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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Back to work or not???

12 replies

Em1503 · 29/01/2014 13:28

I'm just over 14 weeks pregnant and have been signed off work for 5 weeks now due to morning sickness. I'm on tablets which have stopped the sickness but I'm still suffering bad nausea, stomach aches and tiredness. I have had the odd day of feeling better though recently so thought it was all coming to an end, yet yesterday and today I've been back in bed feeling awful again and unable to do anything or function properly.

I'm meant to be back in work next week but don't know whether to try or get signed off for another week until half term (I'm a teacher) then that way it gives me over half term to rest as well and hopefully feeling properly better to go back after the holidays. On the other hand should I struggle in? I'm worried that people at work are going to be thinking I'm skiving and have a huge guilt about being off. I know the stress and workload will be full on though as soon as I go back which worries me. I did drag myself back in a few weeks ago to try and start back but ended up being sent home. I really don't know what to do?!?!? Any other teachers (or anyone who has been in a similar situation got any advice?)

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bugoven · 29/01/2014 13:45

I am an HLTA in a school amd have been nauseous and exhausted for most of the time since the start of term. I am now 8/9 weeks. I have gone in every day apart from one and had to go home on one occasion too. I have been about half as useful at my job as I would normally be (usually I am very hard working and committed). My head suggested I get signed off but when I'm feeling not too bad I'm grateful of the distractions.

I would go with whatever you feel is best for you and your baby. That is what I have done.

Ilovekittyelise · 29/01/2014 13:55

im not a teacher or anything but sounds more sensible all round to get signed off? presumably your workload is being covered and its more sensible to keep that cover in place rather than go back and be unable to cope and them have to get someone else in. then gives you another two weeks to see how you feel and make a decision.

i know its much easier said than done, but try not to worry about work. make your decisions based on whether you are well enough. going back when you arent well enough will cause you difficulty on so many levels, you will feel awful, not do your job as well as you can, you will feel guilty and stressed about that, be kind to yourself.

just realised i told you how you will feel; i guess what i mean is thats likely how i might feel in your situation.

look after yourself.

Original poster

Em1503 · 29/01/2014 14:49

I think what's worrying me is that my school is very stressful at the best of times and it's difficult to keep on top of everything even when you're feeling well. We have just been put into special measures so the added workload, constant observations and impending ofsted again makes it that we have to be performing at our best all the time. I don't want to be seen as not pulling my weight though or using my pregnancy as an excuse to get out of it all. I just don't want to risk anything affecting the well being of my baby but obviously I've got to go back at some point! So unsure what to do. The pressure to try going back is immense. I might be fine or I might really struggle again and make it worse for everyone. Really hard to know what to do for the best?!?!

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Original poster

Em1503 · 29/01/2014 14:49

Thanks for the replies do far, both helpful.

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Howly · 29/01/2014 15:06

Hi, I'm sort of the same as you, 14+5 and still suffering with everything you are, apart from I'm only sick in the morning! I was signed off for a week before christmas when I was on meds but they didn't really work and just made me drowsy so I stopped taking them! I've been in school everyday since starting back in January but everyday is an uphill struggle and my main aim is just getting through the day! I thought it was going around week 12 but the last week it has come back with a vengeance and I'd had enough of struggling today and called in sick! I'm struggling to get all my marking done as im exhausted by the time i get home and we are under constant scrutiny so I'm putting so much pressure in myself and stressing out!! Which I think is making my sickness worse!! I'm now deciding whether to go in the rest of the week or not! I should really as I have year 11 both days and exams are looming!

I think you should get signed off til after half term and start a fresh in the hope that it will have lifted and rest properly otherwise you will go back get stressed trying to play catch up and be lumbered with marking over half term! I was told by my school that I was replaceable when I had time off earlier in the year to have my appendix out so don't worry too much about what people think. Everyone suffers differently during pregnancy so no one can say your using it as an excuse!

And the simple answer to your 'don't know what's best?' Question is.... What's best for you and your baby? Not the school !!

Original poster

Em1503 · 29/01/2014 16:59

Thanks Howly, my school sounds very similar to yours in terms of the pressure and expectation etc. sorry you are feeling poorly too, it makes me doubt myself though-you have made it in nearly every day, why have I not??! Hope you're feeling better soon and make the right decision for you whether you take the rest of the week off, it's not an easy decision at all.

OP posts:

Tea1Sugar · 29/01/2014 19:50

I'm a teacher. I was signed off for a week at 25 weeks and the guilt was too much for me despite not taking a day off previously. I'm 28 weeks now and braving it each day until I leave at 34 weeks.

SweetPea86 · 29/01/2014 20:11

Hi Hun, do what is best for you, I'm 29 weeks preg still suffer with sickness not as bad as it was but I went in to work every day. Honestly looking bk I was stupid to do so I should of went on the sick. I started my matenrity leave this week very ealry but I'm exhausted with it all and I think forcing my self in to work at my worst has just run me down.

If you don't feel fit take some more time.

Original poster

Em1503 · 30/01/2014 08:36

Thanks for the other replied, they have really reassured me. Not decided what to do yet but I'm feeling better about whatever decision I make.

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Nulanoo · 31/01/2014 10:44

It's the guilt that's get to you though isn't it! I'm also a teacher not been in yesterday or today as suffering with diarrhoea (tmi!!) teaching is so pressured I know next week is an observation week so I'm going to be going back into that I'm almost 15 weeks now but everybody says ooh work up to the end then you can get time the other side but in all honesty I don't know how I'll make it that long! I teach eyfs so it's pretty full on! Hope everyone is feeling ok today

icklekid · 31/01/2014 10:52

I'm a teacher and been off all this week and next because of severe back pain am only 17 weeks this could be a very long and difficult rest of pregnancy. I feel awful for school kids etc but my baby is the most important thing

LightTripper · 31/01/2014 13:58

I was very sick at your stage. Luckily I do consultancy and wasn't too busy, so I could just about manage what I had to do (about 30hrs/wk) because it is pretty flexible (I could work from home most days, at least for part of the day, and could generally do a few hours, then have a nap, then another hour, etc.). But teaching is so full on and so little flexibility in what you do when... I think if I was a teacher I would have had to sign off sick.

Mine started to get better at around 13-14 weeks, but I would say it was a pretty gradual improvement until 20 weeks (last vom!) - since when I've been at a plateau really: feeling rough in the evenings, but OK in the day. If I had to do standard hours I think I would have really struggled until 16-17 weeks, so hopefully if you can get signed off until after half term that may really make a difference...

Icklekid - I also had bad back problems at around your stage, and am now fine, so it can get better!! Do you have a physio, or is it not that kind of back pain?

LT xx

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