Pregnancy and job hunting

[Misscocopops]

Hiya,

I was wondering if anyone who has been in a similar position could offer me some advice, or even someone who is an employer?

I found myself to be unemployed just before Xmas, long story but for reasons that where not my fault.

I have also recently discovered I am pregnant, which I am so happy about. I am 5-6 weeks so still very early.

I am very lucky to have the luxury to be a stay at home mum once baby is here but in the mean time I feel awful if I don't earn money while I can and the extra money would be really helpful. Plus, it would be great to qualify for maternity allowance.

I've been searching for temp/contract positions to take me to my final months of pregnancy but there is very few in my town, so it only leaves me with the choice of taking on a perm position.

I feel so guilty that a company will pay a recruitment agency a large fee for finding me. Spend time and money training me, for me to have to request time off work for scans and then to leave them in 6/7 months time.

I've been trying to find larger companies who it won't effect as badly but it all seems to be small companies that are hiring!

I just want to know if i'd be the worst person in the world (ok not literally!) for taking on a full time perm job in my situation?

Legally you're well within your rights to apply for and accept any job you want. Morally for me personally I couldn't do it knowing I wasn't going back after mat leave (if you weren't planning on leaving then different situation entirely).

Will you not qualify for MA anyway? You only have to have worked 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks before you're due!

Pregnancy takes a lot out of our bodies. If you can enjoy staying at home and not working in the build up, then do so! You won't get a golden opportunity like this again for many, many years. I stopped working at the end of my contract when I was 15 weeks and am not planning on looking for work until after my maternity leave ends (if at all).

Also, people will look at you and your growing bump and discriminate. Not all, but some will. It is 100% illegal but it happens all the time. I would just relax at home and look after yourself, it's been wonderful not worrying about having to get to work.

Am in a similar position. Contract coming to an end when I'm 18 weeks. Can I ask livingzuid did you get mat allowance? Mine was only a 4 month contract and was on mat leave from previous job for a year (last three months unpaid) before then. Am in the position of job hunting with an obvious bump and also feel that people will secretly discriminate...

Also, as I will have two DC I am also planning on working right up until a few weeks before due date so I don't have to take more than a couple of years out of the workforce once baby is here...feel this is a good time to work as much as I would love to relax and go to yoga etc I worry about not working for more than 2 years...

You are certainly not wrong to apply for jobs. I'm going to be negative (and I completely understand as I am 4-5 weeks pregnant myself), but sadly I know from experience that not all pregnancies end with taking home a baby.

I interviewed while pregnant as had no choice and am now working still, at 36 weeks.
To be blunt, as men cannot have babies, women have no choice but to work, if their situation requires, when they are pregnant/trying etc and it's not always easy to time when exactly a pregnancy will happen.

I have worked hard to prove myself throughout my pregnancy and plan on going back after the baby is born. I have also planned handovers etc of my projects, to keep everything smooth running.

I'm not in the UK but covertly looking to move back home! That said, I had an interview and accepted with a British employer, told them I was 10 weeks pregnant and at that stage we didn't know if the pregnancy was viable and they withdrew the job offer (illegal where I am but still did it anyway). It really, really put me off and I was so upset because I just didn't think people could be that narrow-minded (I've employed pregnant women before too!). But life lesson learnt and I wouldn't want to work for people like that.

My contract was fixed term and ended in December. I qualify for state unemployment benefit here as there is an EU reciprocal agreement in place and that will change to state maternity benefit for 18 weeks - 1 month before the pregnancy and three and a bit months after. Then it goes back to unemployment benefit. All (fortunately) much more generous than back in the UK - I get 70% of my last salary for 3 years and only have to do 4 work actions a month - so not even applying for jobs

I had/still get sometimes hg and also at risk of pre eclampsia so I really don't want to work again till after the birth and my doctors have strongly advised against it.

Back to OP, I just think this is a special time in our lives and a few months in a lifetime doesn't make much difference. It stressed me out when I was working the thought of not working but 4 weeks in and it's fab. I was worried I'd have to move back and work but luckily I don't. Not everyone has that luxury, must work, and some people are fine and sail through pregnancy and work. But if you can enjoy being at home, then I would do it.

I should add, I'd like to work but I just don't think it is practical or possible, and I only have 3 months to go before maternity leave which is mandatory to take 1 month before birth. Do I think anyone will employ me? Nope. I will keep applying but it's not realistic I think until after the birth.

Thank you all so much for your advice! Your answers all really helped put me at ease that whichever way I choose it's ok :) I think I'll feel too guilty so I will stay looking out for temp/contract work but if it doesn't happen at least I know people won't think I'm just a lazy moo.
I hope I can find work as it will help so much! (I can only afford to be a stay at home mum as we are staying living at my parents, luckily there it's lots of room for us all but I know my dad won't approve if I stay at home during my pregnancy, was having a nap when he came home from work earlier and was getting lots of narky comments about being lazy :/ men Ey! It's me and 3 men (dad, boyfriend, brother) so I'm having very little sympathy so far lol!)
So I am very grateful for you all to put my mind at ease that it doesn't matter each way. Are you a liability when doing contract or temp work when pregnant? I understand perm employers (illegally but secretly) discriminating but do you think a temp/contract employer will take the same view?

In a side note I love this site! Thank you all for taking the time to sure your experiences and reassure me! And livingzuid, I wouldn't come back to England if your in an Eu country that supports it's workers that well! Sounds like a better system then ours, rewarding those who have worked more x