Teaching and stress in pregnancy

[DichotoMous]

Hi everyone,

I am 25 weeks pregnant with my first baby, everything is going well with the pregnancy and I am getting to the point where I think I should be slowing down a bit. However, I have just worked out what I have left to do in my remaining 9 weeks (!) left at school and wondering how on earth I am going to fit everything in.

I teach a Core subject and have three external exams (approx 140 students, revision, past papers marking, etc) coming up in the next fortnight or so. I also have a scheme of work to prepare ready for the new Year 7 curriculum in September, and a trip to plan (although I won't actually be going on the trip, as I'll be too big by then!).

In addition to that I have a TLR for a whole school role, and I have three 'whole yeargroup' trips and a whole-school enrichment event to organise, as well as trying to get assessed for an external award (already about halfway through). These events are already in the calendar and I cannot cancel them.

I currently work 8-5 or 5.30 at school with 5 mins break and 20 mins for lunch, as well as half a day at the weekend to catch up with marking, and I feel like I'm not sleeping properly.

I am just after some advice or other people's experiences really, as I'd like to see how this compares with other people in my situation. I would love to delegate all some of it, but at the same time I don't know how best to go about this (my line manager for the TLR role is very newly appointed). Am I making a fuss over nothing in terms of my workload?

Thanks in advance

I am 29 weeks and shattered - I delegate as much as possible, my marking has been cut to the bone, and TES is a lifesaver for resources/lesson plans.
Happily I got all my coursework marked over the Easter break, so it's only reports hanging over me now. We've been doing an awful lot of peer assessment in class too, but it's the only way to survive.
I'm hoping to go to 37+6, which is our last day of term. We shall see.

Primary teacher here so slightly different but I'm finding the workload and tiredness very hard now! I'm 29 weeks so got a few weeks to go yet before maternity leave. There's no way I can't bring work home with me, just far too much to do every day and nobody to delegate to. We're in special measures at the moment so constant observations, teaching and learning reviews, extra planning, tracking etc etc mean that my workload is growing not easing. The constant monitoring means that there's no way I can cut back at the moment. The thought of half term is keeping me going then it'll only be a few more weeks until I finish. Can't wait!

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to report back and thank everyone for their input.

I would normally have lots of gained time after half term when Year 11 leave which would take some of the pressure off, but I have absorbed some lessons for a new colleague that is starting in September. I have had a meeting with the line manager for my TLR today and he is going to see about getting me some more non-contact time to give me a better chance at getting everything completed. Fingers crossed!

I hope everyone else is getting on OK and ticking things off their to-do list...6 days until half term people, we're nearly there!

Great that your getting more non contact- if I was teaching full time would be going at half term! Planning to do 3 weeks after half term- means I can moderate and send off all ks1 data and not worry. Will also use those 3 weeks to hand over so by the end should just be sat/waddling around!

Nearly there!!!

I'm on maternity leave with my 7week old DS but was where you are not long ago!
I survived by:
Getting taken off the duty rota to ensure I always have break and lunch (this is a requirement that schools have to allow).
Reminding myself constantly that my baby came first and consequently taking the odd sick day when ordinarily I would have soldiered on.
Not going to training/meetings etc unless I thought I needed to (this was a big deal to me as I am such a good girl but surprisingly the world didn't end and in several cases my LM didn't notice).
Leaving early - as in straight after the bell - getting home and having an hours sleep before working for an hour or so, not for everyone but worked well for me.
Telling the kids and getting them to change little things. I work in a v tough school but was really surprised by pupils who would carry books for me etc I also used the phrase "my baby can hear in there" quite a lot often followed by so I don't wan his words to be the filth pouring out of your mouth! Little thing but actually made a big difference to the language of some of my pupils.
Hope it all goes well!

I'm a primary teacher and struggling as the morning sickness still hasn't gone ( nearly 16 weeks) School is supportive to an extent but of the 'get on with it' mentality so feeling a bit overwhelmed. Reading this has made me question my current think that I'll work until October half term ( a week before due date!)