Should I ask to drop a day in work?

[2Labradors]

I've been debating whether to ask if I could drop a day in work and I go from thinking 'right I'm going to ask, it's a good idea' to 'no, stick with it, it's not long' and I'm driving myself a bit bonkers.

I work 30 hours over Mon-Fri. I have 2 DC already and am 20 weeks pregnant with my 3rd. I'm constantly tired and have not got the 2nd trimester energy boost at all. Last night I fell asleep at 5pm, it's usually 6:30-7:30 that I fall asleep and my DH has been great and sorting the DC out every evening (expect Weds as he works late). I'm just exhausted as the day starts early, sorting everything for the day, and then it's shopping after work with DC in tow or cleaning/washing, the usual things.

Work has been quite stressful recently, everyone is overworked, the manager is off on long term sickness (we think due to stress), the atmosphere can be heated or stressful, people getting irate with each other. I try and keep my head down but my BP has been up and down. I do actually enjoy my job but it's not a pleasant place to work at the moment really.

Last Saturday, I woke at 11am, had something to eat and then slept until 4pm. I'm good for nothing every Saturday it seems.

Pregnancy is going reasonably ok. I had bleeding early on. All the checks couldn't be completed at 20 weeks scan so I'm having to wait until 23 weeks to be re-scanned to complete checks. I have a low lying placenta, so need to be re-scanned at 34 weeks to see if it's moved. If it hasn't then we can't go on our holiday the following week (in uk) and I will be admitted at 36 weeks (apparently). I have white bloods cells in my wee again this week too, although BP seems to be in normal range again. My consultant told me to rest as much as possible.

I was thinking of asking if I could drop a Friday in work. I'm sure my overworked colleagues may not be too impressed, but I think I could juggle my own work load and do over 4 days. And on that day I can do my shopping, house work or sleep. Our house is a tip.

I plan on returning to work after mat leave but was hoping to do 3 days then (due to childcare issues).

But, then I think, if I stick with my 5 days then my pay won't drop until I start mat leave at 37/38 weeks (if I'm not admitted). I have only 15 weeks ish in work as I have 2 weeks hol booked between now and mat leave. If I drop a day then I lose that days pay, and I have been trying to save as much as poss every month so I can have 12 months mat leave.

I know this isn't a big problem really but I've been doing my own head in over it! Just thought I would ask for some opinions, I wonder if anyone else is in/ has been in this situation? I worked during both previous pregnancies but not 5 days a week. Am I being silly? Should I just suck it up for the short time I have left really?

Thanks if you've read this far, sorry for going on

Hmmm.....I would look at what your Mat Pay is based on. At mine and a friends work, Mat Pay (the 90% bit), was based on your earnings at a certain week, so of you drop a day, it might be best to wait til after that point.

Are your two weeks off for a holiday away? if not, could you use those ten days one day per week - essentially dropping your working week down a day without dropping any pay?

Thanks mortified I didn't realise that, about the mat pay being based on a certain week. I've not had much info as my manager is off so I'm having to find all the info out myself.

One week of hol is for childcare during summer hols, as DC are with someone different each week. The second is for the week we have booked away, when I'm 35 weeks, that hopefully we can go on if my placenta moves up (booked before I fell pregnant). So unfortunately I couldn't use them elsewhere.

Have you got any more anual leave?
I had wednesday afternoons off as holiday from about 30 weeks, and a full wednesday off from mid 30s. Worked to 38+a little, but couldn't have done it without the half day for jobs, and half day for sleeping later.

You are also entitled to several weeks of unpaid leave for child care reasons - can't remember if its for under 5s or under 16s. After checking what your qualifying weeks are for SMP, could you use this parental leave for the weeks you need off, and use the holiday to work 4 days weeks?

When are you thinking of going on ML? If you brought it forward to 35 weeks, you would have those 5 days leave to use?

Thanks next. I do have A/L that I'm tagging to the start of my maternity leave. I've sorted my dates so that I return to work January 2015 instead of during the Christmas of 2014, so I can't really move my leaving date unless I'm forced to with the low lying placenta.

I've talked it through with my mum, and I'm going to continue my 5 days, as I do think it will affect my first 6 weeks of mat pay otherwise, and I've worked hard for years doing 5 days. As she pointed out, if I think I can manage my work over 4 days then I should take it easy doing it over the 5 days, no need to push myself. My mum's going to help with one of the after school clubs once a week too which will be a huge relief.

I don't want to wish this pregnancy away but I'm on countdown to maternity leave big time now!

Hi 2labradors, I think mat leave pay is based on week 26 of pregnancy but not 100% sure. I agree with your mum, you shouldn't be encouraging your employers to pay you less to do the same amount of work! You'll be even more tired on your days off than you are now. I know how you're feeling I'm working part time and pregnant with our third and shattered. hope you get something sorted out.

I would agree with 3Boys, if you went to 80% then you should be doing 80% of the work, not try to do 100 in 80 - that will not really help.

Concentrate on trying to reduce your stress at work as much as you can but stick to 5 days.
Check your company's policy on sick days, at a certain point they can start to be taken off your maternity leave in some companies. Then consider a planned sick day or sick afternoon? Technically you do need some time off to recover (sleep) and much better for the company that you take one day off than need to be signed off sinner than 35 weeks due to stress.