Any pregnant teachers out there?

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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!

Thanks for your reply witches - I'll keep quiet for now and keep an eye on the situation and his relationship with the kids in the next 7 teaching weeks, if I'm still concerned I'll speak to my HoD and maybe arrange to do the odd revision session during ML just for my Y11s.

Petalouda, I'd say your HoD is probably the least knowledgeable on this one tbh. Mine didn't even know it existed but also acknowledged it had been a good few years since they'd had a pregnant member in the department. You need to go to your HR department and speak to them. Tell them you are being given conflicting information and you "just want to check to be on the safe side". If things don't get any clearer then phone the number for the council (assuming you are in state ed) that is provided on the forms they send to you. It should be at the top of the first page, maybe with an extension number. Phone them and get the facts from them. In most areas you can find the form on the council website and if your HoD is being a bit of a pain print it off yourself and fill it in and just get a signature from them. I think specific risk assessment just means that it is filled in for you and in relation to your job rather than it being a special form - I think the only one required is the "New and Expectant Mothers Risk Assessment Form" as it is quite general with lots of space to fill in potential risks and if I remember rightly one of the suggestions given was something to do with handling chemicals. Perhaps though your school are more organised and have developed a science specific one to save time filling in these forms, if they have though there should still be room to add any specific risks that might only affect you rather than any science teacher. Just claim to have misplaced it (dam that baby brain ) and get another. As for getting into trouble for relaying this I think there is little they can do about you passing on this information since none of it is confidential to anyone but you. They might get a little annoyed that you are (in a way) questioning their competence but apart from that it is up to you what you disclose as far as this topic goes.

What's with all the e-mailing BTW? Don't people in your department talk to each other? It seems all very bizarre to me.

Anyway... that was a mammoth post - now I'm off to bed [looks at the time in shock]. I hope you get it sorted!

i bought some salted crackers to help with the ms - put them in my desk had some between each lesson - secondary school.

thankfully had a fab colleague who taught lots of older classes and could stand at the door whilst i rushed to the loo.

Can I just ask when everyone told the kids? I don't want to make a big announcement but I also don't want them to find out on the grapevine - well, some of my classes I don't mind so much as I'll be leaving for ML at the end of the year so I'll teach them all year anyway, but I have a Year 12 and a vertical form of mixed Y7-11s so they will be affected.

One of my S2s asked if I'm pregnant today and I didn't want to say yes or to lie so ended up telling her she shouldn't spread rumours. I know the kids have been whispering and gossiping since about 8 weeks (!) and 15 now. But don;t know when I should just say "yes" if asked. Any thoughts?

Petalouda im also still having problems. I even emailed head today to say I could forward on some info i had found on the internet, as had previously told me he knew nothing about it. He then replied but did not answer the issue about the risk assessment. I have kind of decided im just not going to do things that put me at risk and if anyone questions it say that they never did the risk assessment as asked.I do wish it was a female may not have to explain all the little details!

When the kids started asking I just said yes. No point lying. I don't really see telling the kids as a big thing. They really won't be that interested - for them its more fun to gossip before you say yes anyway.

Thanks for the advice 1Catherine1.

The email thing was only because I happened to receive the bits in the post yesterday, and emailed him quick so I wouldn't forget to ask about it today. He happened to reply last night.

Speaking to him today, he really does seem to be the least knowledgeable! I asked him, since he's my line manager. We must have a HR dept, but I've no idea where, somewhere at county I presume! He's agreed that I should ask a particular member of management, which is great, because I was starting to feel that if I went straight there, it would be like I was getting him in trouble, which of course is not what I want!

My colleague has had another look at the NUT maternity matters info and it really is not my responsibility to do this chasing, but I will nonetheless. I was barged into by 3 girls at breaktime today, and this is only likely to get worse as I get bigger and more cumbersome!

coastgirl my year 8's clocked me at 11 weeks! I denied for another 3, but by that point the belly was starting to bulge (I was quite slim before, so it was very obvious to people who know my usual appearance). I've let the kids just cotton on gradually, and answered their questions as and when I'm ready. They've been brilliant.

However I was astounded when one of my tutor group, who I see every day, asked me if I was pregnant last week. I said 'yes! I'm 7 1/2 months pregnant! How have you missed this?!' he was very sweet and said he'd been afraid to ask in case I was just getting fat!

Our kids are a little different though, they all had to deal with a colleague having a late miscarriage last year. So they're very measured, polite and supportive. And since I've been teaching reproduction to one group, I've been reasonably honest with them - to a point! They want to know the sex, but I've asked them to respect that I want to keep some details just for my family. And bar a bit of jest and leg-pulling, they've been great at that too!

Had a mental day today! Need to write reports and prepare for parents evening tomorrow!

Sorry for the essay, folks! Have a nice evening! x

I'm 11 weeks and definitely clockable to people with sharp eyes - have been relying on baggy jumpers and scarves but I remember being at school and how much we scrutinised the teachers so I'm sure someone will catch on sooner or later! Been telling colleagues today post-scan and am amazed none of them guessed. It's obvious to me!

Hi everyone - mind if I join you? It's really interesting reading back through this and seeing that so many people have the same issues with their schools. I have a few things that I'm really worried about and don't know where to find the answers (union hasn't been particularly helpful). I work in boarding and do duty to 11.30pm 4 days a week. (On top of a normal day - basically through from 7am.) My boarding house is over 5 floors so I can see myself getting exhausted on two counts! And finally, because my flat comes with the job and someone will have to cover me while I'm on maternity leave, I'm worried we'll have to move out (to God knows where) just at the time that the baby will be born. Argh! Any thoughts?!

My 3 years old interrogated me today 'why has your tummy got so fat? Have you got a baby in there?' nothing gets passed them! Trouble is my head wants o keep I quiet for a bit longer. If the kids have worked I out I am sure the parents have!

Hi all, mind if I join? Sorry, I've only skimmed the thread. I'm only very recently pg with DC2 but am feeling thoroughly rubbish and knackered atm. Noone at work knows yet as I don't want to miss out on any of the plans for next year!

Last time my Y10s tricked a TA into telling them that I was pg. It was great actually; they were complete bastards before they knew and afterwards were little angels, the girls screaming at the boys, "stop being a twat, you'll stress out the baaaaby!"

Brasso, my timetable has me teaching in a few differnt rooms this year; I figure when it starts getting difficult then I'll demand my own room back (I changed timetable to accomodate an NQT who has since quit).

Hi All,

I am a primary teacher working in special ed and at 27+4 weeks I am exhausted. The running around I do on a daily basis is really getting to me, not to mention my back that is in agony constantly.

My ta's within the class are completely unhelpful and let me do everything (they look at me in disgust if I ask them to do something) Not to mention the non-existent management in the school (quite literally we have an acting head from another school who pops in once a week)

A risk assessment has not even been mentioned and I push wheelchairs, do moving and handling on a daily basis. I feel as though my pregnancy is an inconvience to everyone at times.

At what point do I give up and start my maternity leave?

Anybody have any advice on the swine flu jab? I'm 8 weeks pregnant and there are a few children off school ill with swine flu in my class. Should i be getting a jab? My doctors have said they have run out of the seasonal flu jab but have old swine flu stock, but i'm not sure whether i should have it. What are peoples thoughts?

I'd get it sparkle, you really don't want flu while pregnant!

teachjo, I'd say as soon as you can if I were you - it sounds terrible. I've been quite lucky because my school are supporting me, I don't think I would last this long otherwise.

Great thread! I work in primary at an independent school. Currently teaching in Nursery!!!!! Pregnant with No.2 31+2 weeks (due 23rd March). I am knackered. Finishing at February half term! I am found this really hard with no real compassion from rest of the staff. No let up on duties or meetings. Nursery is tough, tiny chairs and tables. Not a minutes peace, what with wet pants and tears and tantrums (the kids, not me!)I feel like I have been a miserable old boot throughout this whole pregnancy and that is just not me at all. Cannot wait to finish for Mat leave but know that I will struggle with the wait to due date! This is also a boarding school and myself and my partner live on site and do boarding duties too! Fortunately my DP has been doing my evening duties for some time now because I just dont have any energy left at the end of the day. I know i'm only pregnant (comments from other staff!)but I have never felt this tired I'M NOT MAKING IT UP!!!!!!

Poor you Clarkland, "only pregnant"!!? Like growing a child inside your body is not an amazing miracle of life! I'm so thankful sometimes that I choose to work in the state sector as the stories I keep hearing from those in the independent sector sound dreadful.

There are definitely some perks but also some serious pressure.x

Am 25+2 now and soooo tired!

I had a very busy week (nothing special work wise, just felt long and harrassing)- combined with flu jab (and its effects - am very stuffy nosed now), a dying DFIL :( and the rest of usual life. Got home and had a cry randomly, and then slept for an hour!

Am on supply (long term) so now have to start to think about applying for Maternity Allowance and all that jazz-any tips??

As far as i can gather you generally have same rights as other employees providing you have worked a certain number of weeks with same authority - not that long maybe 26? can't remember exactly. good luck

thanks witches :) will look into it.

Think its going to be MA as i only began there in mid Nov and will be going on Mat leave at the beginning of April (easter hols). Had been with agency for longer, but only working irregularly.

Hello all, mind if I join in? Thanks to coastgirl for pointing me in the direction of this thread.

I have read the thread but I can't remember what people said - I have a feeling it was mentioned (oh dear) - do you know how long you have to have been back working in the summer term to get full, normal pay for the summer holidays? Should work well if I can figure it out.

Thanks - good to know of all the other preggers teachers about! It feels a bit impossible sometimes because it's so non-stop, but at least I can be in bed by 5pm!

Different places have different rules about the going-back thing - some LAs make you work a few weeks, some will accept one day, some places let you "go back" on the first day of the holidays so you don't have to go into work at all! I think you need to ask your HR people (although I am keeping my head in the sand about my going-back date - don't wanna decide yet!)

I'm pretty sure you can specify your return to work as the first day of the summer holidays, and therefore get full pay over the hols.

That's certainly what I'm doing - first day of mat leave today!

Check the NUT Maternity Matters document, although rather worryingly I can't find reference to it now.

I have been pretty convinced though - don't think I made it up...

... got myself worried now!

Had a good first day Petalouda? I have also enjoyed my first day of ML today and had an amazing day - its nice to have time to run all my errands at my own pace. I think you are right though Petalouda - you can put the first day of the summer holidays but I think you need some documentation to do it, much easier to set the last day of term as your return to work date. Pretty sure they're not allowed to make you stay on ML till September. My first day back is 18th July which unfortunately this year means I have to go back for a full week and a half before summer holidays.