Not fit to do my job after maternity leave

[bluebellaa]

I had a somewhat tough time during pregnancy with my health (PGP meant I couldn't even turn over in bed without being woken up by pain), and unfortunately the ride has been worse during postpartum.

My usual job is in front line health care requiring a lot of manual handling as well as autonomous decision making. My health during pregnancy wasn't brilliant (severe PGP meaning I couldn't turn over in bed without being woken up by pain, let alone walking much), but unfortunately my health has continued to deteriorate postpartum.

I am not currently fit to return to my previous role - I am now underweight and continuing to lose ~0.5kg per week, I am chronically sleep deprived (no more than 2 hours of consecutive sleep in 8 months), I'm getting back to back colds/viruses... there is no way I would be safe to treat patients for 12+ hours.

As DD gets older and things hopefully begin to improve naturally, I believe I will once again become fit to practice, but this is not going to happen before I'm due to return and I can't put a time frame on how long this is likely to be.

I don't want to be seen as taking the piss by going off sick and I'm getting increasingly worried I will be dismissed if I do so as it's an admission that I cannot do the job I was employed to do.

Any advice, please? Thank you.

When are you due back to work OP? A year?
How long have you been sick/run down? As im finding a lot of people over the past couple of months have been picking up lots of different nasty bugs and have been generally run down including most of my NHS work colleagues. The amount of people who have been off sick has been really high.
Or has this been going on since baby was born?? If so what bloods have you had taken?
Exercise will help build up muscle and stamina not just loosing weight. No exercise will make you feel worse. What has your diet been like? You say 3000kal but 3000 Kal on fruit, veg, protein?
Or sleep deprived sugar hits? Getting peaks and troughs?

Stop breast feeding and option? Gentle sleep training? Any support from partner.
Sorry about all the questions!

If you work for the NHS can you see their occ health? They're often very good. Mine kept me off with anxiety/panic for three months after a patient punched me/knocked me out and would have happily kept me off longer if I handed pushed to go back.

But you are sick. Look after your health and your family.

What age do you plan to turn the baby monitor off? Unless you live in a massive house and sleep on a different floor, you will hear her if she needs you.

what advice would you give a patient with the same issues as you?

Hey OP. This all sounds really tough I too am in a front line role and no way could I go back in the condition you are.
Definitely push for thyroid tests from GP and get into communication with work so they know the issues and aren’t blindsided at 12 months or whenever.
Kindly - would you not consider turning off the monitor? You’ll hear her if she cries and really needs you but not if she’s resettling….. might help you to get a bit more sleep xx

When is your mat leave due to end? You normally have a return to work meeting with you manager so you'll be able to raise your concerns about your health and your return to work then. If you work for the nhs, you should be able to contact occupational health yourself. I work at a large hospital and we have occupational on site.

What is your GP saying? Your manager and HR? Are you being supported?

If you are not fit to do your old job,and reasonable adjustments can't be made, and they don't have another vacancy eg an admin role to offer you, you may need legal advice? lack of capabilityy_ is one of the potentially fair reasons for dismissing someone.

You are probably best to ask for this to be moved so you get some good MN HR / employment advice.

Hi op HR Here - I'm not clear if you have returned back to work yet ?
If not, to have extended sick leave without being dismissed you should seek a diagnosis, if it's linked to the pregnancy even 'better' as it's a protected characteristic so your employer must try to make 'reasonable' adjustments for you such as no heavy lifting or job share for shorter shifts.
If the reasonable adjustments don't work or aren't possible, they may eventually go down the capability dismissal route (as they can't pay you forever for not working) but this will take time as they must do everything by the book.
As others have said, an occ health review is needed asap. Good luck.
Ps do you have a copy of your company sick pay policy ?

is baby’s dad there to help with nights? Could you sleep elsewhere for a couple of nights to not hear the monitor?

Hi OP. I am in the same situation as you (NHS consultant and many similar issues/difficulties.

I think the biggest issue was severe sleep deprivation - I maybe averaged 2 hours altogether a night for at least a year. (My DH was very ill so couldn’t help with nights, and my DS has a health condition that meant sleep was impossible, along with a caring for my newborn). I really feel for you because it is absolute torture - it drove me to the edge of madness ❤️ I could barely function or cope with small things for over a year, never mind about work.

I spoke to OH, my supervisor and also my GP regularly. I used up all my accrued annual leave, and then was signed off sick for 5 months.

I am due to go back part-time with a phased return next week.

Really encourage you to get an OH referral (there is a long waiting list) and speak to your GP, as they will agree you are not fit to work yet and review it with you over time.

Wishing you lots of luck and I really hope things turn around soon xxx

You are clearly ill. I'm concerned about the weight loss because my friend had this when her OH left her. Her weight dropped to six stone, her thyroid was the culprit. You must be tested for this. If it's not thyroid get tested for other things. Keep pushing your GP.

Has your GO told you not to have any bloods? Thyroid function can be affected by severe or long lasting illness but there’s plenty of other things they can look at.
im not surprised your suffering on that level of sleep deprivation. It’s not compatible with healthy functioning. I think you urgently need to do something about that. Do you have a partner? Or someone else who could have the baby in the day or night to allow you to sleep? If you’re breast feeding that can make things trickier but baby should be able to go a few hours without a feed now they’re on solids or express or give formula. What are your plans for childcare could you start that early? If you’re single and no other options you health visitor may be able to get you some help.
mad others have said when do you go back to work? Have you spoken to your doctor about your concerns?