Maternity leave - struggling

[Poptart4]

When i first found out i was pregnant i thought i could easily work right up until the end of my pregnancy.

Im now 31 weeks and struggling. Ive had afew unexpected complications with this pregnancy which means ive been attending hospital visits once a week for the last 6 weeks and this will continue until the end. I wake up 10 times a night due to my hips going numb so im constantly tossing and turning. By the time my alarm goes off at 7am i feel like i haven't slept at all.

My bump is huge and its bloody hot in the office. We dont have air conditioning :(

Im sitting in work right now writing this instead of working.

I love job but my head just isn't in it right now. Im due to go on annual leave at 36 weeks and my maternity leave will start straight after that, so only 5 weeks left working a 4 day week as i have all these extra hospital appointments.

Im counting down the days. Anyone else feel like this?

I lost the will to live with work about six weeks ago, and I'm 32 weeks now. I love my job too, but I just can't concentrate, am too distracted by lists of baby things that need doing, and the heat is destroying me. If the heartburn doesn't keep me awake, the heat does. I could do with a winch to get myself out of bed. So I 100% feel your pain! :) I had holiday that needed using up so fortunately I've only got 2 weeks left at work. That's good that you've got short weeks - that should make the time go faster hopefully!

Hi @pirate, unfortunately my hospital appointments are always at 7-8am so ive to get up even earlier on those days and then its hours of sitting in waiting rooms so it doesn't feel like a day off at all. But at least im home by lunch on those days so thats something.

Your finished in 2 weeks :) envy you :)

I'm only 27 weeks and I've already had enough! I work in a very busy and at times emotionally draining job where I'm on my feet a lot. I also can't sleep due to SPD, I just can't get comfy despite an increasingly complicated arrangement of pillows.
I'm lucky to be term time only so currently enjoying a break from it all for a few weeks but I know that when I go back in September I'm really going to struggle as I'll be massive and they SPD will have gotten worse. I was planning to work right up until my due date to maximise time off with baby but I've realised that's not realistic and I'm now aiming to go at 38 weeks.

I'm only 13 weeks and I know where you are coming from. Love my job but can't even concentrate any more and everyone annoys me!

This is my 3rd pregnancy and with this heat, it's by far the hardest. I have actually cried over the weather and when it rained at the weekend I went and laid in it.

I'm 30 weeks and finished work at 29 weeks. I couldn't have done anymore at all. I work term time only and have booked some annual leave after the summer hols and will start mat leave officially at 38 weeks. I knew I wouldn't manage longer than I have done, having suffered from debilitating pgp and sciatica in previous pregnancies and now having 2 other children to look after.

When working I was wfh and honestly it was so hard to focus. The weather made me so sleepy and I was constantly exhausted from lack of sleep.

I can't say I feel much better now but at least I don't have to pretend to be on top of everything and can just stop when I need to (well as much as you can with 2 children).

Can you take some annual leave or bring your mat leave forward? Can you wfh a day a week?

I was going to start a thread on the exact same thing.
I’m 30 weeks now and I’m due to start May leave at 35 weeks but I’m really struggling.

I’m a nanny and the little one I look after is 30lbs plus and isn’t mobile yet meaning I need to lift them etc which is a strain.

I’m only working part time with them so feel like I should just be getting on with it.
The sleepless nights and pelvic pain and killing me throughout the day.

I’m meeting with my boss this week and hopefully can use the rest of my holidays up and finish up earlier.
(The family have a replacement nanny to cover my mat leave and she’s ready to start now)

I'm currently 28+4 and will be finishing work at 34 weeks starting with 2 weeks annual leave and the maternity kicking in from week 36. I'd originally planned to start the annual leave at 36 and then maternity from 38 but being on my feet all day and coming home achey and tired made me make the decision to bring it forward. Also I'm having to have extra scans and appointments as I'm on medication which could mean the baby is small, in which case they may induce me early so I figured giving my self a couple of extra weeks just in case will be better than finishing later with no time to myself before baby arrives

Im glad its not just me. I feel like a huge wuss complaining when ive still got 2 months to go. It shouldnt be this hard this early.

27 weeks tomorrow and also struggling, I’ve aorked out I only have 45 working days left at work which is the only thing getting me through

I am 30 weeks and have had enough. Every day is such a struggle and I cant wait until I go on leave. My last day in the office is 35 weeks and then I have 3 weeks of annual leave to use up before mat leave kicks in.

I just keep thinking that every day done is one day closer to finishing. Only 26 days of work to go....

Ive just counted and ive only 17 working days left until maternity leave starts. It doesn't seem do bad when i look at it like that :)

Completely with you! I'm 32 weeks and have 11 working days left. Feels like i'm counting the hours.

I think once you get in your head you're leaving it's so hard to refocus on work and take the job seriously. All of the meetings I go to I feel like I shouldn't be there; what's the point?

If you're really struggling could you bring it forward by a week? I originally was going to work as long as possible but the hours were starting to kill me so I booked a holiday day for each week and brought my maternity leave forward a bit.

I feel exactly the same! I'm 33 weeks now and set to work till 38 weeks as I did with dc1 but really struggling with motivation more than anything. Think I should take annual leave for the last 2 weeks, just typing this is tiring me out.

Good luck OP and all the PPs! Glad to hear I'm not alone!

I think you've hit the nail on the head @slim. Its soo hard to stay motivated in work. Im also at meetings thinking 'what's the point?' ive mentally checked out which makes dragging myself out of bed even harder.

Im down to a 4 day week due to extra hospital appointments and scans so thats something. I know the next few weeks will fly by.

It'll all be worth it in the end 💞

I'm 29 weeks and over it. I have quite a boring job with spare time to go on the internet and look at all the stuff I need to buy. Its frustrating though because I feel like there are so much better things I could be doing. I'm not sleeping well either so by the time 3 o'clock hits 'Im ready for a nap! I don't live in the UK and am not entitled to any type of maternity leave to working right up until 37 weeks then having one weeks annual. Starting to look at my sick days and thinking I should just take them :/

@clarasham if you get paid sick days absolutely take them.