first pregnancy - back to work advice.

[skilt92]

Hello, everyone. I am new to mumsnet so bare with me:). My boyfriend and I are expecting our first child, complete shock! I had the mirena IUS coil in for 2 months, somehow (?) it came out and coincidently I end up pregnant! I am 21 and my boyfriend is 23, we are both in our final year of University (finishing in 2 months!). He has a decent job lined up, I did in a school but obviously because of the situation I will have to consider something else. I am just after some general advice in regards to what mothers do when going back to work after having a baby or in my case starting work. I will have a degree in early childhood and want to go in to that field. I know this message is a bit of a ramble but so is my head at the minute after having my future turned upside down. Can any new young mums advise me here, i know so much about children because of my degree but now that i am in this situation i feel as though my mind has just gone blank at the thought of everything? THANKS EVERYONE! :)

Why will you have to consider something else now simply because you're pregnant? You are entitled to maternity leave (although it may not be paid depending on when you start the job and when you are due).

Have you signed a contract yet? If you have then you are their employee and you will have some rights.

Don't know if this is worth considering - but with your qualifications a nursery would love to have you on board and could also then help with childcare while you worked. Which could be a bonus for you and baby.

I can't really offer any advice on it other wise, expecting first bubs myself and did the same degree but had to change paths after messing my knee up - so can understand wanting to put the hard work you've done to good use!

Good luck and hope everything goes well

"Have you signed a contract yet? If you have then you are their employee and you will have some rights." This will depend on whether the op has started working there yet. iirc in order to qualify for even SMP you have to have been employed at a company for a specific amount of time by the 26th week of pregnancy so it's really not that straightforward.

If op is in final year of uni then the job wouldn't be starting presumably until July at the earliest (given time for finishing degree course) so op is unlikely to be entitled to maternity leave.

Op - what I would say is to wait until you've had the baby and see how you feel. At the moment you're not really in a position to be lookking for work to start after your degree as baby will be due or newborn at that stage so best to wait until he/she is born and see where you go from there. No reason why you can't continue in the same fielld once baby is born but just consider that your career is being delayed slightly. good luck.

Hey.

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I have 2 months of university left also and i'm 20 weeks pregnant. My partner works full time and is supporting me.

I don't work, so i'm not entitled to statutory maternity pay - which states you have to be working up to 27 weeks of pregnancy. Whilst you're a student you're not entitled to anything. But after that you can get job seekers allowance and you're entitled to benefits once the baby is born. You get all those papers after you've given birth.

I am actually deciding to seek advice with someone. I used to work, but was unable to continue for reasons. Finding a job is hard in itself, but I'm waiting until after my baby is born before I start to work.

How far along will you be when you start your job? You could still start your new job then take up to 6 months maternity leave and still be entitled to return to the same role - you wouldn't qualify for stat mat pay but there may be other benefits - check out gov.uk
If you didn't want to start this job before your baby is born, you could ask if they might defer for a year (possible in a school maybe?).
You could also turn down the job you have accepted and wait until your baby is here before deciding what you want to do - babies have a habit of changing your perspective on life!!!

Good luck whichever path you choose!