Pregnancy loss & work

[LeahsLife]

Hi. I’m currently going through a miscarriage at 7 weeks pregnant. I’m really struggling, more emotionally than physically tbh. This baby was so wanted and I feel like all of my plans have been crushed. I’ve lost my apatite and I’m having trouble sleeping… I had two nightmares lastnight about the miscarriage process. I know it is common but I really wasn’t expecting it. I’ve had two children so was naive in thinking this time would be ok too. I’ve never experienced this before but all I know is that I don’t feel ready to go back to work next week. I was just wondering if anyone who has been through similar has taken a bit of time off? I feel lost at the moment and just not ready to return to normal life. Any advice/opinions would be appreciated. Thank you x

I'm so sorry this happened to you and that you are feeling this way.
You should be able to get signed off by your doctor - either gp or epu - if you tell them how you are feeling. I had a mc almost 2 weeks ago and the doctor who treated me at hospital proactively gave me a 2 week off note for work.
I'm also lucky that I work for a small organisation that is very supportive, I told them what happened (my mc was after having had a positive scan so I'd announced the pregnancy:() and they have emphasised that I should take as much time as I need.
I hope there's someone at your work you can talk to, you should be honest about how difficult this is and that you're not ready to go back. I think there's an awful culture of expecting women to get on with it when a miscarriage is deeply traumatic for many of us.
I hope you get the time off and support you need, you deserve both.

Hi
take all the time you need in total I was off for 2 half months and I’m finding it hard being back if I’m honest but in time it will get easier. I feel exactly like you so the doctor suggested a low dose of sertraline which I have found is helping my mind an awful lot as I have awful anxiety

Hi lovely,

firstly I’m so sorry this happened to you. Secondly, this happened to me with my first.

I took a week off and thankfully I already had 2 weeks annual leave booked in after. All in all I had 3 weeks. Thankfully worked from home and was comfortable grieving alone whilst I was working. Was a good distraction after 3 weeks.

Please speak to your GP about signing off for a while xx

@Hankthehonk so sorry to hear of your loss, at what stage did you get the positive scan?

Hi I’m so sorry this has happened to you, the feeling you describe is all too familiar. 💐

ive had 5 in total but each one I’d say I was off work for roughly 3-4 weeks and mentally I didn’t feel myself for a little while after. It’s really tough so be kind to yourself, it takes a lot of time, you’ve been through something both mentally and physically x

always here x

Thank you all for your supportive words. They really do mean a lot and brings me comfort knowing I’m not alone in how I feel… although I wish that none of us had to experience these awful feelings. I’ve requested a sick note online to have next week off and I’ve received an email saying the GP will call on me on Friday so I’ll see what they say. I have no idea what I’m doing all I know is how I feel. I’m not even sure if I’ll be ready to go back after next week, but it’s a start. Maybe I can request some AL when I’m back. I was actually on sertraline for a while but was worried to take anything while TTC as I was worried it would affect the pregnancy/baby so I just weaned myself off it a few months ago. I’m not sure whether that was the right idea or not but it felt like the right thing to do at the time… but this is how it has ended.

Thank you all I really appreciate your replies x

I would ask for 2-4 weeks off OP.

GP will probably recommend that!

xxx