32 weeks, rundown, school teacher! When do I take mat leave?!

[Almostmumto2]

So I'm 32 + 5 and planned on working until 38 weeks. As I'm a school teacher, this just worked out well with the school holidays.

This week, I ended up in hospital on Monday with a temp I couldn't keep down, had drip and antibiotics and was sent home Tuesday with oral antibiotics. Anyway, it's absolutely wiped me out. I'm still not eating properly at all without throwing up (day 7 now).

As a teacher, I feel so guilty having time off work and I am trying everything to make sure im back in next week. Did anyone take mat leave earlier? I'm so tempted. Having a year anyway so the only difference it'll make is money for childcare for ds now.

Thanks!!

I think it would be wise to take a couple of weeks sick leave, seeing as you actually are sick and see how you feel after that. If you're still not up to it then perhaps start your leave 'early' try not to worry about letting others down. If a colleague was going through what you are you would want them to do the same I'm sure!

Take time as sick leave and then return. Don't feel any guilt whatsoever.
Get yourself better, put your baby first and don't screw yourself financially by doing the "right" thing.

Also if you're in the UK, looking at term dates, you must be due in the holidays. Set your start date to mat leave as your due date!

If it’s financially possible for you I think you should go on mat leave now! It sounds like you are struggling. Growing a human is exhausting and you need to look after yourself if you are poorly. With DD1 I went on mat leave at 33 weeks as I had hyperemesis. It was such a good call and I don’t regret it one bit. I wasn’t so sick because I could rest and I had time to nest and prepare. And it’s lovely being pregnant in the summer if you aren’t working and can go for gentle walks and sit in the garden/park.

When is due date. If you take pregnancy related sickness after 36 weeks it will trigger your at leave. Could you go sick to limp through to holidays 'return' just before hols then start mat leave when baby born?

I've just gone on mat leave at 37 weeks with baby 2 and feel I have left it too late this time, the last fortnight has been hard. Last time I went off at 36 and felt it was too early.

I don't think there's a right answer, most of my friends went off sooner the second time because they were wiped out. You've just got to do what is best for you.

Put yourself and your baby first OP. Being a teacher with the hols looming isn’t a good enough reason to soldier on if you’re under par. Have some time to get better.

With my first I worked up to going into labour! I doubt recommend it and finished at 38 weeks with baby no 2. I honestly head no idea how exhausted I'd be and was far too keen to play the "I'm not ill, j just pregnant" card. Listen to your body, op!

Thank you, everyone!

I seem to wake up and think I'm OK for about 10 mins then just crash. I'll see how I am tomorrow and ring the doctors for a sick note if needed as already had last week off!

We can afford to go off earlier if needed as having a full year anyway. I'm due 9th August so just seems so far away yet!

Are you primary or secondary?

If primary, I think you might just have to start mat leave pretty soon, unless a day or two mote perks you up.

If Secondary, how many exam classes do you have? ie how much gain time do you get as soon as y11 are gone? You might just make it through.

Either way, I hope you feel better soon.

Are you in Scotland? If so, I'd be putting the mat leave to start on your due date rather than the final day of term 🤷‍♀️. I guess it also depends what you're a teacher of. Primary should be winding down by now - except p7 - so maybe just prepare some nice activities that take a long time for children to complete without much teaching input? Memory books, dramas etc. if you're in England then yes, it might be necessary to think of moving it forward. I'm just finishing my mat leave and the 3 months full pay certainly doesn't last long. Smp doesn't go far either! Best of luck

I think if you go off sick after a certain point (34 weeks?) It triggers your Mat Leave starting anyway. But personally I would try to hold.on until the school holidays if you can. With year 11 exams complete hopefully you'll have more time off in the day for the next few weeks?

I was also due mid august and went to the end of term so my mat leave could start on my due date. I was off sick for 2 weeks in June with spd. I would be off sick for the next couple of weeks until you get your strength up and see how you are. If you can go back until end of term then do but if you just feel terrible then take the mat leave early

Op id go off sick then return before 36 weeks so you don't trigger an early start,

Start your maternity leave on your due date (it doesn't matter that it's in the hols! I did this both times!).

Maternity pay for teachers is crap compared to other public sector professions (ie nhs maternity pay is brill!).

Take care of yourself op!

@KarrotKake primary! I might see if the doctors will do me a sick note for this week and then see how I get on. We don't finish until 27th July.

@Saltnsauceta no, England. Massively overdue ofsted too so lots of pressure there!

@DockOTheBay I'll look into that! I'm Primary so feels more like we are cramming everything in than chilling out!

@Squashedraddish thank you!!! I'll see if the doctors will give me a note for this week. Unsure why I feel so guilty?!

@Mammyloveswine that seems the way forward for this week and maybe go on early mat leave if no better!!

Get signed off until 36 weeks and then trigger mat leave.

It’s not even skiving, you’re genuinely ill!

I’m a secondary teacher and worked up until 39 weeks with my first because of the guilt of abandoning my classes half way through a term- should not have worried at all, they were more than happy with my cover. If you’re not well, get signed off until 36 weeks. However, if you can get to 36 weeks with rest and then go back in, you don’t have to start your mat leave until the day after you give birth if you give birth in the holidays. If you end up 2 weeks over, this is a month extra on full pay. The most important thing is you and baby feeling ok though, the kids and school will be fine :)

I would get signed off sick as after all, you are sick! If you need to trigger your leave to start at 36 weeks then that's fine but otherwise I would limp through until the holidays if you can manage it and start maternity leave from due date as the holidays will have started before then. I wouldn't feel the slightest bit of guilt. In a year's time, no one will look back and remember how you battled on while pregnant etc. Do what's best for you and baby.

If either get signed off sick or start maternity leave now.

Thank you! Doctor has signed me off for this week.
Never felt so crap. Mum has taken my little one tonight so I can rest properly!

@BobbleWobble1 you're so right! Thank you. Xx