Teachers - what's the ideal time to conceive/give birth?

[Yellow1c]

Myself and my DH are both teachers so obviously share the same holidays and are looking to start a family next year. I know that we can't choose a perfect month to conceive in as it foesnt work like that (a girl can dream...!) - but in a perfect world, when would be the best time to give birth as a teacher? Would you say just after the summer holiday so I can have as much time not working whilst heavily pregnant and then make the most of a lot of time off work after baby arrives? Or would you say that giving birth in Easter time so pressure is off my husband at work, once my full maternity pay cuts down we can both be off for 6 weeks with a young baby for lots of family bonding? We are keen on shared parental leave but I'm wondering if Easter baby might be a good best of both world?

I'm looking forward to reading this post back if I am lucky enough to conceive and laugh at how much I've thought about and planned this...for it most likely not to go to plan! Haha. Thanks for your input, guys!

Xxx

If I were planning it properly I would aim for a September birth. Start your maternity leave at the end of the summer holidays. I had a summer-born boy, I should have known better...

What were the problems you found with a summer born baby?

November is good - work up until October half term then go back to work first day of the summer holidays in July. You'll get paid full wage for the 6 week summer holidays.

Some parents worry their summer born children aren't ready for school if they start very soon after their 4th birthday.

Autumn term. Preferably September- have the baby having full summer paid then can go say your mat leave ends on the first day of the holidays the following year- you do not have to go in to work at any point in July as you get paid all year for this to happen (I did this!)

Mine was early October baby. Went back after summer for 2 weeks to work with my cover... then back to work in july to get paid over summer.
If we go for number 3 would aim for the same again. First was start of the year so only did one term with my class (reception so also has only just started school) then left so not ideal.

My summerborn baby just wasn’t ready for school and if I could have deferred him I would have done. I taught early years at the time and have seen far too many summer boys struggling with full time school but I didn’t plan either of my children so I didn’t think about the potential school year timings!

I was aiming for a September/ October baby... took over two years and ivf to finally eat pregnant though!

Have a baby and consider as a teacher which children cope better with a September start in FS, not how much money or leave you get! I'd be aiming for a September birth!

Late September/October is best for you in terms of maternity leave (you must go back in September for a bit then start your ml from then, do not let them bully you into a July start! ) and also best for your child who will be among the oldest in the class, get a full year of reception etc etc.

Remember too that you do not have to arrange your midwife appointments in your ppa time ( unlike the instructions given to pregnant members of my Union by senior management) ppa and midwife appointments are both your entitlements. Decent maternity arrangements are about the last perk teachers still have left . If you are not sure then check the Burgundy Book and or download maternity pay and conditions from your Union website.

My first was September (conceived around christmas), second was october (concieved early January). I found this much better than friends who had may onwards babies as they worked while heavily pregnant where as i came back after summer hols and had desk job/admin from September until I left for mat leave. It also meant I could work right up till due date so helped with the maternity pay

Got pregnant in January, found out in Feb. Worked for 6 weeks of the autumn term and left early October. DD was born in October half term. I took 40 weeks so I would have some sort of pay the whole time and went back for the last week of term. I'm being paid for the summer, DH took a week off work to look after DD and her birthday is during half term so we can spend the day together.

Frankly, I think its perfect! I would have liked to work less in September but it was fine and meant that I didn't either have to go back earlier or take unpaid leave.

I’m going to deviate because you are both teachers. I think July. Then you have 6 weeks with both parents there. If you have baby in September then your OH will be trying to juggle a new baby and start of term stress. If you have baby in July then you only have to go back for a week or two in the summer before the break.

Scotland here. Had dc1 in Nov. I actually finished working in the June as i was struggling. My ht let me work from home as I was surplus anyway so I didn't need to get signed off...i did come in the occasional day and pottered about but no classes. Officially started my mat at oct.half term. Had a full year and Went back on the books at the end of august (accrued leave so pay started then) but didn't start.work until the first week in nov. So I had a looong mat leave but I was paid for a lot.
No 2 was August. So I went off end of June but didn't stay mat leave until 2 days before baby was born. Back on the books end of May and stated back in the August again. Full year off but paid throughout.

I had my daughter at the start of May, the start of maternity was ideal because I was 37 weeks at the start of the end of spring term hols, I didn’t officially start my maternity til the end of the hols at 39 weeks so it was kind of like having two weeks ‘free’ leave because I definitely wouldn’t have been able to work up til that time. I only took 8/9 months off though and went back in jan which was far from ideal trying to hand over from another teacher to a class I didnt know. Would have much preferred to go back at the start of a year x

Agree with PPs about avoiding summer babies if possible, my daughter was right on the borderline, I work in the EY and some of the summer borns coming up are definitely not ready emotionally. Some do great though so you never know.

You can delay school for a year and they go into reception at 5. This has changed recently and is a game changer for planning. They just stay an extra year at nursery with 30hours.

Autumn term. I had dd in November - it was perfect as I worked till October half term, had her early Nov then went back to work for a couple of weeks in July.

DS however was born in July. I had to be mega pregnant whilst dealing with GCSE and A level stress in May, then have a big chunk of maternity leave during the summer holidays, then go back in April just in time for GCSE and A level stress again! I wouldn't recommend this if you can help it!!

I’m am a teacher. My children are July/ August. I had miscarriages before and in between them. So therefore was just grateful to carry them to term, although not ‘perfect’ timing. I have always had some concerns about their age within the year and they have been heavily disadvantaged in sport and early literacy.

We deliberately conceived in October 2016 (or maybe September??) Anyway, we were due June 17th which, as a teacher in Scotland is perfect because it means you get a 15 month mat leave, however he came 10 weeks early for unknown reasons so I ended up getting a 9 month mat leave, 3 of which were in NICU. The moral of the story is; when it comes to having babies nothing is within your control. Which is great prep to be honest because that theme continues into motherhood! Whatever will be will be :) baby dust to you xx

Tuesday to conceive and Wednesday to give birth - in the same week.

Ideal.