Pregnancy , redundancy and tremendous guilt

[kittenpeak]

I found out last week that I am up for redundancy, and 24 hours later I found out I was pregnant (first time, very early days). Even though we were trying, and of course I'm over the moon, I'm feeling very guilting for worrying about my the "bad timing" of everything. I won't qualify for SMP as I will be leaving before my 25th week, and don't think I'll qualify for MA either because they might make me leave with only 2 weeks notice, which will mean I'm unemployed for approx 30 weeks of my pregnancy. Having no income and now just relying on my husbands is a huge huge shock and I'm feeling so much guilt. Has anyone felt like this before, and is anyone else up for redundancy while pregnant? How are you feeling? I'm just very scared that our income has halved overnight and feel guilty at the thought of going to get my haircut, or even buying maternity clothes! I'm feeling so so down that I won't have any maternity money for my baby. I fully appreciate we are so lucky , and I feel very blessed, but this has come as a shock. Does anyone else have this money worry? Would be good to hear from anyone who has been made redundant in early pregnancy.

Thanks x

I wasnt made redundant but my partner was in the early stages of starting his own business, which has been completely halted since the lockdown and isnt able to start again any time soon. Baby is due in Sept and we only have my part time income as his business wasnt going long enough to get financial support. Luckily as we havent been doing much we havent spent much and have just been saving like mad! It's been very stressful but I'm amazed how much we have been able to do. My income is only £1200/month. My partner has said how guilty he feels about not being able to contribute at the moment, but you can only do what you can do! I'm sure your husband wouldnt want you to feel bad. You're a team and you'll get through it together.

You've still got plenty of time to make changes so you qualify for maternity allowance. You only need to have been working for 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before pregnancy and that only needs to be £30 a week. Therefore you could always pick up a simple shop job 1 day a week to qualify.