Any pregnant teachers out there?

[exciteddotcom]

Hi there,
Was just wondering how everyone copes with feeling rubbish in class (having to run to the loo etc).

Just discovered I'm pregnant and want to sleep all the time - not looking forward to going back to school tomorrow particularly!

I guess with any job it is exhausting being pregnant, but just ater some advice from people who have been there.

Thanks!

I go back on wednesday and a little worried that it may be a shock to the system, as due to weather and then illness hardly in during december so going back at 10weeks due early august - no chance of secret as totally showing ( granted a few mince pies may have helped) Will need to look into risk assessment as working with children who can be aggressive luckily have TA so if need be should be able to duck out for toilet etc altho so far not been an issue. Agree this would be a good thread to contiue.

Another one here, 20wks and a primary teacher, 2nd baby which I am finding much harder than the 1st! 1st time round I'd go home early, sleep for 2hrs then get up and do my work! Now can't start work until Dd is in bed and the late nights are killing me!

Agree cutting back is the only way, but tbh i'm struggling just with day to day stuff, current ht is very demanding!

Teaching yr1 is good though, they don't question why u are eating in class!!

Good thread! I'm in the same boat as you excited although I'm a secondary teacher. I'm hoping I can manage ok without telling anyone, but time will tell! I haven't been feeling too bad and haven't actually been sick either, so fingers crossed!

I wanted to try for a baby at the beginning of the school year too, think it will be easier to be heavily pregnant in summer term when exam classes have left. I think I'm due 2nd September.

I'm very glad that I've benn on holiday this past fortnight as I've been very distracted to say the least!!

Good luck to everyone back at school tomorrow!

Hi there, I'm a secondary science teacher. I'm 19+1 today. This is my second pregnancy. I found my first hard as had quite a few classes with behaviour issues but this time round I work in a nice school and only part time. Both times I told my HOD as soon as I knew as didn't want to have any H&S issues.
One tip I can give if you're feeling tired is to make your lessons as student centred as possible. They love doing independent / project work anyway and it gives you a chance to put your feet up and supervise. It's just as good a way of learning. Got me through the first trimester!

I shall stalk this thread as I teach at university level so lots more flexible and no break duties but still pretty horrendous sometimes!

I was incredibly lucky not to have any sickness but holding on when dying for the loo and teaching 7 hours straight with no break was a nightmare.

Marking is my downfall though and all the other admin. Plus I feel very guilty about having to rush my students through their presentations so I can assess them before mat leave kicks in. I'm working right up until I'm allowed to which I think is 38 weeks.

I'm pg with #3 and have just started maternity leave today!! :o Am secondary school teacher, and have just done a term of being assistant head and mahooosively pg. Was in charge of duties, so ended up doing ridiculous number of duties myself as I didn't feel I could dish 'em out to all and sundry while sitting on my fat arse!!

I managed all three pregnancies with throwing up and weeing between lessons, and managed to keep it a secret till 12 weeks with all three. I did do quite a bit of 'sitting down' lessons at the start and the end of all three pregnancies.

Didn't plan timings particularly well so was properly knackered and icky while teaching. Once I got big, I felt very secure at school as the vast majority of kids really looked out for me if fights broke out etc. Very sweet really :)

Congrats btw

Hi, I'm 13 weeks tomorrow with my first and a secondary teacher. Managed to get through the time before Christmas just about and only had to run out of classes twice to go to the loo! It did help that we had a week working from home with the snow though :)

Was planning on telling tomorrow as figured it would make it easier to explain why I'm exhausted/not staying till 6pm anymore/finding it difficult to concentrate etc. but have had some spotting over the past couple of days that has scared me and so now not sure whether to tell. On the one hand it would be nice to wait until I'm sure everything's okay again but on the other hand if things went wrong now I would definitely need some support at work.

Hi all, it's great to read all your experiences.. I'm a secondary teacher and am 33 weeks. I have three and a bit weeks to go! Can't wait! Toni - I understand your concerns as I'm being replaced by a Supply teacher as we couldn't appoint anyone suitable.. I'm a bit of a control freak and can't bear the thought of my Year 11's coursework grades slipping!! I have told them that I'll be on my email if they need me. Also had the benefit of feeling rubbish during the summer holidays. When are others planning on going back to work??? As it's my first I have no idea how I'll feel when the time comes, and also don't know how things are going to be with the lack of money etc. It's tempting to go back in July so I get paid for the summer, but then that seems so early...

Me too! Secondary Music and 12 weeks pg with #2.

I have hyperemesis and have been off school since 1 Dec and won't be going back until I am properly better, hopefully around 16 weeks, going by my last pg.

I spend my days in bed and was hospitalised for rehydration for a couple of days. The anti-nausea meds I am on have a sedative effect so there is just no way I could plan or teach effectively at present as I spend a lot of my time asleep! I have lost loads of weight and after 5 weeks in bed am pretty weak. I don't really feel guilty as I know there is no alternative.

My last pg was fine once I got past the sickness stage so I'm hoping to be able to go back and be a normal teacher at some point!

Sophie, I think it all depends on your own personal finances. If you are 33 weeks then that makes you due mid Feb right? I'm due on the 20th March and taking maternity leave from mid-March to just before the summer holidays. It will mean I have to spend one week away from DD but by the time I start full time work again she'll be nearly 6 months old. I actually have little choice in this, being the main earner in the house means there is a lot of pressure on me to go back to work asap. If you intend to go back at the start of September anyway it really is worth starting back right before the summer holidays though since why should you only get £126 a week instead of full pay. It might feel like you are taking advantage but it is only the same as anyone else using their yearly holiday entitlement at the start or end of their maternity leave. Although as teachers we might get more holidays than most, unlike them we are unable to pick and choose when to take them.

nitnat, that sounds dreadful. I hope you feel better soon. I should think myself lucky my MS was manageable even if unpleasant.

Just wanted to make sure you all know that you do not have to go back before the summer holidays in order to be paid over the holidays. You can give your return to work date as the first day of the holidays and still be paid. However, if you are returning on fewer days than you were on originally, then you will be paid over the holidays on the lower rate.

Ah gosh, today was so hard. I just wanted to tell everyone. I was sure people could tell, since I am swollen and huge in all new places! Another lady announced her pregnancy, and I just wanted to shout 'ME TOO!'
Games outside today I was bursting for the loo and there was nobody around to cover me! I am sure I will get used to that!

How was everyone else's first day back?

The TES website has a really great pregnancy forum. It's worth a look.

Hey All!

First day back for me was ok actually. Lots of comments about my bump from colleagues and kids. And actually, the kids were really sweet (have been since they found out, actually!) asking about how the baby had been over Xmas, how big he was now, and they've been really accommodating making way for me during practicals etc.

nitnat that sounds rubbish, I hope you feel better soon. I was in the 'felt awful but not actually sick' gang, and that was enough to deal with!

1Catherine1 I'm due 25th March and will be going off from 14th, due to 'return' the week before summer hols to get full pay over the summer. So Littlefish I'm glad you said about that, I did think I'd be able to end my leave on the last day of term/first day of hol and still qualify for full pay over the summer, but wasn't 100%. Thanks for the reassurance.

And like you 1Catherine1 I'm the main earner too, so will be back in september full time. SophieLouise, I'm pretty sure I won't want to put LO in nursery so young (he'll be 5 months ish) but there's really no negotiation - the mortgage has to be paid, and whilst being a full time mum might be good for him, not being homeless would be better! (DH works weekends so will have LO 2 days during the week, hopefully).

LadyBubba I'm not envious of you! I'm kind-of glad this has happened very early in my career. I don't think I could cope with any extra stuff on top! Well done though, enjoy your leave!

And in other news - I got my GTT results today and I don't have diabetes! Woop! I'm off to stuff my face with chocolate (and mark more btec!) xx

Have done it twice as a primary school teacher its not easy in the beginning but gets easier.

Loo issues:

You need to keep yourself hydrated so drink loads earlier enough to have a long wee before class starts.

As running to the loo is an issue with no TA drink water about half an hour before your break so you go properly.

Speak to senior management if sympathetic or teacher next door re loo runs.

Sickness:

Have a box of plain crackers, ginger biscuits etc in class well stocked just so you can nibble on and any mints that can temp aliviate nausea.

Try and sit down as much as you can I know can be impossible, I found that with my younger class I made sure I had a cushion on my chair and for back for story time just before lunch and just before end of the day so I knew I could sit down.

With my crazy Year 5 while I was teaching and or whole class if feeling tired etc would pull up a chair and rest one knee on while standing I know it sounds a bit odd but I dared not sit down too much as they were a tough class.

I also stuck to strict timetable with the class with group work so they knew that on certain days I would be working with certain different groups and at least knew I could sit down even for 10 minutes with children.

Again drink a bit before lunch as you can then go.

I would also if you can mark as you go along through the day you probably do this but it means you can spread it out over the week.

You'll soon find out something that works for you.

Sorry about the obsession with drinking water and loo but I did not and ended up with a nasty UTI in both pregnancies which defeats the object as you end up on medication and drinking even more.

Don't try and do too much ( you will anyway as we teachers tend to) try and get lots of help and try not to stay late every day..

Sounds cynical but its true if you're off sick or you or baby is unwell they'll just replace you so think of yourself and baby.

Good Luck

I did early nights, curbed my social life and got ready meals to keep my energy up in those exhausting first 3 months.

I'm a TEFL teacher and when I felt like gagging or I was desperate to pee, I quickly set them a task and ran to the loo!

I've heard munching on water biscuits and drinking water while teaching can help you feel better and when you need to run to the loo, just give the students a 5 min breather if you're allowed to.

If you're really concerned, can you have a private, off-the-record word with your boss so he/she understands the (temporary!) situation? This relieves the guilt of abandoning your precious students to run to the loo when you should be in class!

Good luck :) S xx

I'm a secondary teacher, and have actually just gone back after 4 yrs as a SAHM. I had ID twins and had terrible MS for the first 13 weeks. Low point was fainting in assembly... Luckily the school nurse is also a twin mum, and she sorted me out. I was officially allowed to go to her room for a lie down whenever I needed to, and was relieved of break duties. I told my HoY (a good friend) very early (about 6 weeks) as I was finding mornings very difficult and didn't want to keep coming up with excuses - that meant that I was able to be a few minutes late for registration if needed to. I kept ginger biscuits and cereal bars in my office, along with flasks of milk (my only real craving) and was fairly open with my students if I needed to nibble something - didn't have any issues there - they were all lovely once they found out.

I told my Head teacher after my 12 week scan, and other teachers whose rooms were near mine, and people just looked out for me, which was, frankly, a surprise, but a nice one.

The main problem I had was the loo thing - once I got to about 24 weeks, I needed to go constantly, and my classroom is on the second floor, whilst the loo is on the ground floor. I struck a deal witht the deputy head whose office was next door to my classroom that he would pop in and mind the class for me if I needed him.

I think it's harder being in this kind of job than some others, whilst pregnant - very little opportunity for downtime during the working day, and the toilet thing can become a real issue.

My only advice, OP, would be to be fairly open if you can - you'll be surprised how helpful colleagues are once they know what's going on. I know lots of women like to keep it to themselves for as long as possible, but IME, it helped enormously.

Hi everyone!

Great thread! I'm new to Mumsnet, as I have just found out I'm 5 weeks pregnant!

Does anyone work in the private system? Am concerned about how I'm going to cope with the long hours. Average of 47 hours in school and that's arriving just before school starts and leaving straight after the day finishes, as if!

I don't have too many symptoms for now, just feeling a bit queasy after meals.

When have you told your HM you were pg?

Froggy, I work in a state school and how my pregnancy fell I told my headteacher at 12 weeks straight after the summer holidays. I think it is standard for people to wait till around the 12 week mark anyway unless they are struggling because of MS or other such wonderful symptoms.

Thank you Catherine. Thought I would wait until 12 weeks, but it's so hard to shut up!

Petalouda - I did it about 6 years ago, so it would be worth re-confirming with Staffing and Salaries in your LEA just to make sure that terms and conditions haven't changed.

Froggy, I too work in a state school, but I told my HT and HOD a bit early (about 6 weeks) because that was the time when they were arranging the new timetable and I didn't want to get given a whole load of difficult classes until I left (something I don't usually mind as I get on fairly well with them). I also wanted them to keep me in one place as much as possible - I would not have been able to request this without a good reason, and would have ended up running the length of the school between lessons. However, as I had told them very early in my pg, I asked them to keep it to themselves (which they did) until I was 12wks. Then I announced it properly when I felt more ready to go public.

Sophie, I have done exactly the same. In fact, I have made my students submit their coursework early so that I can see it through before I go. They have also done the tricky bits of the exam work under my supervision, so all the new guy has to do is refresh their memory and not undo my hard work! I know that is sounds controlling, but I just would not have been able to leave them confidently if I hadn't done so. I have also told them all (and their parents) that I am contactable by e-mail during my maternity leave (for that class ONLY - I do want to forget about most of it).

On another note, I had my first day back today. I am soooooooo tired now. I nearly fell asleep on the desk at 2pm! Just 8 days to go and counting...

One of the things I love about teaching is the students' comments/interpretations of situations at times. One of my year 10 girls asked me today: 'How long until you pop ma'am?'. I told her I had 5 weeks to go and she looked very worried indeed. She said that she was born 5 weeks early and 'OMG what if your waters break in our lesson? I-just-don't-know-what-I-would-do-probably-cry-or-scream-or-something-what-would-you-do-ma'am?-Please-don't-give-birth-here!'. Once she had taken a breath I assured her that I had no intention of giving birth in school and she calmed down. Bless.

Another of my students waited until a member of SLT entered the room to ask the question that had obviously been bothering him for some time: 'Can you actually see your feet anymore ma'am?'

Don't you just love them?

Oooh, the need for a nap at 2pm. I know that feeling Toni2011! Brilliant thread by the way. I'm a secondary teacher and 11 weeks pregnant. Hello everyone!

I told my headteacher and department at six weeks because they were all incredibly supportive when I miscarried last year. I figure if anything goes wrong this time I am going to need them even more so they needed to know. Luckily I am blessed with a supportive headteacher (who actually beamed and clapped when I told her) and incredible colleagues who have gone so far as to bring snacks and ginger tea into my lessons. Bless them!

Good luck with the first week back everyone :-)

Hi everyone!

First day back was harder than I thought. Was really tired a felt sick and light-headed most of the day! In a way I'm lucky cos am assistant head so have a lighter timetable, but also feel worried I'm not going to be pulling my weight! Headteacher asked if I was ok cos I looked tired, so was a bit paranoid!

I also feel bad because we're discussing changes to duties for next year and I don't want to agree to things I know I won't be able to do. It will be good to finish in the summer, though, and let them get on with it next year!

I'm not even 6wks yet so want to try and hang on a bit longer before telling anyone, though no idea if I'll make 12 wks!

toni and sophie I will be exactly the same as you re coursework!

excited I've been asking my husband if I look fat and have been worried other teachers can tell!!

Hi jenga - when I read about your supportive staff I'm tempted to tell mine! I'm secondary too. Just worried too many people will find out -haven't told anyone apart from my husband. i think there are pros and cons really