Stressed about my last 2 weeks at work before ML starts!!!

[jammydodgies]

I told my work in December that I was pregnant and expecting in June.

And as usual they've left everything to the last minute and my cover is starting 2 weeks before I go on leave, who I need to train so will need to be in the office and not WFH.

Not only this but my junior colleague is leaving work permanently for another job, and her replacement starts on my last week, who I also have to train...

I have already done them a favour and made my last day at work only 7 days before my actual due date.

I'm tired and moody and feeling stressed about dealing with these new people!

Anyone else in a similar boat?

It may have been better had you given yourself a few weeks off before the due date. One of my colleagues once went into labour on her way home from her leaving do - with twins!

You're being a bit daft bending over backwards for your employer. They may yet make you redundant without a second thought and keep your mat cover on permanently. Have a read of the Pregnant then Screwed website.

At the end of the day if your pregnancy symptoms are such that you cannot go into the office, wfh or trigger ML to start earlier than planned.

Focus on your own wellbeing, your employer clearly aren't.

A lot of people go on May leave 2-3 weeks before the birth as they expect they will be tired and need the loo a lot or don't want to travel on public transport. Would they let you change the date?

You might feel the need to train your own cover ( although that doesn't have to be your responsibility) but is there a reason why you need to train your colleague's replacement?
They'd better line someone else up to do the training, there's at least a 50:50 chance that you will have the baby before your due date. I speak as someone who had all mine at least 2 weeks before their due dates! And there's also a good chance that you won't be up for commuting for the whole of the last few weeks - don't force yourself in for your employers convenience. It's pretty bad planning on their part tbh, they must be aware that babies don't usually come on time!
Could you do some of the training online, as a compromise?

Thanks all.

Yes I do feel rather silly leaving my maternity leave right up to the end basically, this was partly financial because I'd can only afford to take 9 months off and I wanted to have more of my leave when the baby is here but also because I was a few days late with my first baby so I've somehow predicted already that I'm gonna be slightly late again.

What's difficult is I'm being promoted when I return, so I'm keen to go on leave having not rocked the boat. But I think I might need to explain to my manager that I can't do what they're asking of me given I'm physically and mentally struggling!

Couch it as contingency plans in case you go in to labour early or have more medical appointments than expected. Neither of which are unlikely!

When I had dc I was in a similar position and kindly forced (kind of had no choice) into working until a week before due date.
I felt obliged etc etc.

In last week of work I had pains and baby not moving so much. Boss said I was overreacting.
On the way home at 5pm I called the midwife and was told go go straight in.
I was then kept in for reasons not relevant but my point being you must look after you and baby. Your boss certainly won't!

Congrats on your pregnancy!

Slightly different as cover can't be got in for my job, but I worked right up to having my baby. However I had him early, so didn't make my due date.

You might feel awful at the end of the pregnancy. Baby might come earlier - there are so many unknowns. I'd probably do what a PP said about raising a contingency plan now with your boss for if the baby comes early or if you aren't physically well enough to train these people - your boss might then decide to get them in earlier if it's possible. If they don't have children, they might not realise. I was so over being heavily pregnant. Training someone requires a lot of effort and concentration, which I wouldn't have had patience for at the end. I think it's definitely good to raise it with your boss.

Write a handover document now, and send it to your manager as a precaution (you may go into labour early!). Update the document as and when it needs doing and ask that the manager or someone else is available as backup to train them.

Quite honestly, promotion or not, this isn't your problem, and they should've been more proactive in recruiting. Do what you can, but don't work beyond what you feel is reasonable. Also, the choice to take mat leave close to your due date doesn't mean you're in the wrong - it's still your works issue!