and only two days from her first labour pains.

“I was aiming to submit it at end of September, but I’m a bit of a perfectionist so I was making changes and changes,” she said.

“But I didn’t know if I would have the chance to submit it again later. I had to stop.”

As well as delivering academically, she was also now well prepared for childbirth. Her thesis – Childbirth Intentions: A Study of Young Childless Women’s Preferences, had ensured she was more informed than most new mothers.

“Because the topic had personal relevance, it became my passion. I had to make the choices myself and I had to find out the advantages and disadvantages of all the choices I was making. It was a double-edged sword because not all of the reading was positive,” she said.

“At the Honours Conference I was there with my huge bump talking about delivery mode and birth attendant preference. Unsurprisingly the focus turned to my soon-to-be childbirth during the question round.”

Mrs D’Cruz said the support of Professor of Health Psychology Christina Lee in the School of Psychology helped keep her on track with her studies throughout the pregnancy.

“I thought ‘I could get an extension and this would be a reasonable excuse, but then I would have a baby and it would be difficult to work’. I decided I would give it my best and leave the rest to God,” she said.

The psychology program prepares graduates for a range of rewarding occupations in the health and human services sectors, and is the first step in becoming a professional psychologist. Mrs D’Cruz looks forwards to completing a research PhD in future.

Head of the School of Psychology Bill von Hippel said completing a thesis was a challenge in itself, let alone juggling it with a pregnancy.

“Her success could certainly inspire others who are working to a looming academic deadline.”

More than 7000 students are graduating from UQ, including the University’s 10,000th PhD, with most attending at least one of 20 ceremonies from December 6 to 17.

This graduating cohort joins an international network of UQ alumni, of which there have been more than 200,000 in the University’s history.

Media: Janelle Kirkland, UQ Communications, 07 3356 0561 or j.kirkland@uq.edu.au