Pregnant teachers - how long did you work?

[BumpOct2014]

Just wondered how long other teachers worked before going on maternity leave and which age group you work with?

Im 35 weeks tomorrow and i work with a large Year 1 class (just moved down from four years in year 2).
I had originally planned to work until 38+4 which is the end of week 7 in an 8 week term.
However, I had a really hard week last week and am beginning to wonder if I will make it.
I don't really want to finish work early if I can help it as I want the time afterwards. I can't afford to stay off once I'm down to just maternity pay, so I'll probably be back to work by mid/end February, when hubby plans to take a month off.

I'm having terrible back/hip problems for which I've seen a physio. She recommended a proper chair (which means me leaning over little tables which hurts me) and then she suggested kneeling on cushions on floor next to tables (which resulted in terrible pins and needles/threat of cramps) so I've given up and am back to sitting on tiny kids chairs.

Sorry, I'm feeling rather miserable at the thought of going back to work tomorrow, but that's probably as much to do with the twilight training session booked tomorrow night until 615pm.

So, any tips on how to survive the next four weeks (assuming baby doesn't arrive early!)

35 weeks here and a secondary teacher. Aiming for 38 weeks!
My strategy so far is: no extras. We had open eve last week (yawn!) and I usually pull out all the stops. This time, I did 'enough' and it was fine. I rationalise these things by saying 'I could go to the prize giving evening, but I will end up missing a day's work later in the week'.
Don't do that mad parents' evening idea! Turn it into an informal meeting for all just after school.
The hardest bit is giving over control. It is not ALL your job to manage the impact if your maternity. Sit down lots, go home asap, do nothing at home!! It can be done (but I know it's hard).
Good luck!

I have just cried listening to the 8am news and Sun chime being played on Radio 2 - that's normally what I listen to when I first get into work on a Monday. See... it makes me knackered, but I love my job.

I found, especially early on when I felt really crap, that I could actually get away without doing 'everything' - it felt weird after being so full on for years, but I needed sleep so badly I just had to leave at 4 - so planned my lessons accordingly. I don't think any kid suffered! It was worse as I got bigger and more uncomfortable, especially since my Head loaded up my work with no concessions - if anything he handed over more than normal.

I'm due end of Jan and not planning on going back after Christmas. 21 weeks now and beginning to really start feeling the exhaustion. Also starting to get a really bad hip :/ even though I'm sat down most of the day.

I'm a secondary HoD - I planned on finishing at 38 weeks, but found out at 36+6 (Wed) that I was being induced on the Monday. I finished work on the Thursday, bang on 37 weeks, my waters went on that Friday and DD was born on the Sat at 37+2.

If I could go back I'd finish up earlier. I was bloody knackered and running around trying to organise things for my replacement (even before I knew about the induction). Teaching isn't like a normal job - if you're there, I find most people assume that you are able to do everything as normal. I was lucky that my colleagues were very supportive - taking classes if I felt ropey, taking on additional work etc.

I agree completely with WftsC above - I stressed myself out getting things ready for when I was off. It took a very kind DHT to tell me that I needed to focus on me and the baby and leave everything else to make me give up a bit of control.

I worked until the beginning of the summer hols at 34+.

Was delighted to leave at that point, due to anemia, other pregnancy complications and the hottest summer on record. Worked in inner London so commuted by foot and by bus for most of my pregnancy, taking taxis in the last few weeks. Oh and I was SLT and we had Ofsted in early July.

The only blessing was that I didn't have class responsibility after half term, due to various periods being signed off sick.

Looking back, I don't know how I got through to the start of maternity leave.

I worked until 35 weeks with ds. Was huge and really thought he would come early. He arrived at 42 weeks! But I really couldn't have continued for much longer.

With dd, stopped at 36 weeks and she arrived at 41.

I'm an Assistant Head in a v busy inner city primary. Always lots of safeguarding and cp stuff on my work plate. This in itself had a big emotional drain on me when pregnant.

I know a fair few teachers who have worked beyond the 37 week mark only to have a stressful last week and then baby arrives within first few days of ML.

Oh phew it's not just me! I'm only 31 weeks and have just had a week on sick leave due to horrific migraines. I'm due back tomorrow. I don't think I can cope!

I'm pleased its not just me - not that I want anyone to struggle at work but I know now I'm not being too pathetic!

I ended up calling in sick today as I had a minor meltdown last night after struggling to get out of the bath and then throwing up
Think I was tired and suffering from a bug that's been going around.
I'm going back tomorrow as I only have a morning in class and then a course in the afternoon.

Need to find out the exact maternity pay I get and for how long so I can work out exactly when I go back. This might let me leave a week early than planned (at 37+4) and head said my maternity cover could start a week earlier than planned, if needed.
I think it's 2 weeks full pay, 4 weeks 90% and then 12 weeks 50% + maternity - does that sound right?

Up to 34 weeks. I was born 6 weeks prem so for some reason I always intended to leave work 6 weeks before my EDD to be 'safe.

I had 2 weeks peace each time before each of my DDs arrived naturally and safely, but 4 weeks early.

Music Instructor here, working across 11 schools a week. By Christmas holidays I'll be 32 weeks (with twins). HOPING to make it to the Christmas holidays, have my holidays then officially start my mat leave when the schools go back in January... that's the plan - the babies may have other ideas as currently MASSIVE at 20 weeks!

I'm 31 weeks in a infant school, we had ofsted in last week which was a killer but I've said I'll work up to my due date as long as nothing comes up.
With my first 3 I was a student or on supply and with my 4th I left at 38 weeks and had her a week later but I could have kept going till then.
I'm fairly healthy apart from the usual aches and want all my time off afterwards so the longer the better. My poor TA is having kittens though as my last two were early and she's having visions of my waters going in class .

I'm secondary and worked til 37+5. I'd have stopped sooner but the last few weeks were study leave so I had a reduced timetable. I did a lot of sitting around tidying the classroom with a fan directed at me! I'd have stopped around 36 weeks or maybe earlier if this hadn't been the case - I found teaching while pregnant utterly exhausting.

I'm glad that you took today off but please remember that you won't be able to do that from next week without triggering your mat leave.

Time to go back to HT and tell her that you need support if you are going to make it to 37 or 38 weeks. See if your mat cover can start two weeks early to create an overlap - you can team-teach. Ask to take your PPA working from home.
Good luck.

I'm watching with interest! I had planned on going till Christmas holidays (private school so a week sooner than stare schools) and officially starting my maternity leave on our first day back. But I may have have to be forced to start much sooner as my BP is going up and up. Still within healthy range but I'm only 24+4 and already at the higher end of normal...

Hi BumpOct,
I teach equivalent of year 3. I have a particularly challenging class this year so am utterly exhausted all the time. I'll be 32 weeks at Christmas when I finish up but no point in me working later as maternity leave will run into summer holidays then.
I did buy a swivvel chair in Ikea and it can also be lowered and made higher. It is a godsend as I have varicose veins, I can fly around classroom correcting work. Got it in Ikea.
I urge every pregnant teacher to get one!!

NeedaDiscoNap also a HoD, which makes it soooo much harder to let go, I think. I just reread my own post and it is such great advice.
Must starting taking it
Am physically not doing the extras (well, as many) but emotionally it's a different matter. For example, have usually been in for 15 mins at this time, but am still in bed now. Great work! Except I was wide awake between 4 and 5 mentally running through the DEF/DIP in case OFSTED come when I can't come in and help.

Then I lecture myself saying 'that will not be my job in 3 weeks time' and I feel a bit panicky!

Teaching is a v emotional job at any level.

I am secondary and also have management responsibility I worked until 39 weeks (everyone thought I was mad!)

My school were very supportive and offered me reduced timetable or whatever I needed. I didnt need to make any changes as my cover worked with me for the last 4 weeks so I could pass stuff on and I also started going home 'early' making sure I left as soon as I could once the school day finished.

I also lost 3 hrs of teaching as my 6th form class finished their course.

I didnt have any issues with my pregnancy tho so felt well enough, I was also determined to get to a holiday so I could start my mat leave the day everyone went back and still be on 'my' pay for the week not maternity pay!

Baby was born at 40+5 so it was fine. we did have a plan incase I went into labour at school though.

I was aiming for 38 weeks but spoke to doctor at 32 weeks as was so exhausted and in pain (primary level furniture sucks!) and he signed me off so am still signed off and will start maternity leave proper at 36 weeks (am now 34 weeks)

Now I've had a couple of days chilling out, and feel totally rested and less in pain, I can't imagine how I thought I'd be able to do labour in the state I was in on Friday!

I was due to work until 38 weeks but just been signed off at 36. Was quite sad but making the most of being off now!

WftsC - I know what you mean! No matter what you try and do you can't get it out of your head!

I went into school a few weeks ago to say hello (and show DD off ) and it was stressful as everyone kept asking me when I was cing back! I need to do KIT days for the money but really don't want to now as the thought of going in is depressing me!

HamAndPlaques my understanding was that if I'm off with non-pregnancy related illness it wouldn't trigger my maternity leave?
I've just got a cold/sore throat/sickness bug at the moment but will be cautious when I get into next week

REALLY need to get my head around maternity pay and keeping in touch days asap!

Definitely going to speak to head about cover starting earlier as I'm not sure I'll be able to or want to still be working at 38 weeks.

It will make your matter if leave kick in if you're off close to your estimated due date, regardless if it's preg or non-preg related - can't remember the exact timings, but I had to drag myself in with a yucky virus in case that happened to me.

It should be in your LEA mat leave policy or union stuff about mat leave.

I was told if you're off due to pregnancy related illness/problems in last 4 weeks then it kicks mat leave in. If it's a cold though you should be fine.

I think 36 weeks is the trigger point if you are off. They can then enforce mat leave at that point regardless of why you are off. Don't quote me on this though.