Pregnancy / IVF & Work

[mommaicsi]

I am seeking some advice regarding timing and job concerns related to my upcoming IVF/ICSI treatment. I’m likely to receive NHS funding for ICSI, and my fertility doctor and their team have been accommodating in delaying the application due to recent personal and professional commitments, including my recent redundancy.

My concern now is the timing: once the application is submitted and approved, the NHS will require us to start the first cycle within six months. Our fertility doctor has agreed to give us until mid-October to submit our application. Given that I’m 30 and will soon turn 31, this is a critical window as the deadline for our first & only cycle in our area, is 35.

I’m currently job hunting and understand that many companies require at least six months of employment before qualifying for maternity pay or benefits. Balancing a job search with the knowledge that I’ll be starting IVF/ICSI soon feels challenging, especially since I cannot afford to be without work.

Any advice or tips on how to manage this situation would be greatly appreciated.

Push all the deadlines to the limit. Submit in early October and then wait until the spring to start the treatment.

Unfortunately, first goes of IVF can be a trial and error process to find a treatment plan that works for you. Success on the very first try is achievable but not always the norm.

You may find yourself going privately for another round later next year and by which time, you will hopefully be established in your new job role with all the maternity benefits that come with that.

I wish you enormous luck op!

Good luck with your ivf. View it this way, would you rather be skint for and pregnant or have loads of money but not regret starting sooner.

I will try my very best to delay everything - would even try to delay until late November if I can for the NHS papers to get signed.

thank you for your insight! I really appreciate it

Thank you so much, and that’s very true!