22 weeks - day off work and feeling like a slacker

[Charingcrossbun]

I'm in bed and feeling like a slacker.
I'm 22weeks and just couldn't face work today. I'm not ill just exhausted. I'm a teacher so being off is a big deal and I feel like I'm letting the kids down. In my defence I was pushed (physically) twice this week by lovely cherubs disagreeing with my outrageous requests - line up before I let you get your lunch and please sit down and stop shouting at me I'm trying to teach the class. All that is resolved but I spend my days rushing from one class to another dealing with pupil after pupil after angry parent (I have a management role). I feel like I have no right to complain as this is my job and I've always loved it and been good at it - I'm just not up to it at the moment!!
I guess I just need to hear some mumsnet support that a day resting a stress free is good for my baby and I'm not a really bad person!!

Do other people feel like this in the second trimester?

If one more person talks to me about my glow and "at least your not being sick anymore" I might scream. I am lucky I know! I have no spd, hyper sickness thingy or other unpleasantness. I'm just finding this preggo thing tiring and achey and blurg.......

Well only you know if it's bad enough to take a day off work. I guess I am lucky enough to be able to go at my own pace to a certain extent as it's our business that I work in so I can take a small lie-in if I need one or have a couple of hours on the office sofa in the afternoon. I am 21+4 and by the end of each day I am utterly shattered and evenings are a write off for me.

Your health is more important than any job. I am only into my 11th week but I have had to take it easy. Am working from home today and the luxury of not having to get up was bliss. I finally told work at the expense probably of not getting a permanent contract but I was just too ill. You have to come first! I should really take my own advice :)

Don't feel bad. Enjoy the tranquility. Can you negotiate less classes perhaps? Feel better soon!

I feel your pain. I am 23 weeks and feel like I could sleep for a week just to let myself catch up with me. I have taken 1 day off so far this pregnancy (although in retrospect I should have taken more time off during my 1st trimester but instead struggled on). I have been fighting myself about taking time off to recuperate for the last fortnight because I hate being "sick". I would say I have had a relatively trouble free pregnancy to date, but the exhaustion you are meant to feel in Trimester one seems to have got me on my glowing stage . Take the time off, it might benefit you in the long run :)

If it helps, I am the first woman to be pregnant in our organisation - previously (we're talking 10-15 years ago for the last one) ladies left the job as soon as they found out they were pregnant.
I am currently 32 weeks and have only 3 and 4 day weeks left to work until maternity leave. I wouldn't be able to get through the weeks otherwise, I am so tired!

Look, you're a teacher so you already work like a dog day to day. I don't think people who have never taught really grasp how knackering it is. You will have to get used to putting yourself first and taking the odd day off and sometimes more. The second tri is 'the easiest' of the three but you're still knackered and growing a baby.
If you're getting pushed by students you need to make sure your risk assessment has addressed how these risks can be managed.
Take care of yourself - no one else will!

I am 20 weeks and haven't been in work for over 10 weeks. But as my boss is continually saying, "Nothing is more important than the baby."

You take it easy, don't be hard on yourself x x

10 weeks writer?!

Op I'm a teacher in second tri too. Everyday we work like dogs. I don't think non-teachers realise the amount of dogwork and the guilt of having time off. I've had one day off so far. I spent 5 weeks running out of my classroom to be sick as I didn't want to let my class down so soldiered on. I complete empathise x

Yes Tea - and absolutely gagging to go back!!!!!

I'm seeing my Consultant next Friday and fingers crossed he is going to give me the go-ahead to return to work!!! I can't wait!!!

I was initially signed off at 10 weeks with sickness but have since been signed off because of 3 episodes of bleeding. I managed one day at work when I was 14 weeks pregnant but 4 hours into the day I had a huge, fresh red blood bleed in the staff toilet and got rushed straight to hospital. My Boss was mortified and told me in no circumstances was I to return to work until after my 20 week scan -which I had yesterday. Initially she wanted me to get signed off for the whole of my pregnancy! My midwife was querying issues with my placenta which could be triggering my bleeding so once my Consultant has reviewed the images he can let me know if there are any problems...and if not (fingers crossed) I'll be back in the office on the 18th

Writer, its obviously best for you to be away from work. For those feeling guilty,another way to look at it is that you being at work is a liability for them, so its better for all concerned if you are at home and can easily get to hospital/appointments. Same for working right up to your due date. This whole 'soldiering on' thing is not necessarily selfless but can be the opposite.

Tea I'm also a teacher and had to take time off during first tri due to ms.I teach a practical subject (secondary) and couldn't possibly leave the classroom to be sick,let alone drive into school without being dizzy and extremely nauseous.felt I had no choice but to be signed off.
The law says we should not be discriminated against due to pg sickness - why would we then turn this against ourselves? I think its a female thing, guilt about looking after ourselves. Its crazy! If men got preggers they'd definitely be taking time off if they needed it.

Charing I had a day off for tiredness when I was about 22 weeks. I was just so tired, I spent the whole day in bed and it helped so much.

writer your boss sounds wonderfully understanding. I hope everything proceeds ok for you.

Thanks guys. Just what I needed to hear, having made my original post I then fell asleep for 5 hours so much have needed it!

feel ur pain am currently signed off by gp with exhaustion. am a community mental health nurse and travel alot to work and between bases. feel really guilty being off but the way i see it now is i cant help others if am not on form myself. just try to enjoy ur time off while u can

I'm just heading into wk 23, this week I have lost the 6lb I had gained this pregnancy, been really hungry, came Home on Thursday at midday and slept for 4.5 hours and then realised baby has had a major growth spurt this week!! hence calories /weight burned off, eating loads and new shape to belly!

I think you deserve to have time off if you need it, you are growing a baby! You are not letting the children down by having time off you are resting so you are able to do your job well when you are there. I'm not a teacher, I can't imagine how hard it is to do while your pregnant but I'm a human and when my son is at school if I hear his teacher is off while pregnant I'd be pleased she was taking care of her self.