Quitting job to TTC?

[StrawberryDreams]

Hi

I'm in a very stressful job and thinking of quitting to TTC#2. Just wondering if anyone else had done this?

Financially I can afford to take a few years off work. My job is high pressure and I hate it, it is not family friendly and I went back when DC1 was 12 weeks old (not by choice, under threat). I regret that now.

TTC is not easy and we had trouble with DC1. I have an appointment with my consultant to discuss pre-conception medication changes (I have a couple long term health issues which cause lots of problems combined with pregnancy). If I do fall pregnant I'll need fortnightly scans and weekly appointments. I'm not sure I can face all that and working. Stress also makes my existing medical conditions worse, which in turn will make it harder to TTC.

Just wondering if anyone else had given up a job before getting pregnant. The job only offers SMP.

I wouldn't.

If I could afford to have a few years off work I'd much rather wait until DC2 was here so I could spend that time with them.

I also feel it would put you under huge pressure to conceive if your sole purpose/job was getting pregnant. You'd have nothing to take your mind off it if you do have difficulties conceiving.

If your job is very family un-friendly you could always quit once you actually are pregnant. Although personally I'd try and tough it out to get the SMP, they legally have to give you time off for appointments anyway.

I also think a gap in your CV is much easier to explain as maternity leave/SAHM than just leaving employment to try and conceive. If someone said that was the reason for their career break in a job interview I'm not sure I'd believe them.

I wouldn't either (and haven't - currently struggling to conceive no.1). I need work as a distraction, frankly. I think I'd go even more mental than I already am about ttc if that was all I had to focus on.

I have a high stress City job too.

Would it be possible try and get another less stressful job? I can sympathise, but I do agree with the others that it seems an extremely drastic step. What will you do with your time if you're not working? I'm not clear if work will allow you to take a few years off and then automatically let you come back- if not you'd be looking for a new job anyway. Surely when that happens it'd be better to have some job on your CV rather than a gap? Although I'm not sure that explaining to a future employer that you took a career break to TTC would be so terrible- but you would have to convince them your family was complete otherwise they'd see you as a flight risk I guess.

I wouldn't advise it,too risky,too precarious
you'll eat into savings, and will potentially make a return to work hard
your work legally has to honour pg related appts, or you could go private and be seen weekend /evening

Don't do it. Find another job that you enjoy instead. Having nothing to do other than thinking about ttc is anything than relaxing, it will drive you crazy!
If you fall pg before starting the new job or shortly after - nothing wrong with that, happens all the time!

If you hate your job, I'd use your good finances to plan a career change into something more family friendly and enjoyable for your first dc and you, whilst ttc. That way you'll win either way which is better if it takes a while.