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

Maternity leave related stress

3 replies

joboclock · 13/08/2021 14:13

Is anyone else feeling overwhelmed/stress about going on maternity leave?
For background, I would describe myself as career-driven and work in a project- based job, I oversee a number of projects at one time and all of them have specifically been granted to me to lead on the basis on my experience and qualifications.
I don't think I'm in anyway that i'm indispensable, but the nature of my work means that no one else could really take proper ownership of the projects whilst i'm on maternity leave. There is a person who will be allocated to minimally cover my projects whilst i'm on leave, but they will only really be a named point of contact to troubleshoot any major disasters- they won't actually progress or lead the projects forward very much whilst i'm off as they don't have the topic knowledge.
All of this means i'm very stressed about trying to get everything up to speed prior to taking maternity leave in a months time. Trying to write a handover list taking ages as the person covering is not familiar with any of the computer systems. On top of that most people are on holiday for the next two weeks and i'm trying to work compressed hours to spend sometime with my son. Everything just getting in top of me! Thought I would be on the wind down by now and relaxing but it's just stressful and causing insomnia worrying.Also people asking when i will be back to work (with the expectation that this will be sooner rather than later!). Just need to switch off from work but it's hard

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Amz6219 · 13/08/2021 14:18

I wound up with PN Anxiety from the same worries!

Second pregnancy now and have vowed not to be the same, I'm not even at the same company any more. Work can wait and is replaceable, but pregnancy and time with baby isn't.

Easier said than done, I know as I've been there, but honestly it is so unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

I actively try to concentrate on the here and now rather than weeks/months down the line - that tends to help me when I am feeling anxious about work.

SouthwestSis · 13/08/2021 14:54

Can you schedule in some KITdays so you know there will be a point you can check up on things partway through may leave and give advice to your team? Then give very clear instructions and set boundaries that you're not to be contacted outside of/until those KIT days?

joboclock · 13/08/2021 17:24

Thanks, yeah i'll be doing KIT days at 4 months onwards, it's more the here and now i'm struggling with. If I just take my foot off the gas now and don't prep things for a proper handover It will just be self-sabotage as will make things worse in the long term- the project deadlines and milestones won't change just cos i'm off. i'll just end up with more work to do when i go back next year.

Trying to think of practical suggestions for the next month to take the pressure off. So far I have got:
-say an absolute "no" to any requests at work that are not directly related to my projects
-put on an "out off office email" on certain days to protect my time and get the message out i'm trying to wind down responsibilities/ignore irrelevant emails
-arrange a couple of half days childcare for my son for me to run errands etc.
-get my husband to pick up some slack on housework/nursery decoration etc.havent started any of the hospital bag/baby clothes stuff yet

any other ideas?

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