Pregnant and between jobs

[housekermit]

Hi guys. I’ve just found out I’m pregnant (very early days, bit of a surprise!!) for the first time. Whilst me and my partner are overjoyed, I’m in the middle of switching jobs… which means I’m entitled to absolutely zilch statutory maternity pay (if it had happened three months later, I would have gotten about £12k) and only 39 weeks’ govt maternity allowance, equating to just over £6k over the year. I don’t live with my partner currently but we’re currently discussing merging households. I’m lucky enough to have some savings - but not only am I very nervous about getting a relative pittance for a year, I’m also starting a new job which could end up not working out and I have a mortgage and bills to pay!!

TLDR… has anyone else been in this situation? How did you make it work if so? Any tips or tricks or advice much appreciated - I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed right now!! Thanks in advance, hive mind.

I guess in this situation you just have to try your best to make the new job work and you have nine months to save as much as possible. If you both currently have your own homes then you are in a good situation. Does he have a reasonably well paid job where he can save too?

Yes, not as good as mine but stable and once we combine households we can both save a bit more. Thanks for your advice!

I only qualified for MA the first time, I was a few days off SMP. I also was really ill in the pregnancy so had to take leave from 29 weeks and was basically on bed rest from then so not a great situation. But MA is still free money to stay at home and be with your baby, and babies are cheap to care for. CB also helps. Save as much as you can and investigate nurseries very early.

Hi - I'm curious to know how this went for you? I'm also pregnant and between jobs, and very much of the opinion that this shouldn't hold women back in the way that it does. I want to see corporate policy change to be more inclusive of pregnant women.
I hope you managed to work out something which didn't compromise your happiness, career or health and family life 🙂

Hi! It has all worked out in the end. Work were really nice about it, I passed probation early, and my partner moved in which means we're now splitting costs. I am not getting anything maternity-pay-wise from work, but I have an application in for maternity allowance (which will equate to circa £6k over the year - great that it's going up slightly to around £172 from April) and I have been saving really hard and have an additional nest egg of around £10k now. I am definitely still feeling nervous about not having enough money, not having my pension paid over a year, and the rising cost of childcare... but I can't wait for baby girl to arrive and I'm definitely in a better place with things mentally. I also did a spreadsheet which helped!!

Falling pregnant definitely shouldn't hold women back and it's such a shame the finances are so appalling that it often forces women back to work sooner than they want - I am determined to take off a full year though.

What's your situation - have you accepted a new role that you'll be starting soon? Likewise, I really wish you all the best and I hope it works out for you - happy to chat directly to provide any guidance or support that I can! X