When I should I start ttc my next baby?

[IHaveAFeatureWallAndILikeIt]

I am doing a PGCE at the moment, and assuming (fingers crossed) that I secure a job for september would it be practical to be pregnant during my NQT year or would I have to wait until the year after? Or in the holidays between my NQT and first proper year?

DH is getting really really broody and I feel unfair saying no, although I have to get my career underway first. It would be so much easier if he could be pregnant because he has his career already! Its the tiredness and sickness that concerns me, I didn't work through my last pregnancy (we lived with my lovely MIL) but would have to this time round.

I would've found my nqt yr near impossible if I was pregnant too. That year is a stressful one, you inevitably work long hours and it's very draining while you're trying to get to know the job and juggle planning, assessment, regular lesson obs and general workload organisation with life.
I'm an experienced teacher and I found it a tough job to be pregnant in as you have to be 'switched on' the whole time- you can't go hide in a corner for few hours when you feel crap.

From a maternity pay perspective, you would need to be employed before you conceive to be entitled to statutory pay and possibly longer for additional pay ( how much extra usually varies depending on how long you've been working for them)

If you think you can handle all this on top of pregnancy then go for it. It's not impossible and I'm sure you'd find a way to cope. However, I think it will be a tough old time for you.

I agree. The NQT year is relentless hard work. It would not be the ideal time to be pregnant. Also you would need to complete the whole NQT year to be fully qualified, not go off on maternity leave towards the end of it. Definitely I would not recommend ttc between now and september as you don't want to start your NQT year already pregnant if you can help it. Establishing yourself in a new teaching job and working all hours is not compatible with morning sickness and all the other joys of pregnancy.

My advice would be to wait to ttc until the end of your NQT year. Then, even if it happens fast, you'll have been in your job over a year before you go on leave and should be entitled to the occupational maternity pay.

thats what I thought, and what I told him before I started my PGCE. I was just hoping it would be more possible than I envisaged! I'll tell DH that he has to wait, which is fine for me because I am not broody because ds is a real pickle and I want to wait for him to understand simple instructions such as "no" and "stop whinging" before I think about having another!!