Mat leave help?

[ps1991]

I'm 37 weeks preg today due to start mat leave next friday. However i'm really not feeling being at work for another week! I'm a secondary teacher and my timetable next week is very heavy, there isn't a way to lighten the load, i'm even still expected to do morning and break duty.

I don't actually have any problems i'm just feeling drained and tired, should i stick it out, or should i speak with HR about leaving tomorrow? The thought of being at home for three weeks before my due date makes me worried that i'll get bored and sluggish, and even more so if i go over! But then again i'm worried that baby could come early and i won't get any time.

please help!!

Speak to HR and see if the idea of you leaving early would prompt them to make adjustments. I finished at 36 weeks and have just gone over but I haven't found it to be boring, just more bothered about wasting ML now. Good luck x

I would stick it out. It's only a week it will fly over. Baby could end up being late. You'll be glad of the extra week with baby at the end of the leave.

Speak to HR. Are there any colleagues who can help out? Plan easy lessons for yourself. It’s only a couple of lesson KS3 - watch a video with heart/heart/bag/bin get them to make a revision quiz with questions and answers and then use them to run a quiz.

Thanks for the help so far.

@jackshouse my Mat cover is in most of my lessons with me although my HOD is very clear that i still need to be doing the teaching of those classes and she is only there for TA support!

Overall i'm not too fussed about gaining an extra week at the other end as i am planning on coming back to school for a few days before the summer holidays and then starting back in september.

I ended up doing this at the end of my pregnancy. I just couldn't concentrate at work and felt drained . I finished up a week earlier than originally planned., They were quite happy to let me go off early . Id speak to them about it, if there's someone to cover you I'm sure it will be fine ! Good luck

Suggest it is time to start team teaching/transferring the power otherwise the students won’t respond well to someone they see a just a TA. Mention this to HR as well.

On a positive note as the baby is now kicking your bladder and you have another adult in the classroom you can pop to the toliet whenever you need to/fancy it.

I officially went on maternity leave at 37 weeks but due to holidays I actually went at 35 weeks and I did not regret it.

Do you know you can return on the first day of a holiday? Teachers are the only people who lose holiday pay when on maternity leave.

I went on mat leave at 34 weeks as I couldn't cope anymore. I had my daughter at 38 weeks so I would definitely be trying to finish earlier if I was you.

I'm a teacher and stopped at 37 weeks. I was very fortunate to have an incredible HT who took me off timetable from 33 weeks! I was not in class and had other duties. I felt great at 37 weeks and considered working longer. However... I ended up being induced so didn't even have the planned 3 weeks. If you are struggling - stop. You might get a bit bored but watch loads of box sets and be lazy - you won't have the opportunity to eat breakfast in bed for years! Good luck.

Thanks for everyones help and opinions, once i actually started teaching today i realised i probably shouldn't continue into next week. I felt powerless in front of the kids, when usually i have very high expectations and am very good with behaviour management. The sofa and endless baths are calling my name!! Last day tomorrow :D :D