Change job, get pregnant or both

[Rocheroche]

I am feeling rather overwhelmed with decisions at the moment. I am 32. Things at work have been a challenge and I want to leave and do something else. However I have also been considering starting a family soon. I have seen a job that I am interested in applying for but worry about the implications of changing job and then potentially getting pregnant and going on maternity 6-9 months into the new role. Do I stay in my current job and focus on having a baby or do I go for the new job and not worry about it, or do I delay having a baby?!

I think the worry about changing jobs before conceiving would be maternity leave entitlement, which you would need to accrue.

If that isn't a consideration for some reason, I wouldn't hold off changing jobs. Apart from the maternity benefit situation, it is two separate things. If you have an opportunity to change jobs and that is what you want to do, go ahead. You may not get pregnant straight away anyway.

I started a new job once and found out I was pregnant a week later. I hadn't planned it. I felt really awkward about it, but the employer was absolutely brilliant and never made me feel bad about it. Stuff just sometimes happens.

Just have a good think about your job security as you can be let go from a role for any reason early on and, although sacking you for having a baby is illegal, they could find any number of 'reasons' if they decide to do that when you haven't been in the job long and it would. Be difficult to prove.

Yes so I am a teacher and from doing some research I am pretty certain that even if I change schools it is considered 'continuous service' and I would be entitled to maternity pay. I do worry about what the new school would think. I also think I could delay starting a family for a bit (6 months perhaps) but a part of me worries about infertility and age

Ah yes. You would be fine then, as long as you aren't planning a move to an academy or free school who don't use the Burgundy book. (I am a teacher too).

Life is too short to stay in a job you're not happy in and some schools are so much better than others.

I would go for the new job and then see how you feel.

I think apply for the new job. If you get the job, you could wait until starting the job before trying for a baby. It could take a couple of months to fall pregnant, and a couple more before you would tell work anyway so you could be in the job 6 months by that time.

If you’d get maternity pay then I’d do it but perhaps wait at least 3 months. If you stay in your current job then when you come back after maternity leave you may find it hard to leave and find a part time position if that’s something you want after.

I'm 35 and was unhappy in my job for a while. Had also been trying to get pregnant for 12 months but had 2 miscarriages in the process. I eventually put what I want first rather than thinking what others (employers etc) would think. Ppl get pregnant all the time and move jobs all the time.
I'm now 12wks pregnant and have accepted an offer on a new job this week. I haven't told my new boss as I don't need to legally until 15 weeks before due date.
It all happened at once which I sometimes feel is the way once you take matters into your own hands.
Good luck - just do what makes you happy.

It took me 2.5 years to get pregnant. I'd always say, change jobs. If you're unhappy change now.

FWIW I changed jobs twice during the 2 years I was TTC. I fell pregnant bang on a year into a new job. Perfect timing really.

I would do both. A colleague of mine started a new job in November. She goes on mat leave this September. No big deal, no one has thought anything of it. It’s particularly easy as a teacher when maternity cover is really straightforward (less so in my field which is really niche and there’s literally only a few people in the UK who can properly do my job). Nothing is guaranteed so I’d just go for it.