Help with planning dates for FET

[StarryHannah]

Hello all
I started a new teaching job on September the 1st 2024. I have one frozen embryo left and I can't afford to not have the enhanced maternity pay. This is what the rules state in regards to how long I need to have been there in order to receive this.

"...enhanced maternity scheme for teachers who have one year’s continuous service at the beginning of the 11th week before the Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC)."

So I would have been there a year on September 1st 2025. My main is boggled trying to work this out - when is the earliest I can have the FET and fulfil these requirements?

I know time is of the essence and it's not guaranteed to work, but I am lucky enough to have children from successful FETs so I have to be more sensible with my finances and have to think of them too.

Many thanks for your help xxx

I had a transfer dec 10 a few years ago and my child was born Sept 10 — but two weeks late! So I’d wait until after Christmas, maybe Feb? I think more likely to be early with second pregnancies right?

@pumpkinspicewaffles Thank you so much for your reply. I think as long as it's the due date put on Matb form it won't matter if baby is early. I just have to make sure the expected date. I was hoping to transfer by March otherwise I'll have to pay a £400 to extend the embryo storage time, but I don't want to do it too soon in case I lose the enhanced maternity pay. I know there are more important things to worry about and I'm super lucky I've had two successful FETs, but I want to get this right too. I've also been put in charge of organising a school trip abroad next year and I selfishly want to sort dates now so it doesn't clash with my ivf plans 🙈 xxx

This reads to me that you need to have been there 52 weeks when you hit 29 weeks pregnant. So you'd need to be less than 29 weeks in September. Count backwards from there, the earliest you could have an embryo transfer would be the end of march, I'd go for April to be on the safe side!

@Mseddy thank you so much! I just needed someone to confirm what I was thinking was correct. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to me. I'm thinking get my scan and treatment appt done during the feb half term (I have three months to do the FET from then) plan to put the embryo in in April. I am going to be wishfully hoping they won't want another £400 storage for the two/three weeks we go into a new year of storage as we will be in process of waiting to start the meds. Maybe I'm being too hopeful 🤣 xxx

@StarryHannah do your clinic offer pay monthly for storage? It's usually a bit more expensive than paying the whole year in one go, but if you know you are going to use them before the year is out then monthly seems better!

@Mseddy oooohh I have never heard of that! I just assumed I could only do annually. I'm going to have to find out as it seems daft paying £400 for less than three weeks storage, and that's assuming it hasn't increased since last time!

Thank you for the advice! Xxx