Any teachers here?

[Kitten22]

Hi ladies?
Are there any teachers here?
How are u copying with workload, planning marking, assessment, paperwork (observation if EYFS teachers) all while pregnant?
It's so draining. 28 weeks preg on Monday and I just cant bare the workload. This week was half term but spent most of it working at home. Really cant wait till maternity leave!

Hi! I'm a Year 2 teacher I've also been on half term this week but have done now school work. We're moving house next week so my half term has been decluttering and packing 😭 I'm 24 weeks now and can't wait for the end of January! I guess you're finishing at Christmas?

I teach yr 5/6 and really struggling. I'm basically doing nothing else outside of work as I'm too exhausted. I'm 15 weeks and still struggling with nausea I've got a student observing me for a day next week and I'm wondering what they'll make of me stuffing my face with snack a jacks and biscuits mid-lesson

I'm 25 weeks and I'm finishing at Christmas. Well, the first day back in January. I can't face the stress and work load and I'm struggling as it is.

@coconutcurls yes end of next term and honestly cannot wait! You must have been exhausted from moving house. I did last year and that was awful.

@janey u deserve a rest, we all do. Wish I was but these horrible deadlines and fear of work piling up has me on the laptop for days.. btw snack away, u need it to keep going.

@ballsdeep I feel your pain! Love working with the kids but it's the paperwork and admin work that drains me out. Honestly dont know how I'm going to cope heavier than this as I'll be leaving at around 36 weeks! Wish I asked for maternity leave a little bit earlier now. #regrets

Can you change it?
I can face it tbh. At the moment we are doing paper work for paper works sake and just causing so much more work it's unbearable.

@ballsdeep they've got another teacher covering me from January so I think it's too late for me. Also dnt want to cause problems with reference later on. Lol @paperwork for paperwork sake. I think schools would be a little bit laid back if it wasnt for Ofsted.

I'm a year 2 teacher and 16 weeks... I have been signed off for the past two weeks with high blood pressure (although I thought it was work stress and just not having the energy to keep going). I've been put on tablets which are controlling it, but I have VERY mixed feelings about going back as it's all so scary and the work stress doesn't help with the blood pressure.

Teacher guilt is the worst, but I've decided that me and my baby come first... if I need time I'm going to take it. Xx

I'm currently 33 weeks and struggling!

Take time off if you need it (although be careful if you're past 36 weeks as they can trigger mat leave).

Have they done a risk assessment on you? Have they offered any help like more time sat down, reduced duties etc.

@ser91 how are u feeling now? Poor thing. Hows your nausea? It is quite stressful I dont blame you for having mixed emotions. This is my first year teaching and wasnt expecting the amount of workload. Starting to question if I've entered the right field. Could just be the pregnancy making me feel that way.

@Teachermaths not too sure if they've done a risk assessment. They have however informed me that I'm welcome to take rests if I need it. When is your maternity leave. Do you teach secondary school? My husband is a maths teacher and he doesnt do as much work as I do in primary

I'm a secondary teacher, 32 weeks today! It's exhausting but trying to keep going! Due Christmas Eve and not sure when to finish for maternity leave yet! 🤔

@Kitten22 it honestly did get easier for me (although I don't know if you're primary or secondary and whether that makes a difference).

Yeah it's such an exhausting thing to do and before pregnancy I was tired, but it's just a whole new level of exhaustion.

I hope it gets better for you. Xx

I kind of feel it prepares you for what is to come afterwards!! I was tired but not too bad during pregnancy, but I've been back at work half a term after having the baby and it is killing me!

@lenny I have two already and work full time so know what's to come with tiredness!

I do secondary yes. I can't believe the disparity in work load to be honest. It always amazes me how much primary teachers do.

Definitely take those rest breaks. I'm going off at the end of November when I'll be 38 weeks

@ballsdeep I have no idea how you do it!! Only one and seriously am on my knees already praying for summer

I'm secondary and have had really supportive colleagues who've helped me out.
I get what I can done and don't sweat the small stuff at the moment. The main thing is trying to keep going until I want to go on leave.

It's not easy but it's doable at the moment. The main thing is if I've felt unwell or sore then I've taken the time off rather than struggled in.

@VeryNewToAllThis listen to your body and see how much u can handle. When is the deadline to inform your employer when to go on mat leave. Such nice people if they havnt already bugged u on that.

@Lenny1987 for you to go back to work that earlier you must be a superwoman. Is it only me looking to go bk to work next September?

When is everyone else looking to go bk to work? @coconutcurls @janey15*@ballsdeep@ser91*@Lenny1987@teachermaths @VeryNewToAllThis

@ballsdeep @ser91 @Lenny1987 @teachermaths

Go back before the summer holidays so you get paid in full for the 6 weeks if you're planning on going back in September. You only need to go back for one day.

@LolaSmiles that's lovely to have supportive team mates. The good thing about teaching secondary is that another subject teach can cover for you. Whereas in primary it's the worry of who will cover and teach all that needs to be taught throughout the week and the different subject/areas. Feels like it will just pile up and awaits me when I return. How far are you now and when do u plan on going maternity?

@Teachermaths that's a good idea. Cant believe I didnt think of that! Lol. Thanks for the info!

@kitten

Sorry I probably wasnt clear, I has nearly a year off, did what @Teachermaths said and went back just before summer for the pay, so I had just over 11 months off altogether. The half term element is my struggle to survive this academic year since return!

I'm a primary teacher and already struggling at 11 weeks . I have struggled with morning/afternoon/evening sickness since week 5, so have found working very hard. Thankful that I have a class that dont question why I eat biscuits and have the sick bucket with me constantly!

😂 At getting another teacher to cover. We've advertised and got no one. Maths teachers are in short supply in our area. At least at primary there tends to be applicants! Exam groups suffer at secondary but I have to ignore it and say its not my problem. That's what SLT are for.

@Lenny1987 oh ! Sorry didnt read it correctly. Lenny I've got 3 kids hence why I'm struggling and I'm carrying 4th. My morning and evening routine is a nightmare lol.

@DaisyRose144 poor thing. I struggled with nausea in the summer holiday at its worst. Cant imagine what your going through now.