To feel like crying over not starting maternity leave?

[Lambzig]

I am 36 +4 weeks pregnant. I work pt Monday to Friday and today was supposed to be my last day in the office with the next couple of weeks taken as annual leave (I have 10 days left this year) before 'real' maternity leave starts.

I got in today to find that client meetings and conference calls have been put in my diary for monday and wednesday next week and apparently there is no-one else to do them (my team has one person on maternity leave already and one person out with client for four weeks and one person sick, so it has been very very busy) and my leave has been cancelled. The company has just been merged/taken over and several people including my line manager have left. I feel pretty vulnerable going on maternity leave at the moment, so don't feel I can say no.

I am pretty senior so am expected 'to go the extra mile' as part of my job which is normally not a problem. I dont want to let people down, but feel like bursting into tears as am finding the commute, combined with heavy workload, combined with my DD 2.5 suddenly turning into demon toddler the last few weeks, totally exhausting. I feel i have been staggering through the last week or so until today and now its going to be another week. I am having an ELCS at 39 weeks, so now will not have much down time.

Not sure I expect anyone to find a solution, but really needed a rant and DH will go ballistic.

Lamb can you book DD into nursery every day for the following week (when you are off)? That way you will be able to 'catch up' the days you are losing next week, and spend entire week in bed reading if you fancy. Might help you to have something to look forward to?

re you post at 13.47 I HEAR YOU!! My 2nd DD/PG was very much like this. It will all work out.

{{hugs}}

Despite the current working environment I would say to do the bare minimum to meet the requirement. I say this as someone who worked to 39 weeks, went into labour at 39+1 and was then put at risk of redundancy 2 months into mat leave despite being classified as a "star performer" in some HR process. Working for a new company now and very much taking the view that what will be, will be. You feel vulnerable because you are. Going the extra mile is actually unlikely to be of any benefit to you professionally and my advice would be to not put your health or your plans for some pre birth R&R at any risk. I guarantee you that if you don't make the meetings, your board member will magically find the time

HipHop, so glad that things worked out. So relieved to hear it as DD complete nightmare at the moment.