Have NC for this because I'm worried someone from my work will recognise me.
I am pregnant with DC2 and have informally told my work I want to take my maternity leave on the 23rd December when I'll be 33 weeks. I now want to start the leave as soon as possible.
The back story is that I returned from my maternity leave with DS in September. At this time I moved department completely, to a different role in a different office in a different location within the same company. I wanted this as it meant I could go p/t and made my commute much shorter. However I have found it so difficult to settle in. I am left out of staff discussions (in an open plan office this is excruciating - I try to cheerfully join in but it's horrible), my ideas and way of doing things are not agreed with (which I am fine with, everyone's tackles things in their own way, but my techniques are openly derided) and going p/t has meant that I am constantly trying to prove myself in a very short amount of time each week.
I suppose it didn't help that someone from within their office didn't get the position I was appointed to and as soon as I started I had to inform them I was (unexpectedly) pregnant.
We had a training day away last week and it brought home to me how isolated and miserable I am in this job. Someone who I work with closely commented how much upheaval it would be for them when I go on maternity leave and I replied that that was a shame. They said that's ok there's nothing you can do about it now, and another colleague chipped in with well, you could have kept your legs shut earlier. It was meant as "joke" and I laughed, but it wasn't funny.
I can't speak to my line manager as they are all friends and socialise together, I really think it would just make life harder for me.
I have cried to told DH about it, and he said I should just "clock in" the next 5 weeks. But then he asked legally when could I start ML, I looked in to it and discovered I could actually start next week. Although I would hate it to look like I am running away, which I am, it is so tempting to leave. What do you think? I guess they don't need a reason why I'm doing this but they will all ask. I wondered how bad it would be embellish a kidney complaint I have which can be exacerbated by pregnancy. I hate lying, but I have no loyalty to these people.
I am also very worried I have ruined my career which I have worked so hard for. I have no intention of returning to this job when my ML is over and I couldn't go back to my lovely old office without applying for a position if it came up, so I would have to apply for different jobs. And I don't expect I would get a glowing reference from my line manager.
Sorry that was long, thank you if you've made it this far. Also I am sorry to anyone reading this who has been forced to take early ML for genuine medical reasons.