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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

When to go on mat leave

13 replies

NW10teacher · 09/07/2017 19:51

I am having a dilemma, which (realistically) I need to sort out within the next couple of weeks! Any advice (including the 'you're being stupid' sort) is very welcome :)

I am 16 wks with MCDA twins and I'm a teacher at a big London secondary. I was planning to go the start of the next school year and go on mat leave as late as possible - had even been thinking about trying to get all the way to half term. Over the last week or so, I've started seriously doubting if I can do it. I already feel huge and tired and hot, struggling to sleep, I fainted twice on the tube this week - it has been hot though. Every day, it just felt like a massive struggle to get through and every evening I've been in over-emotional floods of tears about the marking/reports/inspection feedback which I'm behind on. I'm just trying to imagine myself skipping back in through the school gates in September and it seems very unlikely!

On the other hand, I'm thinking... I'll only be 24 weeks on the 31st, which is our official first day back. Who goes on mat leave at 24 weeks?! And the Head of Y7 keeps saying what a relief it is that I'll still be here in September (I'm a Y7 assistant head) since it's such a hectic time of the year in Y7. On the other hand, I don't want to leave her in the lurch if I assume I'll be back and then end up not being there.

So... help, not sure what to do!

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NapQueen · 09/07/2017 19:55

I would imagine many twin pregnancies result in early mat leave. Its hard work enough hoiking a singleton bump around.

Do you have October Half Term? You would be maybe 30/31 weeks then? Could always finish earlier (sicknote from MW) if you felt unable to handle it.

Another option is to request no classroom time and simply HOY stuff only for the sept-oct half term. They can then get your mat leave replacement settled in, have you sat down most of the time, abd have someone there explicitly to do y7 non teaching admin/etc.

Callamia · 09/07/2017 20:00

Can you adapt your hours? Reduce rather than go off completely? September will still prob be quite warm, and feel like hard work (I'm entirely sympathetic, I'm 36 wks now with one baby). I think it's worth talking to the school about how you can best fulfil your role, without needing to go off completely.

How much mat leave will you take? How much do you want on the other side of the birth? (I'm still resentful that the two weeks I spent waiting for my son to arrive were 'wasted' when it came to the end of my leave).

The most important thing, of course, is your health. So do whatever you think is best for you and the babies. i hope you get a restful summer.

Oly5 · 09/07/2017 20:04

I think it depends how much time you want at the other side of the birth. I always work til the last minute to maximise time off afterwards

Original poster

NW10teacher · 09/07/2017 20:08

Ah, that is a good idea! Thank you!! I might raise that as a possibility (although I have a feeling at the same time that cash-strapped school may well say No).

We do have October h/t and my original plan was to go then. But start of the year is always such a running-around time (chasing after lost/stray/upset/difficult new Y7s).

I already told the Y7/8 netball squads (who I co-coach) that I wouldn't be coaching them next term and half the girls were all 'Oh no, miss, why?' I did have a little giggle when one smart Y8 said 'Obviously she can't, she's going to have a baby, isn't that right miss? We couldn't expect miss to referee for us when she's having a baby, it might come on the court, isn't that right miss?'

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moggle · 09/07/2017 20:10

Hey, I don't have much advice but am in a similar situation but a few weeks behind. DCDA twins, 10weeks currently. I worked til just before 37 weeks with my DD as we'd recently moved house and I had lots of jobs to do... DD obligingly arrived 5 days before her due date. this time I really dunno but I'm only in an office job. I've been telling my boss mid-December if I don't have any specific health problems. That'll be about 33 or 34 weeks. Not convinced I'll be able to make it though.
If you want any company for twin pregnancy witterings, there's a thread in the "Multiple births" (under Being a parent) where a few of us with twins due in January are trying not to freak out :-)

Original poster

NW10teacher · 09/07/2017 20:11

Callamia, thanks, I'll try to check out reducing hours situation. I'm planning to do 6 months, I feel like it'll be so hard to get back into it if I take longer. So don't want to 'waste' weeks before the birth - I totally understand what you mean about the 2 wasted weeks!

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Original poster

NW10teacher · 09/07/2017 20:13

Ooh, moggle, I'd love to chat on that thread! I can't seem to find the board though. Just found out at 16 week scan that we're expecting 2 girls so very exciting :)

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Original poster

NW10teacher · 09/07/2017 20:14

Sorry - found it now.

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moggle · 09/07/2017 20:19

I'm really hoping we can find out at our 16 week scan! We didn't find out with DD but had enough surprises this pregnancy :-) 2 girls, wonderful!!

Lules · 09/07/2017 20:23

You can only go on ML 11 weeks before your due date, although you could go on sick leave before then if needed. I can't remember what dates your maternity pay is calculated on but you'd also want to make sure going part time at the end wouldn't affect it.

Original poster

NW10teacher · 09/07/2017 21:32

Urgh - see, I'm so clueless! Really need to do some research.

I'm just panicking basically, about how knackered I already feel, but maybe it will get better! I really don't want to have to mess around taking sick leave before the maternity leave and all the rest of it. I feel my immediate line manager will take a dim view ;)

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EdgeOfGlory266 · 09/07/2017 22:05

I was going to say the same regarding mat leave and that I thought you couldn't start it until 11 week before EDD. I'm only pregnant with one bit I'm planning on leaving at the earliest opportunity at 29 weeks. I'm going through the process of buying a new house around 30 min car drive (on a good day) from my work. That should all go though just in time for me being 29 weeks. I just can't be bothered with it. I'm looking forward to spending a bit of time with my 2.5 year old before baby arrives, so will be saving half my wages on childcare and travel costs. I get around 5 months full pay which is good and I had to have my son early, so I think that may happen again. I'm not planning on going back to work after baby so it doesn't matter too much to me when I go off.

salsasalsa · 10/07/2017 12:23

My circumstances are completely different, but jsut wanted to say congratulations! I am just over 14 weeks with MCDA twins, so scared that they will be early... how and when the birth will occur... when to take maternity leave and if I will be able to make it earlier if needs be! I wanted a natural birth where I could work right up until the end!!! Don't think that's very likely from what I've read on twin pregnancies xx

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