Any pregnant teachers able to advise?

[Myusername2015]

Hi all; I'm 7 weeks pregnant (private dating scan yesterday so saw heartbeat etc) I'm on half term at the moment but I'm feeling awful: I can't get out of bed for sickness and I'm stressing about going back to work next week. When did you guys tell school? I'm worried about having to leave lessons to be sick without them knowing why but also know how vulnerable early pregnancy is and the chances of miscarriage. Do I pretend to have a random sickness bug for the next month or tell them?

[LottieDoubtie]

Tell your head unless you really don't trust him/her.

I had to tell at 7 weeks because that's when my HG kicked in. I was off work from then until 22 weeks - honestly not trying to scare you, only you know how bad you feel- but I'm trying to reassure you that if you are that poorly and you need the time off it will be ok.

[mrsbarnettsbaby]

I would tell head and immediate colleagues. Class TA if primary.

[NonnoMum]

You might find that the sickness is just for the early days. Take a couple of days recovering now, then see how you feel. You might find it's not HG just early hormones and then you'll be fine! Kids are usually very respectful of a pregnant teacher... (not that you ned to tell them just yet!)

[ImpYCelyn]

Well I told my head at 8 weeks as I knew I'd be going on mat leave two weeks into the year and they were starting to timetable. He promptly told pretty much every member of staff he came across. I was massively pissed off.

But if you need to be signed off the doctor will write the reason and he'll find out anyway.

[Trifleorbust]

I told work at 13 weeks.

I had morning sickness and evening sickness, occasional lunch time sickness but some strange mechanism kicked in when I entered the classroom: I forgot I was pregnant and no longer felt queasy

[ellesbellesxxx]

Oh My word, are you me? 6 weeks today and feeling as sick as a dog. We had IVF (which SLT know about and were v supportive and discreet) so know they will be supportive and happy but I feel wretched! We have our scan Monday and I go back Tuesday so will tell them then (if all ok!) I think legally you have more protection too as absence is recorded as pregnancy related.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

[LottieDoubtie]

But if you need to be signed off the doctor will write the reason and he'll find out anyway.

Ah not necessarily - I had a doctor sign me off for a 'gynaecological problem'. Frankly I was glad I'd told the speculation on that could have been worse 😮

[Sunshinie]

I told my head a couple of weeks ago, when I was about 7 weeks. I thought I needed to as although I hadn't been sick I was so tired and not keeping on top of marking or planning. Last week was parents' evenings and my head got cover in the afternoon before the late night so I could go home and sleep. To be honest I think most people at school have guessed as I've looked so ill and tired. Really not sure how I'm going to cope next week.
I would tell your head as they have a duty of care towards you but only if they know.

[Myusername2015]

Ah congratulations to you too!! Hoping the scan on Monday is great news; I was so nervous before mine yesterday. And hoping your sickness dies down too; we must be due around the same date! Xxx

[Myusername2015]

Thanks all for the advise..love mums net! Xx

[Whatsername17]

Last year when I fell pregnant I told SLT and the cover manager as I knew id need to go for appointments etc. They kept it quiet and were lovely. I was about 6 weeks when I told them. I found out at 11 weeks that my baby had died. This happened over the Christmas holidays and when I eventually miscarried I needed a week off of work at the begining of the new term .(Actual miscarriage didnt happen until the 9th of January despite being diagnosed on the 23rd of December).My work were amazing. They sent flowers, people took on my duties when I came back, and were very compassionate. I was really grateful. The one thing I will say is that because I miscarried at 13 weeks, by that time in my pregnancy I didnt want to pretend it didnt happen. I wanted people to know what I'd lost because I was utterly bereft. No one talked about it or tried to get me to talk about it, but they treated me like any other grieving person and showed compassion. If I hadnt asked that staff be made aware of why I was off for a whole week the reaction when I got back would have been very negative and people would have questioned me as to my whereabouts. I wouldnt have coped. Im now 27 weeks and 5 days pregnant and, again, work have been amazing. I told them at 6 weeks again. I was a nervous wreck and work were so suportive. I'd recomend being honest with SLT even if you keep it quiet with everyone else. A few years ago, when I was pregnant with my daughter, the head teacher insisted he needed to see a group of my Year 8's and told me that he was taking over my lesson. It turned out that there was a pupil who had supected slapped cheek syndrome and he didnt want me worrying. The boy was fine, didnt have it at all, but the boss wanted to make sure I wasnt put at risk.

[LittleGreyCatwithapinkcollar]

My HoD asked me at 7 weeks if I was pregnant so I told her! The other tlr holder in our dept was there too. I told the head at 10 weeks after a scan (didn't know exactly how far I was before as no period between pregnancies!). Everyone else found out when i was taken very ill at 13 weeks and off for over a month (not pregnancy related) but it all came out then!

[cansu]

I didn't say anything until after scan at around 12 weeks. I was v sick until about 16 weeks and in the early stages I style dome throwing up for about three weeks. Dr wrote sick note saying something non specific but true also.

[ElliemackB]

We went through IVF so my headmaster knew right from the beginning! If you have a supportive and hopefully trustworthy head I would speak to them sooner rather than later as you may need some extra support in the early days. I told my TA but waited until 12 weeks to tell everyone else. Congratulations on your pregnancy and I hope you feel better soon xx

[ellesbellesxxx]

Oo yay, yes June 21st! Are you the 14th?
V nervous but after a long struggle to get this far, feeling like the sickness is hopefully a good sign!
When would you go off work? I am thinking Easter 😂

[BikeRunSki]

I'm not a teacher, so can't advise on that aspect, but this webiste may be helpful for the sickness side of things.

[fourcorneredcircle]

I was having fertility treatment which the head knew about as I had a number of appointments etc. Over the last year. I told him at five weeks because I was feeling really ropey. Good job I did as within an hour I'd started vomiting and didn't stop (I now know I have HG). The staffroom is right next to the ladies toilets and I vomited all through briefing, break and lunch so I'm sure my colleagues all have an idea anyway. I ended up being signed off for the last two weeks of half term and now it's half term. Dreading next week. We shall see what happens.

Not sure when I want to take maternity from. I'm the only teacher in my departments AND I'm SENCO sooooo lots of pressure. I will negotiate teaching my Y11s until their exam (very early exam) but dropping the rest of my classes from Easter time and just doing SENCO stuff. Will depend on the budget :s I'd love to make it to May half term but that's 38 weeks.

[Myusername2015]

Ellesbelles yes June 16th! Everyone is assuming half term but I'm thinking that's a lot of time to go! Unfortunately I teach a very exam heavy subject so only have year 11/12 and 13 so im sure they'll try and make me hang on as long as possible...also head of year so another problem! Definitely agree about sickness although I've been laying crying about it tonight haha so hormonal! Hope you're feeling a bit better xx

[teacher54321]

I paid for an early scan at 10 weeks so I could tell the headmaster before a massive school event I was running (Director of music so lots of public events in front of lots of people) he was brilliant about it although I wasn't keen on him personally. He told certain members of SLT and made sure I had plenty of support. I then told my colleagues after my 12 week scan. I was lucky because I didn't have sickness or anything like that but was signed off from 32 weeks as I had terrible high blood pressure and borderline pre eclampsia. Just do your best and look after yourself-teachers always push themselves to the limit, but we are only human! Hope all goes well

[Helbelle75]

I told my head at 7 weeks, when we returned to school. I also told a couple of close colleagues and the one who teaches in the classroom next to me just in case I had to run out.
Fortunately, I haven't suffered from sickness very much, just exhaustion. I officially told school after the 12 week scan so that risk assessments could be put in place etc.
I'm due 11th April and going to try to go to the easter holidays.