Any tips on coping with work...

[Charingcrossbun]

I'm 30weeks and only have 6 weeks left at work I'm a teacher and despite the usual complaints about huge workload etc have been coping so far. I have had a wonderful Xmas hol with loads of lie ins, afternoon naps and days spent with my feet up! I'm now very worried about how I'm going to get through the next 6 weeks with just a normal amount of sleep and rest. I'm huge and whilst I haven't got spd I find standing/walking for more than 5 mins v uncomfortable.
Does anyone have any good tips for trying to be a professional whilst feeling like a beaches whale?

I can't offer any advice as I'm taking mat leave at 30 weeks I have spd and sickness still mind.

I applaud you for working another 6 weeks I've got 3 weeks left I'm literally dying on my feet.

Maybe try not to focus on 6 weeks and take one day at a time see how u feel. Good luck 6 weeks will fly by :) happy new year

What age are you teaching? Can you sit down and get the children to move to you?

I'm secondary and in a leadership post which means I don't have my own classroom. I teach a little bit here, a little bit there. Kids are fairly good at helpin me carry resources from room to room though. I can sit to teach although I'll just have to pray ofsted don't inspect - I teach v tricky groups and if I'm in one place without the fear I could be looking over their shoulders god knows what they'll be up to!!

Work should be able to provide you with a suitable chair - maybe a wheelie chair so you can scoot around

The person in charge of such things at my work was always checking I was ok
Leave work as early as you can, maybe have a nap then finish school work after that
I am a teacher and was lucky enough to start mat leave in October so just had cover/intervention work from 31-39 weeks! Which was a lot less stressful than full class teaching

I'm a teacher and I have one term more to work and I'm going to get a granny bag with wheels for all my books.

Get yourself a wheelie trolley for books and resources. Sit down when you can and ask the kids to come to you, if you go to them, and it's practical to do so, pull up a chair to sit and talk to them. Ask to be let off break/lunch duties (this is not an unreasonable request with SPD).

Hi charing I am 24 weeks with twins and it sounds like we have a very similar position in school. I have got another 6 weeks left and I think I am just going to have to adjust my expectations of what I can do in the day.

Make sure break and lunch are exactly that as far as possible and you are taking enough time to have a drink/go to the loo. It is so easy for the day to pass by and you realise you have not done anything for yourself all day.

Be kind with your lesson planning too. Make the kids do lots for you and don't leave yourself with tons to do. My responsibility means I have a lot of contact with parents/kids so that can't really be altered but there are other ways to make sure you are not run off your (already tired) feet!

Thank you. A wheelie trolley would be great but unfortunately getting up and down the stairs would be a pain (lift has been broken all year ). I like the idea of wheeling around the classroom!
Will make being taken off of the duty rota priority 1 for tomorrow! Thanks for the tips - I find the people at work to be friendly and caring but no one is going to go out of their way to help unless I can give them a specific thing to do ( like taking my lunch duties!).
I think I will pledge to leave work by 1600 - have a nap and then work afterwards!

I'm in basically same position, 31 weeks today and going back to school for 6 weeks.

I'm planning to take it as it comes, fx I can work that long but if I'm not well enough I will leave.

My colleagues are equally good at sympathy but not always good at practical solutions! I've asked a colleague to take my class for PE, so far that's all I've changed....

Out of interest how are your schools taking the - you can't count pregnancy related illness as illness - rule? Mine claim they have never heard of it! My boss keeps saying nice things like "slow down, take it easy" but there is no reduction in workload or expectations, observations or the rest. I really don't want to be a pain to work but ultimately if there aren't changes and I can't cope I will go sick which is no good for anyone!

I'm the same but 33 weeks, only have 15 working days and counting! Was struggling towards end of term but managed but think I'm going to really have difficulties going back... I have my own classroom but breaks and lunches seem to disappear as I'm a head of year and constantly have kids coming to me then. Also a core subject and school got a 3 for ofsted recently so huge emphasis on bringing up standards, increase in work scrutinies / observations / learning walks etc, no chance of taking it easy for the next 3 weeks!

Had originally been told my cover would start tomorrow and I would have withdrawal gcse groups, unit and strolls but that has been changed, so full timetable still... Incidentally have never had a risk assessment done either!

I don't work in a school charingcross but I think that rule is a bit of a double edged sword. It's all very well saying pregnancy related illness doesn't affect your sickness record, but pregnancy related illness can trigger them to start maternity leave early so weighing up which one is more important I'd probably prefer it to go against me as normal sickness (I get 6 months of sick leave if needed)

I'm back to work tomorrow at 26+4. Finishing at 36 weeks and it feels like it's just round the corner but also an eternity away! I'm similar to the op in that I don't have any specific health issues but I'm tired, big and my mind is on the baby coming now, not work! I think I'm going to ask to work from home one day a week until I finish as getting up in the morning is going to be a struggle. I'm expecting the pressure to get piled on this week as I'm going to make a request that my boss won't wAnt to grant re maternity leave so if things get awkward I need to think about my options with regard to sickness/maternity leave etc

From what I can see they can only force me to take maternity leave if I'm sick after 36weeks which is half term for me....

I think its after 29 weeks (or whatever the earliest date you can take maternity is and up to 36). If you have periods of pregnancy related absence after 29 they can force you to take maternity from 36. Im not that bothered on that front but im starting proper maternity leave from 40 weeks so would essentially 'lose' a months holiday pay until the end of my maternity as wouldnt be able to use those holidays until then if that makes sense?

What were the recommendations of your Maternity Risk Assessment?

I'm 31 weeks and finishing work in 5 weeks time and really feel on count down now. Main issue for me is my 2 other young dc. So any time I have off is not my rest time. My work are having trouble covering me so I feel bad even thinking about finishing any earlier than this. Not sure what to do, but can definately empathise. Knackered now really.

Mine were very supportive of the absences I had at the start as I had horrible morning sickness. They are all recorded as pregnancy related so have no impact on my bradford score.

Have you met with the head to discuss arrangements for your maternity leave? Might be a good opportunity to discuss possibilities for less duties/ consideration with stairs/ rooms etc. I don't know how supportive your school is but this was all discussed with me in my risk assessment before Christmas.

Thanks ladies, I had a maternity risk assessment but none of the recommendation were done and it hasn't been signed..... So not much good really. I've had a maternity line management meeting

Sorry posted too soon. The focus of the meeting was all the work I needed to do before I left rather than supporting me....

I can't remember what was in mine - I was specifically told not to climb on tables and chairs - er how do you think I got my display up there? Broomstick??

If you are struggling to cope physically school will have to help you (they should have done a risk assessment). They will not want to be held liable for any pregnancy related problems. Just as someone on crutches could request a rejig so that all their lessons are downstairs, you could do the same. They should also be offering to lighten your workload if necessary. There are easy ways to do this which shouldn't impact on anyone else much - exemption from duty/ meetings etc.
Just go to them with concerns and solutions and they must assist.

Teacher as well, no risk assessment done for either of my pregnancies. First time around I had such an awful commute I left at 31 weeks, this time am aiming for 36 weeks like you. There is no reduction in expectations or stress, I just am very clear to myself that I won't put my health or the baby's health at risk. I need to rest and that means I can't do high energy lessons, I might recycle old lessons rather than planning new and exciting ones, I won't attempt to stay up late working and I make sure I have a break at weekends. I'm only 25 weeks tomorrow but have been ill for most of the pregnancy so have had to take it as easy as possible. Oh, and I have requested not to go on duty on my own since a fight started that I couldn't break up! I think that's the only concession that has been made, so basically I am making my own concessions and expecting less of myself!

Jellyandcake - it's sad that we have to do these things (I.e that te support it's jut there) but your right. It's about our health and baby! I have been trying hard to stop my guilt on having lessons covered or not completing the million things I've been asked to do. Must be strong - I am never going to look back at this time and wishes I'd worked harder or stayed later!

The only advice I can give is have a secret stash of bananas/crackers/chocolate to give you emergency short and long term sugar hits!

Good luck x