Pregnant teacher - how to survive?

[Squarebear1973]

I'm a secondary chemistry teacher, so lucky to be on holiday at the moment. Dreading going back in September.
Currently 18+3 and still getting tired, although iron all fine.
Job means that no matter how hard you try, you ARE on your feet all day & can't abandon the kids for a wee due to H&S, and I can't have a kip during the day & I can't alter my working hours like the books / mags tell you to. Had 4 mc's already son don't want to risk but also don't want to be a pregnant wimp
Anyone got any advise? Been there & survived?

sguarebear - congratulations on your pregnancy. Make sure you have your risk assessment. When I had mine, the H and S officer made sure I could have wee breaks whenever I needed by getting another staff member to babysit. I was also taken off break duties to allow me some rest time and for safety reasons. I taught in 11 different classrooms so had someone to carry all my equipment around for me, basically use all the help you can get.

Like other posters, I found that the pupils were really caring and protective of me when they knew about the pregnancy, so it's worth telling them when you feel up to it.

First time round I started maternity leave at the earliest possible point (baby due in August and it was so hot I couldn't stand it), second time round I went closer to the birth as he was a winter baby and I was better able to cope.

Good luck with it all.

With my first baby I taught a week past my due date, and then finally had my labor induced. I definitely agree with all of the good advice like sit down while you teach, don't stress about giving worksheets, etc. I wouldn't worry to much about leaving class to use the bathroom. The students will understand.

Some other advice I'd give you would be to find a kind person to prepare solutions, work in the stockroom, etc. so that you can stay away from nasty chemicals as much as possible. Also, get rid of any mercury thermometers or barometers, because if they break the mercury can harm the baby.

If you have access to computers for your whole class, you might try replacing some chemical labs with computer simulations. They're expensive to buy, but you can find some good ones online for free. I use www.chem.iastate.edu/group/Greenbowe/sections/projectfolder/flashfiles/thermochem/heat_metal.html when I teach calorimetry during the thermochemistry unit. You can also go to the parent directory (www.chem.iastate.edu/group/Greenbowe/sections/projectfolder/flashfiles/thermochem/) and explore the other simulations that Dr. Greenbowe has available. I also recently found www.chemcollective.org/curriculum/autograde.php. I haven't tried them yet, but they look promising.

I hope that helps. Hang in there.

I'm also a secondary school teacher - a subject leader and will be 26 weeks when we go back. I'm quite anxious about how I'll manage, particularly as it looks like we will have an Ofsted inspection soon. I also have a new NQT starting and a supply teacher. My 2ic resigned at the end of the year and another won't be appointed until after Christmas. My plan is to work until I'm 34 weeks but it seems very daunting, especially as we have a lot of contact time.

I am an Assistant Headteacher and Science teacher and will be going back to school in September at 19 weeks pregnant.

I love my job and am lucky to teach only a 50% timetable, but as AHT I am expected to do all break and lunch duties. Saying that, I am sure these will be dropped in my risk assessment on my return.

My intention is too work as late as possible, as I (like my pupils) get bored very easily and will hate being off. I do though know that I will just see how I feel and take it week by week. I am lucky that I have a very supportive Headteacher.

Can't wait to get back to school in Sept and tell all my pupils the good news (they know I have a miscarriage in Feb). I know they will look after me and be protective x

I was a secondary ICT teacher when i had my first and can agree with most tips on here re: snacks and rest etc. I used to have a nap as soon as i got home and had tons of snacks in my draw. It really made me realise how much i did for the pupils and i got them to come to me in the end, instead of me dashing round the room etc. I found it made me a more inventive with lessons too. The pupils were fantastic and far exceeded my expectations re: their behaviour and help. They were so eager to help and told me off for lifting things etc .

Hope all goes well for you.

'drawer' - great teacher i am!!

Oooh, I'm so pleased to stumble across your thread, Squarebear. I am a primary teacher, currently 13 weeks pg and DREADING going back in September, mainly due to the dreadful sickness I've had. It's showing few signs of easing off, so I really don't know how I'm going to cope. I don't think it's bad enough to be signed off, but equally it's bad enough that I've just sat on the sofa all day in the hols, which is unlike me.

Glad to know I'm not the only one and lots of good advice for later on. Good luck in Sept.

This thread has really helped me too - thanks everyone.
I'm an MFL teacher with another large responsibility in school too, and am very much the volunteer-for-everything type, love getting involved in school life. However, I don't think it's going to be physically possible to carry on in this way, going on how grim the last 11 weeks have been... I'll be 14 weeks when we return in Sept, and am dreading telling the Head, he's a bit of a cold fish, don't think he'll be too happy at all (also, not married and is catholic school but that's whole other bridge to cross). Time to put me first though - school has come first for 6 years.
It's a pretty tough secondary school - I just hope the kids are supportive rather than the opposite(there are some true horrors).

I'm a teacher too.

With this pregnancy and my last I wore giant support knickers from Mothercare to help support my huge bump! They worked much better than the usual support belts as they are much comfier. I'm currently 32 weeks and will be wearing them once term starts! As other people mentioned, I also had one of those office chairs on wheels to move around the classroom. I was teaching Year 7 and 8 science last term and used to wheel myself from my desk to the whiteboard to save getting up so much!

After my first pregnancy I had 3 m/c in a row and have managed this time to get to 32 weeks and counting.

I do rest every evening after school though, once DS is in bed and am usually in bed early myself. I have been giving the children work we can mark as a class alot more, to save me bringing so much marking home.

I'm a teacher too and found it amazing how good I got at changing what I did to make it less stressful for me whilst pregnant with DD.
I'd recommend spacing out practical lessons so you don't have too many in one day/week.

Pupil-led lessons are great, especially if you give them time to prepare tests for other pupils on work previously covered. By making them prepare an answer sheet they are consolidating their learning and they enjoy playing at teacher and the competetive aspect.

Correct homework around the class where possible, rather than correcting it yourself and going over the answers later. You can then have the pupils bring their work to you for recording results and signing.

Build up a bank of educational dvds - there are loads for Chemistry - and don't feel guilty about using them on a day when you're really tired. Kids can learn a lot from seing the subject in a real context.

Don't be afraid to ask for help or extra time to complete administrative tasks. You are entitled to support but if you make out like you're coping then no one will offer it.

I think most teachers give much more to their job/pupils/school than the public perceives. You've spent a long time putting other people's children 1st; it's now time to put your child 1st. I remember thinking I was irreplacable and being relieved to discover that the school survived without me
I'm now 7 weeks pg again after a MMC in March and I intend to use a lot of shortcuts this time so I can concentrate on the actual teaching.
Good luck.

Just to echo what a number of people mentioned: you may be pleasantly surprised once you tell your students. My neighbour was a secondary teacher in a rough London school when she was pregnant, and she said she was amazed at how good the kids were. Even the really awful boys suddenly became very protective of her, making her sit down and take things easy etc.

And keep remembering:teaching is a job, not your life (hard as it is to believe sometimes). Try to avoid the standard 'slavish' mentality that says you have to do everything that others do - you have lower stamina / energy levels when you're pregnant so of course you can't do as much as your colleagues.

Hope it goes well!

I normally teach KS2, but on maternity leave at the moment, DD is 12 weeks today!

Please really look after yourself and don't get too tired. I had a really bad cold in my first trimester, over the first term at school. I ended up with having nearly a month off work as I kept pushing myself to go in until I was ordered by the doctor to stop. I ended up with a bad chest infection that of course could only be treated with mild antibiotics.

It's better for the children to have you most of the time. My poor class had a string of supply teachers for a month.

Hi, would love some advice! I am a teacher in a special school and am finding it tough!!
I teach various groups including an austistic group with very unpredictable behaviour - (today i was bitten, punched and kicked) Wondered if anyone had any ideas on how i could get round this in my risk assessment interview at school?? Cant sit down to teach as i have to be focusing them the whole time or chasing them around the school during outbursts. I just dont know what adjustments could be made. i am also called upon during my morning break and lunch break if there are any problems so dont really get to chill during them.

I am finding it all soo tiring (only 1st trimester) i have had 2 Mcs and also have 2 boys that are 3 and 2 so utterly exhausting at home too!

Any ideas greatly appreciated

Hi, I am due in April and have had a really hard few first weeks back, soooo tired every day! really had been getting worried about how to cope, especially hard when no-one knows - I told a few people early on - the head, plus the cover lady - who has been lovely, sure she has been avoiding using me for cover, plus telling me not to bother coming in early if I have a PPA first thing! I have totally ignored some bits of workthat I could, and just prioritised. I have been very lucky, not much morning sickness, but very hungry and thirsty all the time. I am a sec Art teacher, so all very hands on, and all boys too - totally oblivious even though I have to leave the room when they fart!
I think like everyone says here, just accept that people will make allowances for you, and do what you need to do - I am going to try to get myself organised now, whilst I am feeling a bit better, and the tirdness has abated a little, so that I can take it easier later on - so whilst for now I am hoping things will stay as normal as possible, I totally can see myself in a couple of months, on the wheely chair, with the remote for the whiteboard in one hand, keyboard and snacks, saying 'bring me your sketchbooks!' the boys are fairly lazy anyway, so it isn't going to do them any harm! plus, all that independent learning and student led stuff will have SLT happy , surely! you are not sitting on your arse, you are 'empowering them to take responsiblity for their own learning'!

I'm head of science in a very huge 'quirky' department. I had to tell our lovely technitian the other day because i was struggling to teach a year 8 group. I was too hot, light headed and very nauseous! So she encouraged me to go home, though i don't want to tell SLT untill after the first scan. But was do i do about booking the day off ( i actually need to i have a midwife appointment that was booked for me by NHS on Thurdsday 11 am and the scan for the next day 10 am) it takes me an hour to get to work. So this would mean rushing in to teach one lesson? How can i do this without telling SLT? And can i have two days for baby stuff in a row?

And how to I teach my special behaviour group without getting stressed, am knacked and struggling with responsibility.

I'm head of science in a very huge 'quirky' department. I had to tell our lovely technitian the other day because i was struggling to teach a year 8 group. I was too hot, light headed and very nauseous! So she encouraged me to go home, though i don't want to tell SLT untill after the first scan. But was do i do about booking the day off ( i actually need to i have a midwife appointment that was booked for me by NHS on Thurdsday 11 am and the scan for the next day 10 am) it takes me an hour to get to work. So this would mean rushing in to teach one lesson? How can i do this without telling SLT? And can i have two days for baby stuff in a row?

And how to I teach my special behaviour group without getting stressed, am knacked and struggling with responsibility.

Hi, i'm a primary teacher and currently 19 weeks pregnant. I had originally planned to work up until 2 weeks before my due date but i am really struggling already. My school is due OFSTED in March (my due date) and are very heavy on the workload anyway. Morning break is 10 mins and by the time i have walked my class around to the playground i only have time to set up for the next lesson. Lunch is 45 mins but again i work through and only eat one sandwich while working. I have no TA in the afternoon which is 2 and a half hours so can't go to the loo. I often find that i have got home at 6.30 and realised i have had nothing to drink all day or been able to go to the loo. I then continue marking until about 10. I am finding i am so tired and that makes it harder to deal with a very difficult class who can be verbally and physically aggressive. I have been left on playground duty alone with the whole of Key Stage 2 and had fights breaking out. I do not know what to do. My doc has signed me off for 2 weeks as my blood pressure was high and burst into tears in her office. I can't take mat leave until mid Dec and doc has offered to sign me off until then. I know it is frowned on and not ideal but concerned about my baby and my own health. Help!

Well, after today, I can heartily recommend not examining the results of a mould growing practical in too much detail...

Thrilled as I am to be getting morning sickness this time after a MMC in June, it was not an ideal way to spend an afternoon.

Hope all's going well at work squarebear.

I am newly pregnant English teacher and finding it really hard at all! The worst things are feeling so tired, finding time to go to the loo- and worst of all- the tears! I swear year 10 today are rewarding themselves thinking they made me cry! I can't stop it- and I can't tell them the truth! I hope my hormones settle soon, or they really will think I am pathetic- and that brings on a whole other load of issues. I never thought it would be so hard; how am I going to cope further down the line?!

I too am a newly pregnant English teacher. This is my second pregnancy, and I'm finding it much tougher this time. I'm always either too hot or too cold at school, and am running out of layers I can wear to school! I carry dried apricots everywhere and make sure I've always got plenty of water. I'm only 10 weeks, so I haven't told any staff yet, let alone any children, but I've found that the kids are usually happy to help carry things for me (I have to choose carefully!).
Actually, I'm mostly OK at school. I think I just keep plodding on because I have no other option, but when I get home I feel absolutely drained and just want to curl up, cry and sleep. My partner completely understands, which is great, but I feel like I'm letting down my son, who's only 2 and has no idea what's wrong with me!
So anyway, Brinklepuff, I think things will be tough for a few more weeks, but you'll start to feel less rubbish after 12 weeks or so. I know it'll get much easier for me when I can tell my colleagues.
Didn't mean for this to be such a long post!

Hi ladies - I just saw this thread and as a teacher, I had to reply and say that although I'm very tired at 16 weeks prego, I think any other job would just drive me even crazier! The hours are great (I'm in U.S.) - 7am - 2:45pm, and we get plenty of vacations . Honestly, the perfect job for peggie women and women with kids...OF COURSE - no job would be better, but hey, what can you do?! LOL. I'm an ESL teacher for 1st and 2nd grade and I have very small groups, so I can sit down a lot while I work with the students. I do find, however, that my hour and a half commute really tires me out, so by the time I get home, and my dh is asking what's for dinner, I'm like, "UGH - Cereal?"