Going on maternity leave early?

[PumpkinPie2013]

Hi,

Just looking for other people's ideas/experiences really

I'm currently 19 weeks pregnant with my first baby but due to a previous back injury I'm suffering with PGP and now round ligament pain as well

I've seen a physio who wasn't a great deal of help to be honest - just gave me one tiny exercise. I'm using pillows in bed - I find behind my back and between my knees helps but I'm struggling to sleep so I'm quite tired.

I'm a teacher so on my feet all day and part of my job is going to other schools so I do a lot of driving round, getting in/out of car with resources etc.

I have said to my work that I will finish at Oct half term (last week of Oct) when I'll be 36 weeks (due 26th Nov). However, I'm now thinking I may need to finish a bit earlier (work are ok with this but will need to know asap really).

Has anyone else finished quite early? If so how did you find it? I was planning to return the following September anyway for the start of the academic year so it won't affect that even if I finish a bit earlier.

I don't want to be bored at home (although there's plenty to do!) but equally don't want to struggle at work

Any experiences welcome!

With my first baby I finished work at 29 weeks! It was fantastic- I had 11 weeks to prepare for baby coming, I was able to lie in in the mornings as wasn't getting a great nights sleep, use the daytime to meet friends for lunch, go and get baby things, pamper myself etc.

The way to look at it is this is your last ever child-free time so make the most of it! Now I have a 3yo and a 10mo, those days are a distant memory

I left at 33wks, the first 13 days were annual leave. I work(ed) in a 'similar' job to you, if my boss had said I could have gone earlier and it wouldn't have effected when I go back, I would have!

Thanks both

I think I will move it forward a couple of weeks then I can relax during the last few weeks and take advantage of being able to sleep and get organised before baby arrives.

Just a quick tip - if you plan on returning in the September, you are far better returning to work at the start of the summer hols, so you get full pay for that time rather than maternity pay!

Just to let you know that I was in agony at 20 weeks with pgp (having completely banjaxed my pelvis slipping on a manhole cover at 41 weeks with my first pregnancy).

I was paranoid about getting worse & saw the physio who gave me "one tiny little exercise" and read me the riot act on getting out of the car with my legs together, getting in & out of bed with legs together.

I was massively unimpressed, but persisted. I am now loads and loads better (30/40). Have had about 7 days almost completely pain free, lots of walking & running around after DS. Amazing.

Obviously if you need / want to go on mat leave earlier than planned that's up to you, but I wouldn't despair over the pgp just yet.

Good luck

I'm a primary teacher and for this pregnancy have been on leave since 20 weeks. I had some health issues that would have been massively exacerbated by being on my feet, working long hours and constantly bending down etc. I was really anxious about it and felt guilty but it's been the best decision ever. I can finally prioritise my health! I'm doing some study and not the sort of person who gets bored. If you are jeopardising your health by working I would really encourage early leave.

Just another option - I had chronic SPD with first baby and ended up in a wheel chair from 7 and a half months. I was signed off sick by the Dr for a few weeks, then I went straight into maternity leave as planned 2 weeks before baby arrived. I can't say it felt great, but I couldn't do my job and I didn't want to waste mat leave before baby arrived.

i am suffering with pgp and back pain at 35 weeks and despite initualy planning to work later I will be finishing at 37. I will be seriously fed up by then (mostly because of lack of good sleep) but I have a desk job- I would be giving up earlier if a teacher. I have also been using up hols to make 4 day weeks but imagine it's not possible for you. Also only getting SMP I was initially determined to work as long as possible, now I realise I wouldnt get any medals for carrying on till 39 though know some women with easy pregnancies who did.

I had pelvic girdle pain at about 20 weeks. I panicked thinking - this is It I'm stuck at home for the next 20 weeks but mine cleared up after 5 weeks - I'm now 37 weeks and feel good. I think what helped me was not crossing my legs ever and going to pregnancy aqua aerobics. I hope it clears up for you also. Good luck x

I'm finishing work on Thursday, exactly 29 weeks, as early as I'm allowed. I work in retail so have the same problem with feet and swollen ankles, and back ache. I think I could probably go on a few more weeks but I thought I would leave asap and enjoy my last few weeks being child free, do things I never get time to like watch movies and lots of episodes of friends and bake and clean. don't feel guilty if u want to finish early, you're entitled to so go for it.

Just to let you know that I was in agony at 20 weeks with pgp (having completely banjaxed my pelvis slipping on a manhole cover at 41 weeks with my first pregnancy).

I was paranoid about getting worse & saw the physio who gave me "one tiny little exercise" and read me the riot act on getting out of the car with my legs together, getting in & out of bed with legs together.

I was massively unimpressed, but persisted. I am now loads and loads better (30/40). Have had about 7 days almost completely pain free, lots of walking & running around after DS. Amazing.

Obviously if you need / want to go on mat leave earlier than planned that's up to you, but I wouldn't despair over the pgp just yet.

Good luck

Have you spoken to the Pelvic Partnership charity? I can't link easily right now but they are easy to find and absolutely brilliant. Sadly the NHS physio approach to PGP is utterly crap in many regions but a lot of people can be helped with proper treatment. I was barely able to walk at 25 weeks, on crutches, and the NHS physios were kind but told me I just had to put up with it and do a generic set of exercises. The Pelvic Partnership put me in touch with a specialist private physio and with two treatments I was off the crutches and walking without pain. I have to be careful, but i have been able to go back to my original mat leave plans, having had similar thoughts to you. Obviously each case is different, but that's kind of the point: you need to be properly looked at as an individual, not just another pregnant woman who needs to grit her teeth. It's not right that you have to pay, but for me it was worth it. The Pelvic Partnership will only recommend practitioners they hear about from women who have had real results. Good luck!

OK, I can link now:

Pelvic Partnership

This is my second PGP pregnancy by the way, and I really thought I was condemned to just suffer worse and sooner. I wish I'd contacted the PP last time!

I gave up work at 32 almost 33w, it was a very physical job and I was suffering with pelvic pain. I thought uh oh that'll be me on crutches soon the, but since stopping work it's improved 90%! So it was definitely the right choice to make to go earlier than most people do.

I.finished at 29wks with my first and even had some annual leave before that, although I've suffered from pgp and sciatica with my subsequent pregnancys I didn't with my first my problem was blackouts and having funny turns, o worked in retail and got put on the till alot and either would pass out or have to just randomly run to the door midsale for fresh air before I got too dizzy. My manager had a polite word with me and said obviously it was best to go on leave as early as I could. Do what you have to do :) xx

I'm a teacher, too. In my last pregnancy, I was signed off from work at 30 weeks when I went in on crutches, school sent me home to the doctor and he signed me off until my due date. My maternity leave was triggered at 36 weeks. Work were quite shit and didn't cover me properly for weeks, so I had the joy of sending in cover work for about 4 weeks (I know I didn't have to, but my department all had their timetables jiggled to cover me, and it wasn't fair to them)

Definitely go back at the start of the summer holidays rather than September.

I'm a teacher too. I didn't have any particular problems, and went on ml at 36 weeks. I could not have gone another day. I was shattered!

Don't hesitate to go on leave early if you are struggling.

I know in this country, women tend to work as late as possible to maximise maternity leave after the baby, and 38/39 weeks seems normal, but I do think this is very late and difficult in many jobs. My midwife told me she thought everyone should stop at 36 weeks.

Why don't you keep it as it is, then nearer the time, if you don't cope, you can always be signed off by your GP if necessary. Then maternity leave will kick in at 36 weeks regardless.

You may find that you can manage the extra weeks as you will have had the summer holidays to rest a bit. Then it would be a shame to have to leave early and miss out on time the other side.

I would wait and see too - if your baby is a couple of weeks late you will end up with almost 2 months of mat leave with no baby, which seems a bit of a waste if you're feeling ok. I have a v physical job (work with animals and on my feet all day) and really suffered with spd last time so planned to finish early (about 35 weeks). At 35 weeks I felt fine and my boss was rushed to hospital the day I was due to finish. I ended up working until 38 weeks and felt great! I was glad of the extra mat leave at the end too as it meant I could stay with my baby longer than I had first planned. Legally you don't have to decide yet and they shouldn't be pushing you to either.