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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Teachers...

18 replies

Tea1Sugar · 03/02/2014 18:48

When are you starting maternity leave? I'd really hoped to go until end of term 4th April with ELCS on 15th April. But, well, I can't flipping cope anymore!! Is 34/35 weeks too early? I keep thinking about it being unfair for my class to accept a new teacher mid term.

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Oakmaiden · 03/02/2014 18:50

Half term would be reasonable, wouldn't it? Better that they get to settle with the teacher who will be teaching them until summer, rather than you end up having to call in sick regularly because you can't cope, and they end up with random supply teachers.

Lottiedoubtie · 03/02/2014 18:53

It's early days for me (due sept) but have just been signed off for two weeks (extreme sickness). The guilt is consuming me but you have to make peace with your limitations I think and focus on just doing what you can and making decisions that safeguard you and your baby. The school will cope.

Iheartcustardcreams · 03/02/2014 18:54

It really depends on how you feel. I worked up to 36/37 weeks with all of mine. Dc1 I started after the early May bank holiday. Dc2 I didn't go back after Easter and dc3 was due mid august so worked until end of summer term. If you can make it until the end of term you wouldn't have to start your maternity leave till your due date. Are you primary or secondary?

weebigmamma · 03/02/2014 18:54

My due date is 16th April and I was thinking of leaving in middle of March! Apart from anything I can barely go for an hour at the minute without needing the loo and the heartburn is absolutely killing me. I wouldn't leave it as late as 4th April. I know a couple who have done and as soon as they went on leave they went into labour!

Iheartcustardcreams · 03/02/2014 18:55

Also try not to feel guilty. Your pregnancy should be your priority :-)

weebigmamma · 03/02/2014 18:58

Don't be feeling guilty. Teachers who feel guilty aren't better teachers and we don't get paid more or thanked more. It's the management's job to manage when people take maternity leave and if nobody had babies teachers everywhere would be out of a job, so look at it as an investment in the education system rather than taking something away from it :-) You're also giving someone else a shot at their career (My first teaching job was a maternity leave and I didn't screw the kids' A Levels up, and it was a nice way to start the job). Enjoy your leave- there are precious little other benefits to being massively pregnant!

Charingcrossbun · 03/02/2014 19:20

I'm 35 weeks at go on Mat leave next week. It has been tough! I think if I did it again I'd go earlier. It is very difficult to "slow down and take easy" as everyone tells you to! We had ofsted last week and I was genuinely worried I might cry when they came in the room!
Things I did that helped:
Planned "project like" work with the pupils allow me to feel slightly less guilty if I missed a lesson as they knew what to do!

icklekid · 03/02/2014 20:03

I'm planning on stopping at 36 weeks which is a couple of weeks after may half term- would be too early to leave then but end of year is past due date so will only have last 4 weeks of the term to cover which shouldn't be too bad. Agree with others though have to put yourself and most importantly your baby first. I was off all last week and this week because of back pains just don't want it to get worse or continue for the next 23 weeks...

samsmother · 03/02/2014 20:35

I'm planning on getting to feb half term, however that will make me 38+1. I feel myself slowing down, and if it wasn't purely for financial reasons to working so late if be ready to go soon! That said I am happy I am going on what's a natural break in the term rather than just a week is chosen myself if that makes sense! Listen to your body, no one will thank you for staying on so late, so if you feel you need to go then go. Not sure what age you teach, I'm with 3 and 4 year olds which is tough going in itself!

PotteringAlong · 03/02/2014 20:40

I went at 36 weeks last time (oct half term). This time I am planning on working for the training day on 1st September - I'm due on the 3rd!

TK1930 · 03/02/2014 20:52

If you are really struggling then leave early. If you can make it to the end, try your best to, as you will get more time on the 'other side' which is really good. Remember you can always phone in sick for a few days here and there if you are not feeling that well. Good luck x

Alexchallex · 03/02/2014 20:59

Not too early. I left at 34 weeks. I had had enough and was getting too stressed with it. I'm about to go back to work and I'm not thinking "I wish I'd not left so early"

SummerSevern · 03/02/2014 21:34

I went at 38 and a bit, but only because I had a final year student with me, and then my mat cover with me for the last fortnight. I couldn't have done it otherwise. Getting down to 5yo level was killing me! On the plus side, the kids looked after me brilliantly!

BlanketSky · 03/02/2014 22:55

going at 32 weeks. Had enough (mostly due to PGP). I tried to work til 34 weeks last time but ended up being signed off towards the end anyway. Not sure if I will even get to 32 weeks tbh, am in so much pain, may ask GP to sign me off again. School will cope without you!

manicinsomniac · 03/02/2014 22:59

When I go into labour! Just praying I can get my massive school production in before that happens.

ImBrian · 05/02/2014 20:00

With last I left two weeks before due date and had her a week early. Im hoping to get pregnsnt again but this time I'll be working till labour as I want as much time when baby is here. I'll prob only be able to take 6/8 weeks maternity leave due to money etc.

kiwiscantfly · 06/02/2014 00:53

I left at 36 weeks and had DD at 38, which meant I'd finished on the last day of term before Christmas. DD was born on the inset day, which was funny cause my colleagues/friends all knew (ELCS) and we're texting me. Another colleague also finished the same day as me and her DC was born on Boxing Day, which gave her five days.
In the end though, only you can choose, good luck!

katster37 · 06/02/2014 08:11

With DC1 I worked until 38+2, it was a slog but I was lucky that my maternity cover had already started and so the last two weeks were just spent answering her questions and taking ridiculously small groups to do nice things! The worst bit was the commute (trains/tubes etc). I was lucky though that I felt way better at the end of the pregnancy than the beginning/middle (sickness finally stopped at about 34 weeks so last few weeks were the easiest in some ways!) Good luck with what you decide. I suppose you also have to consider how much time you'll have at the other side - I wanted to go back as late as possible when my DC was as old as possible (he was actually 9 months which seemed soooo little at the time).

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