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Pregnancy

Teachers and Mat Leave

14 replies

ScotsLamb · 19/06/2017 19:36

Hi all

I'm due on Christmas Eve. I've been thinking about Mat leave as school have mentioned it a couple of times. I know I'm early on in pregnancy but when did other teachers stop?
Our final day of term before Christmas is 21st December. I bring in the main income so the longer I'm off on mat leave the less money we have.
Anyone taught so close to their due date? I know I can move it forward if need be but is it silly to put it so close to due date?

OP posts:

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10Betty10 · 19/06/2017 19:39

I'm a teacher and am 36 weeks at the moment and am finishing on 7th of July when I'm 39 weeks. Am managing fine, the worst bit is the commute to be honest. My work have said to set it officially as whenever I want, then can always go a bit earlier if needs be. So you aren't being silly no!

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SweepTheHalls · 19/06/2017 19:41

I've been due on boxing day and the 30th, December , and worked until the last day of term both times, and put down my start of maternity leave as my due date. I also returned for the last week of the summer term each time!

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ScarletSienna · 19/06/2017 19:44

HR said the latest I could start maternity leave was the Sunday before my due date but my DC was early I was teaching the day before arrival in the end. You can always change it to earlier if you need to. Congratulations!

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ScotsLamb · 19/06/2017 19:57

Thanks guys! I'm secondary school Maths so I'm not running after little people all the time. You have all made me feel happier about it. Feeling guilty enough about leaving half way through the year.

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10Betty10 · 19/06/2017 20:22

One thing I've found helps is to ask HR to get you one of the nice ergonomic back support type chairs for your office/non classroom working area. Also bringing in a little stool to shove under desk and prop feet up has been a godsend for feet swelling (I thought I'd got away with it, however have developed full on cankle hoofs in the last fortnight- that may just be summer pregnancys though!)

And also if your building has lots of stairs and there's the option of using the lift then do it! (I got given a lift key and have been using it shamelessly for at least a month).

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10Betty10 · 19/06/2017 20:23

Bloody phone- hooves. Pregnancies. I do know how to use plurals I promise!

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Aliveinwanderland · 19/06/2017 20:25

I teach and finished on 38 weeks.

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Outbackshack · 19/06/2017 20:26

Was due on Saturday 20th worked until Friday 19th. No problems as cover already in place so able to office based stuff and data in final weeks

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MollyBloomYes · 19/06/2017 20:32

I think I finished about 36 weeks (finished at Easter holidays then started my mat leave the first day of term). To be honest I was absolutely done by then but it was an SEN school and I was teaching Year 1 so very physical!

I would say though that having a bit of time to completely relax and get your head out of the game before birth was marvellous and not to be underestimated! I know that money doesn't always allow for this but if you can squeeze maybe a week or so it really is nice to put your feet up and sleep whenever you want! I missed that time very much as a SAHM when pregnant with my second-no chance of relaxing with a toddler in tow!

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noblegiraffe · 19/06/2017 20:33

With my first I tried teaching to 39 weeks because I was due in the summer holiday and then could have started maternity leave the day of the birth (ended up not giving birth till mid-August at 41 weeks). I didn't make it and ended up on mat leave 3 days before the end of term. I was exhausted and couldn't cope any more. It didn't help being hot, but with gained time I wasn't actually teaching that much so I don't know if it would have been different if it had been a full timetable but midwinter.

You won't know how you feel until you're there, I had an easy pregnancy and felt fine up till the week or so before.

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vfoster · 19/06/2017 23:10

I finished at 34 weeks with my first as she was due at the end of August so I had a bonus 6 weeks off before she arrived.
Haven't timed it so well this time as I'm booked in for my section 3 weeks today and finishing for maternity this Friday.
I've had a fairly easy pregnancy and still feel pretty good to be honest but I always had a plan to leave early if I needed it. If you cal in sick (pregnancy related only) sighing 4 weeks of your maternity leave you automatically start the leave.
I'm secondary English could probably do another 2 weeks physically if it wasn't for this heat! But after a formal observation, a twilight and a dept. Meeting in the next two days I think I'll be more than ready on Friday.

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vfoster · 19/06/2017 23:12

Some of this makes no sense...blaming that on being hot and tired 🙈

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DrMadelineMaxwell · 19/06/2017 23:14

I was born 6 weeks early, so that's when I chose to finish, just in case my DC were early too. I'm glad I did, they were born 4 weeks early and I'd only had 2 weeks to sort some things out after finishing. DD2 was also born 4 weeks early, so again I was glad that I finished at 34 weeks.