Think I need to get signed off but feel a bit pathetic

[kickingking]

32 weeks into second pregnancy, desperately uncomfortable and struggling to walk, very breathless etc. Work (primary teacher) is very hard.

Medically the pregnancy is going well, despite me being diabetic - blood sugars reasonable, baby growing normally and looking healthy. Measuring very big as I have fluid levels 'at the high end of normal' which combined with my short stature has made me huge.

I'm really struggling with anything remotely physical and very tired, fed up of ending each day in tears with pain and exhaustion. I have to give 28 days notice to change when I start ML - which takes me to the start if my ML.

Friends and family keep telling me I should get signed off as they say I am clearly not fit to do my job. But medically, there's nothing actually 'wrong' with me. Is it possible to be signed off for being big for dates and
very uncomfortable? I feel so pathetic about this but don't know how I will carry on.

You have a physically demanding job and you just aren't up to it at the moment. It's not a crime or pathetic to have misjudged how you would feel at this point in your pregnancy.

You are in pain, you are crying, you are exhausted. If anyone, pregnant or not, presented themselves at the GP saying that work made them feel like that the GP would probably tell them to have a rest. Don't be so hard on yourself :)

Other than that, your workplace has a duty of care towards you and should be putting measures in place to make your work safe. If they haven't done that, or if those measures aren't working, then go back to occupational health and see what else can be done. If they conclude that they can't do any more to make it safe for you then I believe that they have to put you on leave at full pay.

Hi, I wouldnt think you could get signed off for being big but definitely you could for stress which you are obviously under. I worked until 34 weeks with my 1st and ended up in hospital with other complications which had I stopped earlier I think would have been better controlled. I was teaching Reception and it really exhausted me. This pregnancy has not been half as bad because I gave up work to become a SAHM before I got pregnant and this time I have niggles but nothing compared to last time. Get yourself to your doctors!