Work-life balance and ttc

[nomoremagnolia]

Sorry for the management speak for the title, but that's basically my dilema - do I take an opportunity to go part time at work in order to reduce stress and focus more on ttc?
I'm about to start IVF (first round funded by the NHS after 2 1/2 yrs of ftc) but if it doesn't work I (we) will need £££ to pay for another attempt BUT if I go p/t then the stress will be reduced and the IVF might have more chance of working. Unfortunately I need to make the choice before I will have finished the IVF this time round, so can't wait to see if it was sucessful before deciding.
What do you think and is there anything I might not have thought of?

Could you, instead of going part time, ask for a four week or six week unpaid mini-sabbatical instead? Then you'd have time off for your first cycle of treatment and be without work stress, but still have a full time job to pay for subsequent cycles if you need to (and of course I hope you won't).

Not sure how it works with your career of course.....

I have the opportunity to apply for a p/t job (a promotion at the same place) rather than go p/t in my current role. Actually I have applied, just don't know if I'll actually accept if I get offered the job.

If it's financially possible, I agree with Claire about the six week or so sabbatical. You could really relax and focus then. A promotion to a new role, even part time, may have its own stresses to adjust to. If you stay F/T and the IVF works you will get maternity package calculated on a full salary, not pro-rata. It's a promotion though, so it may be better long term for your career to take it, I don't know your situation

When I saw this thread title, I so did not expect you to be the OP. Hugs.

Me personally, I think that if you can afford to go p/t then GO FOR IT. Is there a chance that it could go back up to full time in either your current position or the promotional position in the future (when children go to school [positive thinking] etc)

Once before I went P/T because we could afford it, it massively reduced my stress levels - and we weren't even undergoing an invasive procedure like IVF.

Sorry... only read your OP... Is there a chance to accept it as a p/t role and then move up to f/t in the future?

Basically if I get the promotion I can afford to go p/t if I want to, but I need to decide at the time of the offer as it's part of a restructuring. There may be an option to go f/t later, but not in the foreseeable future, same for going p/t later. The problem is that if we need to save for IVF we'll be saving/waiting for longer if I go p/t but going p/t might improve my quality of life and my chances of getting pg.

For me personally, quality of life is more important than having to save up for something... but then we are all different. I guess you have to try and visualise yourself as part time with less money and imagine if you would be fine with it, even if it meant waiting a little while for another crack at ivf (hopefully it won't be required)... I know I would choose p/t.

Couldn't you go part-time, and if you need more money afterwards to save up for IVF round 2, take another job in the spare days?

I'd love to be part time. Mmmmmm.

Are you in a career where you can freelance as and when to supplement a part time job? That might give you the best of both worlds. Or have you thought about using the free time to develop an interest or gain a qualification that might benefit your career long term??

I think you're very fortunate to have this opportunity - good luck with whatever you decide

I know what you're saying Ready but would I be cross ith myself if it took us twice as long to save the money for another go at IVF? Taking another p/t job could be an option, but I'm not sure how stress-reducing it would be having two employers
Herby Me too, and I didn't think this opportunity would ever arise, so I'm wondering if it's 'meant to be' Of course I haven't actually even got as far as interview yet...just speculating wildly at the thought of it

MissModular No option to be freelance unfortunately I also don't think any vacancies at this level will come available any time soon (probably not in the next few years) as this is part of a restructuring. I have already gained my qualifications as I was expecting to have stopped work (on maternity leave) by now and wanted to ensure there was a minimum level I could return at that reflected my experience. I think the desire to go p/t is partly because I thought that by this point in my life I would have has at least one child and would either be on mat leave or working p/t on returning to work (or even having had ,been on mat leave, gone back p/t and be looking forward to more mat leave with no2...)

From someone who has been through IVF, our first attempt failed and I was in a job where I was desperately unhappy, hugely stressed and returned back to work the day after embryo transfer.... the 2nd attempt was successful. Yes, i was at work f/t but in a much happier place and got my GP to sign me off after the ET for 2 weeks. I actually also got ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome so was off for a further 2 weeks. I now work p/t once I returned after maternity. Is there a counsellor you can talk to? I spoke to mine as I was concerned about work etc. They said to me that it was a relatively short amount of time if you compare it to the amount to time you will work in your life. So.... I would say go p/t and enjoy a little less stress, relax and allow yourself to feel tired, drained, excited etc all the things IVF treatment takes out of you. But at the same time you can work to save for the treatment. (Sorry a bit long!).

That was meant to read "(or even having had no1, been on mat leave, gone back p/t and be looking forward to more mat leave with no2...)"

Thanks needamiracle How easy was it to get signed off? I have booked some time off as A/L but am hoping to get hospital/ gp to sign me off for at least some of the time too.

Just went to my GP who I had been seeing for a while. She agreed to do all of my blood tests (so I did not have to pay). SHe helped me through the initial tests and so knew my history. I just went to see her when I was going for the 2nd attempt and asked if she would sign me off for the 2 week wait and she agreed. Once I had the OHSS, I was in so much pain that she had to sign me off again for a further week! All worked out for the best. She signed me off with Gynae treatment (I think it said). I was also very lucky to have a (male) boss who was extremely understanding and I was open about the treatment I was having. He did ask me to do a few bits at home for work, which I agreed to do. The most important thing here is you and your body, IVF takes a huge amount out of you. You may well be glad of not having to work full time. Hope this helps a bit.

Thank you Explaining the time off is something else I have been getting worried about, think 'gynae problems' is good!

Thanks gilly
ps no chance of earning over £36k ever