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

Original poster

I'm a university lecturer and...

34 replies

milfAKAmonkeymonkeymoomoo · 11/02/2008 13:18

I'm struggling with teaching for 2 hours (or more) in early pregnancy (very early at mo) How did other people cope? Is there anything you can ask your employers for? Any advice or tips gratefully received.

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Habbibu · 11/02/2008 13:22

Are you teaching 2hr blocks? There should be a room where you can go and lie down during the day (I did go and doze a bit in my car, mind, as I could listen to the radio - I'm in admin in HE). Your Health and Safety/Occupational Health dept should have advice and guidance.

donbean · 11/02/2008 13:26

in what way struggling milf?

Original poster
milfAKAmonkeymonkeymoomoo · 11/02/2008 14:30

I'm really tired and queasy, so can't concentrate or focus. The rooms are really hot too so that makes me feel rather unwell. I had two MC last year so don't want to tell my colleagues just yet, I spoke to HR this afternoon and they said they would look into it.

I also feel a bit woozy sometimes.

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Original poster
milfAKAmonkeymonkeymoomoo · 11/02/2008 14:31

Just to confirm I teach in 2hr blocks (3hs sometimes if it is the final year or postgrad students).

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Habbibu · 11/02/2008 14:34

Sorry about your losses, milf. Is there no option to ventilate the rooms at all? Is your queasiness eased with any kind of food or drink? I found that eating small pieces of banana pretty much constantly kept it at bay during work hours, plus small sips of cold water. Can you contact Occupational Health?

Habbibu · 11/02/2008 14:35

Do you have a break in the middle? DH sends his to get coffee for 15 mins in the middle - if so, feet or head on desk, little fan in bag, small snacks in bag. 3h is long, milf - that's hard going.

Original poster
milfAKAmonkeymonkeymoomoo · 11/02/2008 14:37

Yeah I'd like to be able to eat constantly but I didn't know how the students would react plus I am talking a lot. I guess it doesn't matter what they think really Been sipping on water, might take in a flask of lemon and ginger tea as that helps.

As for opening the windows the students shut them again complaining they are cold...grrr!!! May have to go in in shorts and a vest top

God this is hard, when I was pregnant with DD the first trimester coincided with the summer break so I never had to deal with any of this.

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Habbibu · 11/02/2008 14:41

No, it doesn't matter what they think! Take in some biscuits and offer them round if it's a smallish group. Tell them fresh air is bracing! How many weeks are you?

dustbuster · 11/02/2008 14:52

Could you bring in some tea and biscuits and just say "I'm feeling a bit under the weather, hope nobody minds if I nibble on these". Can you sit near the window and keep it open a crack? And definitely send them off for a break in the middle so you can go and splash some water on your face and have a bit of a break.

Sympathies - it's a rotten bit of pregnancy, If you're feeling really crap, you could always get yourself signed off work for a bit. I know you'd probably have to make up the teaching later, but things are so much easier once you get past the sicky bit.

Good luck with your pregnancy.

witchandchips · 11/02/2008 14:59

Can you see if you can rearrange your timetable to 1 hour blocks instead?

what do you teach? can you bring in more discussion/group work so that you can sit down?

Diege · 11/02/2008 15:08

I'm a university lecturer and had to get signed off so bad was the sickness. Don't worry about making up the teaching - they'll get someone in to cover . When I did come back at about 14 weeks, I sat down to lecture (v.strange), kept the room ventilated, and made sure we had a 20 min break (3 hour session). I also incorporated a few on-line sessions into the module, where they would access the 'virtual learning environment' and complete tasks etc..Most were happy with that one .

Kathyis6incheshigh · 11/02/2008 15:11

Hi Milf.

Have you thought of telling your colleagues/Head of Dept that you are suffering from a minor health problem, without actually letting on what it is? (Or you could to your HoD but ask him/her not to disclose it to anyone else.)

I was off sick a lot in both my pregnancies (hyperemesis) and rather than tell the students I was pregnant (I didn't mind my colleagues knowing but quite see why you would be cautious) they were just told I had a health problem. That way it stops you feeling to pressured to perform to your normal level and cuts out any negativity if colleagues or students notice you are not quite up to speed.

Original poster
milfAKAmonkeymonkeymoomoo · 11/02/2008 18:59

Kathy - I would love to be able to tell my colleagues but they aren't the most sympathetic bunch. I had to take a number of days off last academic year for my MCs and last semester I had to take two weeks compassionate leave after my Dad died. Thus I have missed a number of lectures as a result, feel like I will be taking liberties if I take more time as I got a few eye ball rolls Telling them all I have a health problem could be the way to go. May have to tell my line manager (Head of field and dean of the faculty) I guess.

I was thinking about using the VLE and maybe doing some online discussions from home with the students. Will have a word with the IT department about how to go about doing that (I have never been involved with 'proper' e-learning!).

The lovely lady at HR did say they would look into the feasibility of 1hr blocks (which I could do alongside the e-learning I guess) so hopefully this will get sorted.

I hate having to acknowledge this pregnancy as I am scared I'll jinx it and it'll all go wrong.

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addictedtoharibo · 12/02/2008 08:27

Hi

I am also a uni lecturer and seriously struggling. Im trying to find a way through your profile to email you but I cant and I cant leave my email address on here as its my uni one and will identify me, lol.

I am now nearly 11 weeks and not sure how I have got this far. I did 2 2.5 hour lectures the other day and i think it nearly killed me. I drink lucozade constantly and eat haribo (hence the name) - dont worry about the students - by the size of my stomach I reckon they know anyway. I keep getting looks and whispers...

The worse bit is I am suffering from awful morning sickness and quite often have to leave lectures to be sick...

Try sitting down... doing lots of reading/different exercises/discussion with them for a break...give them a break in the middle so you can have one too...open the windows.

Seabands! Homeopathy...lots of sleep...at least with a job like this when you have a free slot you can err, go and do some research, eg go home and sleep!

xxxx

Buckets · 12/02/2008 13:34

Would recommend replacing the water with strong sugary squash (the hi-huice kind like Ribena, stay away from artifical sweeteners.) Take a litre bottle of it (made up) with you everyday and sip throughout the day.
I also second Haribo! And toffees because they last longer.
Also make sure you are putting salt on your meals if you are vomiting alot.

MrsTittleMouse · 12/02/2008 16:14

Agree with everyone else that cold water and sweets are the way to go. I was convinced that my collegues knew that I was pregnant because I kept diving into my bag for organic all-natural natural jelly babies (too PFB for Haribo ).
Could you develop a "bad back" and need to sit down for lectures?

Original poster
milfAKAmonkeymonkeymoomoo · 21/02/2008 18:51

Thank you for all your lovely words and suggestions really helps to know I am now alone.

I spoke to HR who gave me lots of suggestions but told me I would need to speak to my line manager if anything needed to be done. I have done this and have made some changes including working from home for a few weeks plus a lovely colleague of mine has swapped three of my lectures before Easter for three after Easter (I am on a .5 contract so teach two lectures a week). This means that effectively I only have to teach one module a week and that one is only an hours lecture anyway.

I also took in a flask of lemon and ginger tea to sip on plus some fruit pastilles to munch on throughout the lecture and that helped a lot! Had the windows open too much to the displeasure of the students, I told them it would keep them alert

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Original poster
milfAKAmonkeymonkeymoomoo · 21/02/2008 18:52

sorry that should read 'not' alone

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Original poster
milfAKAmonkeymonkeymoomoo · 22/02/2008 13:49

Oh dear, my colleagues are unhappy about the changes and giving me the cold shoulder

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Blocky · 22/02/2008 14:11

Stuff'em! You must put yourself first. They'll find something else to moan about soon enough!

Habbibu · 22/02/2008 14:16

You work in academia, milf - I guess that's par for the course! Blocky's right. They'll have a collective huff over someone else soon.

seaturtle · 22/02/2008 14:56

I was absolutely shattered through most of my first trimester, and I started taking pregnacare supplements (i read about someone taking vitamins from the Mumsnet pregnancy book). Hadn't been taking them before as this was an unplanned baby, and I had a healthy diet anyway.

Kathyis6incheshigh · 22/02/2008 14:59

LOL @ Habibu and Blocky - so true!

WallOfSilence · 22/02/2008 15:07

How far along are you?

Can you give your students a couple of 10 min breaks during the 2/3hr period?

I am a student & wouldn't mind having a couple of breaks

tough for the students though if they hate you having the windows open!

alfiesbabe · 22/02/2008 15:13

Open the windows.

Take in a snack and drink.

Can you organise your teaching so if it's a 2 hour slot, you at least have a 15 minute break for discussion/reading through notes/other activity in the middle to break it up?

I teach too (not uni, but secondary school, and often have a 3 hour block of working due to break duties etc) and these tips worked for me

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