I'm a primary school teacher two days a week and an education consultant the rest of the week. I'm also almost 27 weeks pregnant with my second baby. I'm a high risk pregnancy as my first arrived at 29 weeks for unknown reasons.
Since 23 weeks I've been suffering from irritable uterus, meaning I get regular contractions that feel like strong braxton hicks and can come as regularly as every 3 minutes. They are made worse by periods of activity so I try to take it as easy as possible. Technically there is only a small link between this and preterm birth but I had a lot of the same symptoms with my last pregnancy so I'm incredibly anxious at the moment, not sleeping well and exhausted. I've been in and out of triage thinking I'm going into labour but so far it's been ok. I know in my gut that this baby will be very early too; I felt it last time as well but wrote it off as first pregnancy anxiety.
Anyway, I spoke to my gp and he has given me a 4 week sick line which signs me off teaching but not the consultant work; the consultant work can be done from home and is far less stressful or active.
I haven't spoken to my ht yet but I'm very nervous and also a bit sad about it. The school are lovely and have been really supportive and I have a wonderful class that I'll really miss but I just don't see how I can go back before my mat leave starts. There's no way they can alter my duties enough so that I'd be off my feet enough of the time.
I've spoken to citizens advice and it is possible to sign off one job and not the other if the duties of one aren't possible but the other still are.
I guess I'm wanting to guage a reaction from other teachers about this. If someone at your school was in this position how would it be received? Would you do the same in my position? Thanks!