Pregnant with Baby #2 While Working in the NHS – Your Experiences?

[Jj2024]

Sure! Here's a more polished version:

Hi mamas, I’d love to hear about your experiences working in the NHS while getting pregnant with your second, especially if you had only been back at work for 6-12 months.

Thank you!

I'm in that boat. What do you want to know, specifically?

I would say it was like any other time, except it was COVID. I returned mid October 2020, and had a BFP mid July 2021.

I will say that pregnancy was much much harder second time around. Working part time, and looking after a toddler for the rest of it was far more exhausting than working full time, but being able to rest when not. My body was one solid mass of aches, pains, and overwhelming fatigue.

As it was COVID I finished at 28 weeks as I couldn't be redeployed elsewhere. Otherwise, my plan was the same as my first. Take annual leave from 36 weeks, then maternity leave starts once it runs out.

I'm currently on mat leave with my 6 week old DS2. I found third trimester at work absolutely exhausting with a toddler at home too. I had my clinical hours cut quite early on as I wasn't managing (I was very lucky to have very supportive managers). Don't be afraid to ask for whatever adjustments you think you need! I went off at 35+4, I had a week of AL then started mat leave. With DS1 I left at almost 38 weeks, I would really have struggled this time round if I'd done the same.