As of recently, work has changed with everyone asked to come into office every day (removed the working from home policy). Now I am having an excessive amount of time commuting per week (20-25h per week) on top of my 38h work week, which will lead to exhaustion, stress and the lot. Considering that the job I have in itself is stressful. To note that I have been in the company for a couple of years already, so entitled to mat leave.
I am planning to commencing IVF treatment imminently, and based on my situation and doctor's review, most likely we are looking at about half year before I end up pregnant. Doctors came back with less than ideal fertility situation and declining. All starts aligning, maybe in 3 months, although I am realistic and I know the 6 months period is the most truthful one.
Given this timeline plus the approx. 8 months before I would take the actual mat leave, takes me to 1year and 2 months from now.
With the changes in my work situation, I don't think I can make it 1year and 2 months physically and mentally healthy, let alone having to spend this much time commuting while pregnant.
Finding a new job will get me in a situation where, given my role and the current market conditions, will take me a few months before I secure one and work notice period ends, plus the at least 1 year before I can claim mat leave, will make me having to put this on hold for 1.5 years.
On the other hand, I am taking this journey solo, so there will be no partner to financially support me and the baby, or to help with mortgage, bills etc.
1 Stay with current company, suck it up, acknowledge I will have no life, energy or time outside of work and pray physical and mental health is not significantly deteriorated to impact pregnancy when it will happen.
2 Resign and search for other job while continuing the pregnancy route, therefore accepting I will not be entitled to mat leave from company. And hoping money will just magic themselves to allow me to pay mortgage while being on mat leave.
3 Postpose fertility treatment until I secure another job and I have been with them for 8 months or so, accepting that it might mean that it could potentially be too late from a fertility point of view.
Feel like crying just typing this.
is there another option that I am not seeing? any opinion on which might be the best route here? Am I over-reacting on how much financial support will I be needing during the mat leave?
I don't have any children to know of the mat leave vs budgeting thing so feeling at lost here. The maths I've done on SMP vs mortgage and bills will not cover my bills only, let alone the mortgage.
No matter how I turn it, everything seems to go against the pregnancy. Close to a meltdown.
Please help.