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!

I know how you feel its really hard being normal and dealing with a class of kids when all you want to do is throw up.

Hi 1Catherine1, did you get over your cold/flu?

I've done pretty much nothing today! I had a friend over with her 4 yr old, which was lovely, and quite enough! And my usual afternoon nap (started over half term - was a bit of a mission to survive without for the last 2 weeks!)

Thanks for validating my reasoning - although I've just read in the NUT document that you're supposed to give 8 weeks written notice of return to work date (if you're coming back before the end of 52 weeks), so I've set a reminder on my phone to sort it out sometime in mid-may.

I've decided that I'll probably be better off taking the lower mat pay for the last week or so, rather than coming back for activities week & paying for childcare. But, it's yonks away yet - and I don't even have a baby yet! So I'll work it out later!

Yes I did thanks - I suffered through school with it and was glad to be all finished on Friday. :)

Me and OH decided that he would take sole care of the LO in the week and half "play week" as holidays. Since I am the main earner financially it makes more sense for us that I go back to work asap and I think it will also be nice for him to take sole charge of her without me nagging him or looking over his shoulder. Some real father-daughter bonding time. Lets see if I feel like that in 18 weeks time

HI there,

I am a secondary teacher - now 11 weeks and a few days. I hadn't told anyone but had had morning sickness - I have been working my usual 7:30- 7 days but not doing anything else and nothing on the weekends - lots of sleep.

However this weekend ended up in A&E with cramps and doc wanted to rule out ectopic. I had the scan yesterday and all is well.

Unfortunately yesterday we also got 'the call' from OFSTED and they are coming in tomorrow (weds) and Thursday. I am still feeling really poorly as I have had gastroenteritus - fortunately it was nothing worse. I was off on Moday and if OFSTED were not in I would have taken the week or at least 3 days as I am still not keeping mch food down - feel more justified because it's a bug not just preggyness. However school was open late last night so I went in and happened to bump into the head - she magically knew - I have no idea how and was fantastic. Told me not to come in today and that she had already sorted some plans if I need to be off Weds and Thurs. SHe's been fab.

I second the thing about duty - it's nice to get outside for me so I don't think I'll ask to give it up (not at the moment anyway)

Lots of water and crackers in the classroom are good - open windows and lots of sleep when not in school I think are the way forward.

Helen.

Morning snakeears!

Congratulations! And well done for staying off today.

Sounds like your head is lovely. Take her support and take the rest of the week off! I had ofsted at about 16wks, and it was just too much! The actual days were ok, but the day before I got in a right state trying to work out how I could do all this prep (directed from above) when I needed to be asleep all the time! It's just not worth the stress to you right now!

I'm impressed with your working days! I've struggled with exhaustion all the way through, couldn't imagine working those hours. I used to get home asap, have a 2hr nap before I could get any work done!

Rest up today, and good luck! x

Good decision snakeears to stay off. I was also unlucky enough to get OFSTED in while pregnant but at 34 weeks there was no hiding it and it was common knowledge to anyone who looked at me. We were told on the Monday and expected them on Wednesday and Thursday which happened to be my 2 busiest days of our 2 week timetable (teaching all 10 lessons). Unfortunately for me though I also had my first NCT class on that Monday night and had to stay for a meeting to be officially told OFSTED were coming in.

Take it easy and don't stress yourself out too much over it - I gave up stressing out the Tuesday night after I realized I'd gone all day without feeling baby move and panicked myself into thinking something was wrong. You are working very long hours atm, remember something has to give and that something should be work! Good luck with OFSTED, I don't know how I would have coped with it at 11 weeks when I had constant morning sickness and terrible back pain.

Hi Guys,

Gosh, haven't been on here for ages! How are you all doing? I'm 24 weeks tomorrow and feel MASSIVE! And everyone and work has been so kind telling me how much I am waddling now! Great!
Most people have been great but with test week last week (I'm Y5) I am struggling under the strain of marking.

I'm working right up to the summer hols, so i'll be 34 weeks by then and not looking forward to it. How long are you guys taking off? I've said a year- maternity pay will be shocking and we'll be on beans on toast for the last 4 months I expect but I so wanted to spend as long as possible at home.
I'm due early Sept, so hoping to put 5th September as my first day of leave- anyone else doing the same?

And is anyone else feeling guilty for spending most of the lesson sitting down and getting the kids to come to them??!

x

Hi am 21+2, I had a student when I found out and she covered for me (had 2 kids herself) but told HT at 12 weeks as was so ill throwing up a lot and needed to start leaving earlier. Am finding it hard to stop doing as much and realised today that I need to stop joining in so muc especially with the after school clubs I run. Have told my class and they now tell me off for sitting on floor and lifting. They are a lovely lot year 3/4 and ask lots of questions. My TA is also taking on a bit more teaching as she is training to teach anyway and loves the chance to take over. Parents have been lovely and am hoping for some hand me downs from them. I have cushions on my chair and in the staff room and everyone has been very supportive. Looking forward to taking them on residential next week but planned it with half term straight after and also get a nice long mat leave as not due till end of Sep so finish work end of July.

Hello. New to this thread. I'm 6 weeks and 4 days and I teach Year 1. I mainly struggle in the afternoon (as do my children!) and in the evenings so I'm doing the bare minimum.

Not much in the way of symptoms - some nausea, sore boobs, tummy cramps and recently constipation and wind which is making me bloated (nice!)

I chose to tell everyone at work as I was worried rumours would start if they saw me dashing off. I'm quite glad I did. Everyone is being really nice and supportive.

32 weeks tomorrow and starting to find work so difficult sometimes now, just keeping organised and on top of everything and staying upright and answering questions correctly is getting very hard! Am also organising a big orienteering event for 3 weeks time with a colleague, so no rest. Another 5 weeks to go after this till ML and I can't wait! Any tips for how to get through the last few weeks?

One of my classes has become very overprotective, they turned on a boy who was refusing to move after I'd told him to the other day and shouted at him that he wasn't allowed to stress me out as it was bad for the baby . Most of them are no different though, one boy asked me to pick his pen up off the floor for him the other day, he just got a look!

excited I feel your marking pain, just had 4 of my classes sitting assessments and feel like I've been non-stop with the red pen.

Hi Mum2be79 I'm a year 1 teacher too. I'm 9+2 weeks and basically have the same symptoms as you. Feeling sick in the morning after eating breakfast, seem to swing between diarrhoea and constipation with a few normal days inbetween the 2, sore boobs, odd tummy cramps - think caused by extreme bloating which makes me look about 4 months pregnant by the evening and delightful wind! I've only told the other year 1 teacher as we work very closely together and I've been very forgetful, tearful and snappy (what a joy I must be to work with)! I'm worried about telling people before the scan I'm such a worrier that something will go wrong. Also excellent news - an outbreak of chicken pox in other year 1 class and reception. Mum says she is 85% sure I've had it but can't exactly remember. However, people are contagious 2 weeks before symptoms so there isn't anything I can do about it. Apparently 2% risk to baby if I catch it, which is unlikely so fingers crossed! Nice to have a thread for teachers - good to compare the ups and downs!!

Im an infant teacher and I'm 13 weeks pregnant with DC number 4, also living by myself till my boy friend moves in later in the year which makes things more tiring at home as I have no help etc.

Im planning on working till 39 weeks (I'm right in thinking this is as late as they will let me work?) as I want more time after the babies born. I'd only have to work one week after the October half term so it works out fairly well.

At the minute it looks like they are going to put me in a year group with a teacher who no one else can stand to work with as I won't be there very much! She seems to have every one majorly stressed out within a week of working with her so I don't think work will be particularly nice but at least it won't be too long.

I'm lucky as I have a TA so I can nip off to the toilet as much as I need too, I try to leave early any way due to picking up kids etc but at the minute work is having to wait as Im shattered by the time there in bed. I feel like I'm doing the bare minimum but hopefully I'll wake up a bit now I'm further on.

I sound very sorry whingy on here when I've read it back, think I'm just knackered and feeling a bit sorry for myself

Im 30weeks now and also working up til hols and its goin to b a long few weeks! Trying hard to take itveasy but my goodness not the easiest job to do this in. I have put my due date as the start of my mat leave as falls in hols.

Witches, I'm with you. 30 weeks tomorrow and hoping to make it to the summer holidays (39+2!) I figure if I can make it then I have the option of taking the whole of next year off (tho we probably can't afford it) and if I don't then it's easier to leave earlier than I said than to stay later.

Damn, damn, damn though, I've just realised from your post that I could have put my actual due date as my maternity leave start date. I put the last day of term. There's only 5 days difference. Is it worth me trying to change it?

In terms of taking it easy. I'm all for getting the kids to come to me! 'Circulating' is becoming less and less important and last week I did a whole lesson from a seated position after sciatica left me unable to stand. It was harder than I thought to teach sitting down! Year 11 and Year 13 leave tomorrow though so I will get eight extra 'frees' a week. Thank goodness!!!

Hi all, was wondering what your thoughts were on my issue...

I am a Primary teacher. I am only about 10 minutes pregnant (3 1/2 weeks really), but I know my HT is thinking about where to place everyone for Sept. I am wondering if I should let her know sooner rather than later, to ease the planning of next year, in case it impacts on where she will put me.

BUT It seems very early to be telling anyone. As this is my first baby, who knows what will happen? Also, HT is being bitch from hell overwrought at the moment (no doubt for some important reason I know nothing about) and doesn't have children. This doesn't make for an understanding or supportive audience! What do you think?

Congrats and good luck to everyone...

TheOnlyWay you sound like me about 7 years ago, and in the end I did tell, but made it clear I was telling because I wanted to be helpful, and she took that on board, and seemed to appreciate the gesture. (Well, as much as the Ice-Queen ever did!) She had one of her own after that and mellowed a bit!

I am not a teacher at the moment, but sympathise with you all hugely. I was a lower school teacher and was sick in the bin, sink, girls loo, everywhere really! I now have an office job for the LA (I am one of those people who deal with placement/funding for SEN children, it's a horrible job, don't do it!) Being pregnant in an office environment isn't easy, but does not in anyway compare with the nightmare of being pregnant in school, and unless you've experienced it, as you lovely ladies all are, you can't appreciate how hard it is. Here's to sympathetic Heads and helpful TAs for you all!

Hi - I am 18 weeks and working at a residential school for boys with EBD. Had a week off last week as I was hit by the hormones! Went back yesterday and two boys kicked off - chair throwing and full on scrap - just had to stand back and wait for help - not great!

TheOnlyWay is there any reason your pg should impact on your placement for next year? Are there classes which will be more difficult to deal with? Or are you just thinking that it would help your HT with long term planning? I'm secondary but didn't tell my HT or HoD until 14 weeks. It just didn't feel right for me to share the news earlier but everyone's different. In the end you have to do what's best for you, not what is best for your HT :) And congratulations!

Hi, I am 19 weeks and work in an infant school. This week has been hard as it was Ofsted and SATs- great! Nothing is different at school with regards to being pregnant, I don't do anything risky, so no risk assessment has been done etc! I don't know when the head plans on telling parents, it won't affect this year's cohort obviously as I will see this academic year out. The only problem is I don't want to start maternity leave until 30th September, so will have to start back with a new class for just 4 weeks. I hope the head okays it and parents won't complain about that.

Thanks big heels and katy custard.

I think she will consider classes which contain children with autism might be better off having the consistency of a teacher who will be able to see out the year! Also, thinking of her general planning.

Ideally I would wait until 3 months, but by then it will be the holidays. You are right, of course, but what is best for the HT so she doesn't eat me up will make life easier for me as well!

cupoftea - parents always complain, don't they?! The ones at my school do, anyway! Sod 'em!

TheOnlyWay

I'm glad I told work early as they were already putting the final pieces together regarding everyone's placements in September. Although, some people have been told (because they've been told to move year groups), as a school we haven't officially been told. I was told I would be staying where I am (Y1) as it would be too stressful to begin a new curriculum for a different year group whilst 22 weeks pregnant AND when I'll only be there for the Autumn Term.

Zambooloo

Thanks for sharing your symptoms. You've made me feel normal again. (I seem to need this every 3 or 4 days!)

I really struggled (daughter now 4)

I told my LSA's (had 2 due to statemented children)

I frequently had to run to loo to be sick or wee. I had vomiting afor the whole 9 months and couldn't eat in first 3 months.

I would leave school and have an after school nap and then get up to prepare or mark books etc

After 12 weeks I did tell other staff members but that altered the way the head treated me (from telling me to apply for a perm contract to telling me I was an suitable candidate) Other members of staff were great and I couldn't have managed without there support.

Good luck

I need some advice about playground duties. I am 12 weeks pregnant and really uncomfortable about going out on KS2 playground duty.

We have 250 KS2 children with about 25 who are prone to fighting and 5 with serious violent tendencies. I would occassionally have to pull apart fights or chase runaways. I am just not happy continuing to do it after half term, but when i floated this idea today i was laughed at.

Is this normal or am i being unreasonsable?

Hi LauraSmurf, I would make it very clear that your will not be chasing runaways or parting fights but will monitor what is going on and send for back up when necessary. Your school sounds similar to mine.
The most important thing is your baby so no you are not being unreasonable.
Plus, your employer has a legal requirement to keep you safe during pregnancy. BTW, who laughed, other staff or HT?

LauraSmurf

School MUST do a risk assessment and these sort of challenges should be mentioned in that assessment. Sounds like you have an unsympathetic senior management? If there was a fight, call for back up and if you get any come back from it, take it to your union. You are quite within your right. At our school,some teachers refuse to intervene at all as we have had no restraint training.

Just last week, my HT watched me struggle with a violent 6 year old, despite knowing I was 6 weeks pregnant. She disappeared and left me to get him in, making me think she was going to talk to Dad to find out why he was reluctant to come into school. I was left standing there whilst she paraded the corridor and didn't even BOTHER to enquire with Dad. We had this every day for four days and STILL she hasn't bothered to find out why a placid and quiet little boy is coming into school screaming, kicking, punching and swearing! And she's a mother of two young children herself!

Today I have been extremely hormonal. I actually wanted to scream at my class today. i got so angry that a pain rippled through my tummy and that made me stop and think. This afternoon was better. I chilled out. Now I'm left with cramps and constant knicker checking as 'feel odd'. I think today it suddenly hit me how stressful teaching is and getting cross isn't worth it - even when several kids are having a blatant conversation during the Literacy hour!