Would I be unreasonable? Sick Leave etc

[Infertilitylife]

Hi everyone,

Currently 17 weeks pregnant and have just been prescribed Labetalol due to consistently high blood pressure readings that wouldn't come down.

I'm currently on weekly checks and have also been referred to a consultant (This is due to the high blood pressure but also due to a health condition I had as a child). Protein was found in my last urine sample but only a trace.

I am a teacher and due to go back when I am 21 weeks. When speaking to midwives/doctors they keep saying I need to keep my stress levels down etc but realistically and from 10 years experience, September-November will be extremely stressful and things will only start to calm down December onwards.

In 10 years of teaching I have barely had any time off at all but I am really thinking of asking to be signed off until I can go onto my maternity leave at 36 weeks. Would I be unreasonable to do this?

This is my first baby, conceived after 5 years of trying, via IVF. So I really don't want to risk anything at all. But I do also feel guilty for even thinking of being signed off sick.

Any advice would be extremely helpful and appreciated.

Personally I wouldn't take chances with your little miracle or yourself. Nobody will thank you in 10 years time for struggling on putting yourself through the extra stress. Get signed off as you have grounds to do so and do not feel guilty x

Not unreasonable at all! Take the sick leave, you have to look after yourself and your bub. ❤️

How reasonable are your headteacher or SLT? Could reasonable changes be made that would decrease your stress levels during the first term? If it's a choice between reducing your timetable/responsibilities and you being signed off so early I would hope they'd try to find some solutions.

That isn't saying don't get signed off, that's your decision to make under the guidance of your doctors and you should never feel guilty or unreasonable for doing what is best for you and your baby. However if you haven't been told to actually stop work and rest it could be worth trying to go back and just be very sensible/firm about your capabilities and limitations and keeping your stress levels low. If it isn't working and there are any continuing concerns around your blood pressure then you can stop work straight away. But only you can fully weigh up your situation and make the right call.

Thank you both so much! I know deep down it is the right thing to do, and no one will thank me for going in either, I just feel a lot of guilt for even considering it xx

@sugarplum33 Thank you. I did ask for a reduction in hours during my APR as I’m currently at 26 hours of teaching. Which is actually 5 hours over what I should be doing as they are so short staffed. My manager did say she would look into it but I’ve heard nothing since. I will chase this up though.

Hi @Infertilitylife
I would definitely take the time off sick, do not feel guilty!
I took alot of time off sick too and i'm so glad i did, i got to rest and it really helped Xx

Couldn't agree more

I lost 2 babies before having IVF and conceiving my daughter. When I was 23 weeks, my back suddenly spasmed and I developed sciatica instantly. It took ages to control with painkillers and I felt awful about taking sick leave (I was only a few months into a new NHS job) but between the pain, side effects of painkillers and stress, I couldn't go back before the start of maternity leave. Now my daughter is here, I don't regret it at all. She's here and safe and amazing.

Can you ask for a change in duties? Admin that can be done from home or assisting another teacher with their workload? If not, I think you should go off sick. Your health and your baby are more important than a job.

100% get signed off til mat leave. Teaching whilst pregnancy is tough. My last trimester was Sept-Dec 😓😖 exhausting!

I don't think it's reasonable to expect to go off on long term sick without even doing a single day back in term time sorry.
Sure ask for amended duties or a reduced timetable but I think you at least need to go back and see how it goes.

I think I’m leaning more towards going back and asking for a reduced timetable and just seeing how I go and taking it week by week. I am actually back at work now just not teaching and will have been back at work for around 4 weeks when teaching starts.

@SouthwestSis I don’t expect to go off on long term sick. I am just worried about myself and the baby, knowing how my workplace is and the demands that they have put on me for the past 10 years. I’ve had around 5 days off sick in 10 years so it’s not something I would do lightly. But also, it’s taken a long time for me to get here and I know I would be replaced without a seconds thought if it came to it.

I would speak with your union so you know what may happen if you are on long term sick - you may end up starting mat leave early.

I would 100% prioritise your health here though. Pre eclampsia and eclampsia are not to be messed with. It's easy to get caught up when you are a teacher, with a sense of responsibility, but all teachers can be replaced. Better to focus on staying healthy and having a healthy baby.

I get it. I'm a teacher and have had years of infertility, ivf, surgeries and miscarriages. I think you should ask for the adapted timetable. Best to do it now while there's still time for them to move things around before term starts. I had pre-eclampsia (and other complications) in my last pregnancy and somehow made it until 34 weeks before being signed off as I just couldn't do it any more. Definitely don't put you or your baby at risk but there may be measures the school can take to reduce your workload/stress/timetable to keep you there for longer. I'm in my third trimester now and hoping to make it until 38 1/2 weeks, but will just have to see how it goes. Currently my BP is fine (also on labetalol) but my diabetes is a bit haywire.

@seven201 I have emailed my manager and requested a meeting so will see if they’ll allow any amendments/adjustments.

I actually would prefer finishing later if I can. I’ll just see how I go and take it a bit at a time.

Don't quote me on this but I think having that much sick leave before maternity would affect your maternity pay so that might be something to bare in mind also!

Bear in mind that your qualifying week is 15 weeks before your baby is due so around 25 weeks. If going off would mean you are on sick pay during that time then that would affect the amount of maternity pay you receive.

I went off sick at 24 and I was dizzy and faint and that wasn't compatible with the job I did. I felt instantly better with the rest. No regrets

No harm in trying but don't put your baby or yourself at risk.

You're Mat leave will automatically kick in at 36 weeks, they can't make you go off before that

No point putting yourself through the stress for work.You know your body the best and also the job situation.Last thing you want to do is pre term labour and delivery. Listen to your body and put yourself first. Good luck!

Thanks everyone :) lots to think about.

Another saying not unreasonable but look into it very closely if you're relying on maternity pay.

In order to qualify even for SMP you need to earn more than an average amount per week in the 18-26 week bracket. If you don't because you were on unpaid or low-paid sick leave you may not even get SMP, never mind occupational maternity benefits. If you get full sick leave pay then by all means go off sick, I just don't want you to get a nasty shock later when you don't get paid mat leave!

You'll go back at week 21, you could try asking for change in duties for the period, stick it out for the 5 weeks until you've qualified then go off sick from 26 until 36 weeks when your leave starts.

Teacher too and agree about autumn term! Before being signed off I’d try to explore other options - you should have a regularly updated risk assessment giving reasonable adjustments and given your BP the choice does seem for them to have you on reduced duties or not at all. I know as HOD which I’d prefer for nearly a term!

Maybe suggest ideas like not overloading your timetable (ridiculous anyway), no lunch or break duties, flexibly doing ppa at home, no tutor group, ensuring you’re in one classroom. Not attending some meetings / inset / doing parents evenings at home or as emails. This all depends of course what you find the most stressful, but would give you a bit more space.

you may need union involvement just to be in the safe side for future though.

Thanks for all of your replies, they have been very helpful.
I do get full sick pay for a period of 6 months I believe - but I'm going to ask for a reduced timetable and go from there and just see how I feel going forward.

I had to take the same medication towards the end and I got a real scare not taking it seriously. Get signed off, don’t take any risks with that precious little one. 🩷💙