To put job-hunting aside for baby n. 2?

[MakkaPakka84]

I am 37 and had my DD two years ago - got pregnant quickly, everything was quite smooth. Recently, have been on the fence on if and when to give DD a sibling:I am in a bit of a dead-end job careerwise, but I have a lot of flexibility in terms of choosing my time, working from home, etc. I was really hoping to move on after my first maternity leave, but Covid happened and, despite going to 6 or 7 interviews, nothing came out of it.

In the past month, there has been a flurry of interesting jobs, which would be a bit of a step up from my current role. I am however really torn on whether to apply as I feel now it might be a bit too late to throw myself into a high-pressure role if TTC is on the cards in the near future. I work in a very close-knit industry where everyone knows each other, it wouldn't be great if I were to get pregnant very quickly after moving jobs. I am conscious of my age: 38 in January, if I jump now and have to wait until the end of my probation, probably I will have to delay ttc for another year...

At the same time, I am worried that if I stay in my current role I will never leave, as my life will be even harder after having another child. Been there for almost 6 years already!

Really torn and anxious about what to do. Since Covid, I am finding it so had to make decisions of any kind, let alone life-changing decisions like this!

Why would you not go for a promotion if there are good opportunities available? I know people who have done this whilst actually pregnant.

It must be quite a toxic workplace/industry if pregnancy is so frowned upon.

Go for the better jobs. By the time you get pregnant and then take maternity leave it could be at least a year anyway. Other people could go for those jobs and leave anyway in that timeframe.

You are over thinking this.

don't put off the job hunting
I got pregnant 5 weeks into a new job. It wasn't planned, I felt terrible about it, but we all coped. Work were brilliant about everything, and that's one reason I'm still there a decade later.

I don't think you're overthinking it. I don't think there are many employers who would be happy for a new hire to get pregnant.

But it's your life, really the TTC decision is so much more important. If that's what you want, focus on that and let the jobs stuff fit around it. I would apply for new jobs and ttc to see what happens first!

@myfuckingfreezer @socalledfriend I might be overthinking it.... but then other things come to mind:

1. new job will be more stressful - not sure how I would handle a new job, a toddler AND a pregnancy
2. I would have to wait for the probation to be over before actively ttc 3)At the moment I have a sweet set up of working 4 days a week, half of the time from home

On the other hand, my current role is leaving me a bit brain dead inside.... and how will I ever muster the energy to make a move after DC2 is here?

Ah, decisions decisions.... did I say how paralised I have been at making decisions lately? I swear it's a pandemic thing. I have been stuck for ages at choosing which sandwich to buy in the supermarket as well

I would try to ttc while job hunting. If you get pregnant, stay for the mat leave. If you get a job, wait to ttc till passed probation.

I know people who fell pregnant their first month and then for the second took years - especially at your age your fertility can drop off a cliff. Go about your life - if you fall pregnant quickly great but don't make decisions on planning to be pregnant.

I've just been promoted at my current place and I'm almost 6 months pregnant. I will be in my new role for a maximum of 3 months before taking a full 12 months maternity leave. They knew this before offering me the role and so are fully onboard that they'll need a fixed term contractor to cover my role whilst I'm away.

Personally in your position I absolutely would be looking at and interviewing for new roles. If you do get an offer then just check the contract with respect to any enhanced maternity pay etc before you make a solid decision. So long as you're not pregnant prior to starting a new job you'll be entitled to SMP.

Good luck with everything 😄