Talk to me about 33 weeks

[jennifer86]

I'm currently 16w in my first pregnancy, no real problems so far just nausea and vomiting but I've managed to avoid medication and continue working (albeit with additional naps and lots of vomit bowls!)

I'm trying to make a decision about my career... I'm in a training job and need to do an exam in order to complete the training. The options I have are either to do the exam when I will be 33 weeks or to leave it for about a year until after maternity leave, but would then need to do it within about 3 or 4 months of coming back to work after maternity leave. The exam is around 3 hours and is a practical exam (no heavy lifting required, but wouldn't involve sitting for a long period either, just sitting, standing, talking etc!) However, there may well not be opportunity to go for a toilet break in the middle due to very strict timing constraints (basically there are lots of different workstations we have to move around and only about 10-15 minutes for each one without a break in the 3hrs).

My main concerns about leaving it until after mat leave would be firstly that there might be more problems such as sleepless nights (and probably also others I haven't thought of) meaning that it wouldn't really be easy at that time, either. Also, a lot of people have mentioned recently how when they came back to work after mat leave they felt they couldn't remember anything and had to start again, which obviously is not how you want to feel if you have to sit an exam!

As this is my first pregnancy, I have absolutely no idea of how I'm going to feel at 33 weeks. Are most people still reasonably comfortable, or will I feel like a whale by then? Am I likely to be able to go for 3 hours without a toilet break? Any other potential difficulties I might not have thought of?? I wanted to get a variety of opinions so knew this would be the best place to start :)

Thanks for reading (sorry it's so long!) and thanks for your help!

Hiya, I am 32 + 3 at the moment, so close to where you'll be at exam time, if you choose to go for it.

I think you'll probably find no definitive answer, I'm afraid! It depends on a lot of factors: were you reasonably fit beforehand? Have you had any complications or medical history that might lead to it - ie. high or low BP, ligament/joint problems etc. Are you having a reasonably active pregnancy?

You probably will find you won't know how you'll feel until you get there, unfortunately, or close to it anyway. For me, yes I can go 3 hours without a toilet break as long as I don't drink any tea! I have a bump but am frequently told it's very 'neat' and it doesn't really impede my daily routine at the moment, though it is growing rapidly as of about 10 days ago. I can move around, am still riding/caring for my horse as well as working, walking dog etc. but I do struggle to stand for long periods of time. I have got very low BP though, which is a factor. I find that if I make sure I'm walking/moving my calves it does ease the problem, but it's the sort of thing you could forget to do if you're concentrating.

Hope that gives you something useful! Good luck with your pregnancy

I'm 33 weeks at the moment and I think I'd be just about ok with this. I'd manage that long without going to the loo, though everyone is different with this. I think the not sitting down would be more of an issue - can they not make allowances for the fact you're pregnant and give you a seat for some of the activities?

If it doesn't really matter if you leave it a year then that might be easier, but if you can get it out of the way now I probably would do so.

If you tried it this time and failed it, would it be held against you? Tbh I'd put yourself down for it, as long as you can retake post mat leave if it doesn't go well. Surely given your special circs they'd make toilet break allowances? I felt fine at 33 wks, it wasn't until 38/39 when head got low that the wee situation got bad, and for an exam I'd even consider tena lady, you only have to pass it once and fwiw, I do think you've as good a chance now she the prep is fresh in your mind as later. Every pregnancy is different though.

Hello,
I did a big professional exam at 28 weeks. I'm a doctor in a training post and familiar with the type of exam you're describing - in my case it was a written one though.

I was much more on top of my material and much more confident in middle of pregnancy than I was 3-4 months after returning from mat leave (I have a toddler so I know all about that too!) But there is a bit of a difference between 28 and 33 weeks. At 33 weeks I was beginning to struggle to bend down for long periods of time (don't know if this would be an issue) - I was ok for toilet breaks. Easily fatigued though.

It was very hard putting aside the time to study this year, I felt I should be focussing on my family and my pregnancy more. I managed to pass which was BRILLIANT and I was thrilled but I would have been devastated if I'd failed, for the wasted time in an already tiring and demanding year, and also because I would have had to wait until after mat leave to retake it and basically start from scratch again. BUT the upside is I don't have to take another exam for years now and can return from mat leave in a position of strength which is great.

I found travelling for it, staying away a night from home, and the actual sitting in the exam fairly hard, but manageable. And I did pass. I would worry about people judging me unfairly in a practical exam being visibly pregnant but that's because doctors are misogynistic swines. Of course it could work the other way and they could mark you up out of pity/fear of discrimination!! I didn't have to deal with those worries with it being written.

Practical things - do you have to travel? How much does it cost? Can you retake it without penalty?

I think I would have found a practical exam easier physically (mine was 2 days seated, moving around is much easier when heavily pregnant). I THINK they would be obliged to accommodate you for toilet breaks under the usual "do you have any special needs" bit you fill in before exams. They can add in extra rest stations etc and to be honest if you put your foot down about that I don't think they would dare argue.

On balance I would probably go for it because life is busier with a baby - and you don't know what kind of baby you're going to get. Also it's good experience even if you fail it. You may have to set aside plenty of time for study AND rest, more than usual.

I'd do it. I'm a teacher, so was standing/bending/running/dancing/etc at work until 30 weeks without too much hassle, and then even though it was the summer holidays at that point, I was still pretty active until 33 weeks. Obviously teaching I can't nip to the loo all the time either, and 30 weeks was just about alright for that too.

Things got properly uncomfy for me at around 35/36 weeks.

I'm pregnant now with no2 and with my first around that time I was having a lot of ligament pain and gall bladder attacks. I had to stop working around week 17 (and I had an office job)
Now with no 2 I'm now 36 weeks and at 33 weeks I could barely walk because of PGP/SPD.. Oh and baby brain. (DH has a good laugh about it as it is worse in this pregnancy as with first)

Regarding after mat leave and worrying lack of sleep. I can't complain as DS is a very good sleeper. Sleeps 10-12 hours a night. Takes two 1/2-1 hour nap each day!

As previous posters said it will depend how you will feel closer to that time. In my position I was fine till 28/29 weeks but as soon as I hit 30 weeks it got uncomfortable and painful..
Every person is different. I would talk to the responsible person about the exams, and ask questions. "Loo time" "sitting down" "post-poning the exam"

Good luck
Oh and congrats

I'm 30 weeks and would have no concerns about doing it now - I don't think that's likely to change in 3 weeks. 3 hours is fine for the loo for me, and although I'm aware of my bump when I'm standing and walking, it doesn't hinder me from anything - apart from bending down easily.

Thanks for your responses. Gen, it wouldn't be held against me as such if I tried and failed, but the financial consequences would be huge - The cost to sit the exam are around the same as a month's wages - so I would definitely rather not take it twice!! weebairn, it would involve travelling around 2hrs each way by train and most likely staying away from home for one night, although I hadn't considered that that might be difficult (but I think it would be even more difficult with a baby as then partner and baby would have to come with me!) Twiglet, my pregnancy is so far fairly low risk, but I do have a family history of diabetes so will need to be checked for that, so that's probably going to be the most likely complication. I'm also worried about PGP, though, hartmel as I know how difficult it can be to deal with but at the same time it might be difficult to get signed off sick for it or be taken seriously, as it's not something they can quantify.

I don't have to actually apply for the exam for another couple of months, but do need to start preparing for it now if I'm planning on sitting it. I will speak to them about loo breaks etc and whether I could get any of the fees refunded if it turned out I wasn't up to sitting the exam at the time. But think I will start preparing for it, as it does seem a shame to not even try and have to do it after mat leave!

Thanks again for your help.

Do it. I'm 34 weeks & would manage it. It wouldn't be easy - I can't bend & get very tired. But I'd be able - just.

Just plan nothing else for that day as you'll need to go to bed straight after.

I also think better to do it before baby comes. Am 32+2 and have had a straightforward pregnancy so far. I would say in the last 4 weeks though I am starting to struggle a bit - nothing specific, just general huffing and puffing and struggling to find a comfy sleep position, etc. I still think it would be preferable and easier to do it now than with a baby in tow. Of course you can't guarantee that you won't have any problems by 33 weeks that make it harder, but equally you could have a baby who doesn't sleep well and makes revising impossible afterwards. I haven't had particular 'baby brain' and if you are in a job which is pretty demanding anyway I think you'll be fine in that respect. Finding time to revise when you want to be in bed by 9 every night may take some organising though :-)

I agree with Annarose that planning some time off afterwards is probably sensible. If I spend a few hours walking around town now I have to have a lie down or at the very least sit for an hour with my feet up, if I want to be good for anything else the rest of the day.

33 weeks and I couldn't do it. I've finished work this week ( I work a very physically active job) as I'm getting incredibly uncomfortable Braxton hicks and my back is killing me. As many have said though, it's all down to you and your individual pregnancy - just make sure you listen to your body.

I was enormous at 33 weeks (I actually gave birth unexpectedly at 34 weeks) but could've managed the exam.

I felt much better at 33 weeks pregnant with no children than I did non pregnant but with a 1 year old.

Can you negotiate a loo break (could they not stop the clock for you in some way?)

If you sign up for the exam now, but then have complications in the pg later, will you be able to pull out and get the fee refunded?

Are you describing the CSA exam by any chance?

Whilst neither time is 100%, I think it would be much easier to do exam before baby arrives. Finding time to study with a newborn will be a real challenge.

Everyone is different I'm 36 weeks and at 33 weeks I had a bleed ended up in hospital, felt generally awful but have done this whole pregnancy. So i would say no. Xx

I'm 33+3 today and still teaching. I'm not sure about toilet breaks, don't think I would be able to go 3 hours but thinking about it I probably did this afternoon...depends how much you're drinking I suppose.
I don't feel massive, just tired and weak. Everyone is different and you probably won't know until you reach that point, I have asked to stop work now due to tiredness, I think I'd try and do it, rest before and afterwards, easier to try and do it before baby by the sounds of it :-)

Ok, so general consensus seems to be that it will be easier at 33 weeks than with the baby. I think I will plan to do the exam but will ask about cancellation costs if I'm unwell etc. Thanks, it's really helpful to hear your views. That really made me laugh, kahak yes it is the CSA exam, was it really that obvious?

Medical exam like osce? I personally feel ok apart from heartburn and bad back. If it's an exam where an attempt that you are unable to turn up to counts as a failure and if you only have say 3 chances then it might be a bit risky. At 33 weeks I would chance it though.

If it's CSA then def before hand. Or go back part time and give yourself longer. I thought the CSA had changed and you can now do it any month so why not a month previously if you are ready. You are right though, the financial implications are huge. I know someone who is thinking of sitting akt at 39 weeks as a second attempt- way too risky in my opinion as if she is early/unwell that's an attempt wasted.

Jennifer86- I thought it sounded familiar!

I didn't do it whilst pregnant, but know someone who did (3rd trimester, not sure exactly how many weeks). She had a positive outcome.
I was still working at 33/40 and managing to get through sessions ok- typically with 1 toilet break. There is 1 brief break in the csa, so a toilet break should be possible.

Another thing to factor in is practice. My training group typically met up 1-2 nights per week, and at the weekend to go through cases. If you apply for the exam when out-of-sync with your training group, would you have anyone to practice cases with?

In your position, I would probably go for exam before baby, but only if you feel ready. As you say, the financial implications of a re-sit are rather unpleasant!

Good luck with whatever you decide!