TTC and unhappy in my job. Anyone else?

[MrsGingerbread]

Hello,

We are ttc and I am hanging on in my current job, where my career and prospects are stagnant, for a good maternity package. I am quite demotivated by my current role, but it isn't awful.

We are just going on to cycle 7 (with 2 mcs) - and now I am wondering how long I can do this, and whether I am doing the right thing.by staying here.

Am I alone? Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks!

I am exactly in this position and am hoping it he's reply with done advice or experience. It feels so demotivating, and makes a tough time (17 months TTC for us!) even harder when it's difficult to throw yourself into your job.

It's hard just to leave for another job when you know that if it happened quickly, you'd be financially f*cked!

OMG, stupid iPhone predictive! Hope you get the gist of what I'm saying!

I'm going to disagree and say that if you are really unhappy in your job, then start looking for another one. You can't put your life on hold while ttc - you don't know how long it will take, if it will work out and what else might happen. So why wait?

I had a job I was deeply unhappy with some time ago, and like you, I thought that getting pg would allow me to enjoy their fabulous maternity package. I fell pg, but then had a mc. Going back to a job I hated after that was one of the worst things I have ever had to do in my life! However, it did give me the kick in the butt I needed, and I started looking for something else. Low and behold, I fell pg again almost immediately and actually had a job interview just days after finding out - and they offered me the job. Less money, a really basic maternity package - but I still took it. And I have never looked back.

You spend the majority of your time at work, and doing something you actually enjoy is really important - otherwise it's soul-destroying. The longer you stay in a job you don't like, the more stressed and resentful you will become - it's not worth it, it really isn't.

Yes, the money is important (and I say that as someone who got made redundant at the same time as falling pg!), but things do work themselves out, they really do, even if it doesn't look like that.

I agree with cloud, if you could manage financially without the maternity package and you're really unhappy then don't wait around.

I've been hanging on in my job for years really because it's convenient, good pay etc and just in case we ever had another child I could get the enhanced maternity pay. Then finally decided to ttc#2 last summer, got pregnant before Xmas and thought yay, only 9 more months of this to go! Sadly I had a mmc in February and the fact that I'm still stuck in a job I hate just made everything ten times worse.

I've been job hunting ever since the mc, with no success in either getting a new job or getting pregnant again. But, the point is, I don't know when and if I'll ever get pregnant again, and I will not put my life on hold indefinitely.

It's a tough decision, so good luck with whatever you decide.

I stuck with a job I hated for the maternity package. I guess I was lucky in that I fell pregnant quickly and quit before returning afterwards, plus seem to have gotten away without paying back the occupational pay!

But still - I was really unwell during my pregnancy and they were just awful. Two years on and I still feel bitter about it! A crap job just gets worse when you need extra support.

Look around but only at places with a decent package.

I ended up staying at the same company while ttc as was wary of jumping ship and getting pregnant too soon and getting nothing. But actually even my own firm only pays statutory smp, and I am the only one out of my group of friends getting so little. Very depressing knowing I am going onto almost nothing and will barely be able to afford a costa while some are on full pay! (I don't resent them but am a little envious, but it's down to my own choices!).

Thanks everyone.

Happy what is occupational pay?

I am the same, hate my job but it's good money and I think they'd let me go back part time, all important stuff to consider I guess but I have said to my partner if I am not pregnant by Xmas will start job hunting in the new year xx

There's statutory maternity pay, and then some employers top it up so that you end up on more pay for a while (I think I was on half pay for most of it). Anyway, that top up pay was called occupational maternity pay where I worked. As the company pays it themselves, there's usually some clause in the contract about paying it back if you don't return for 3 months. Hope that makes sense!