Stuck between new job and new baby

MissLambyBeans · 2025-05-08T12:59:52+00:00

I've been in at my current job for 7 months and I am unhappy so I have decided to look for another job, ideally internally but I'm also looking externally. However, I really want to have a baby but I feel like if I find a new job then I'll have to wait to try for a baby, and I'm 36 so time isn't exactly on my side anymore. If I was to find a new job, how long do you think I should wait before trying for a baby? I would have stayed at my current job until I fell pregnant but I don't think I could stomach it.

purplepenguindancing · 08/05/2025 14:02

I’d look for a new job and try for a baby at the same time, especially if you’re 36.

Mrsttcno1 · 08/05/2025 14:02

Would you need enhanced maternity pay or be okay on SMP?

If you’d be reliant on enhanced pay then it depends where you go what the rules are. At my place you have to have been employed for 12 months by the time you are 25 weeks pregnant to qualify for the enhanced pay. If SMP then less time.

But I’d also say depending on the job I’d stay until I was fully protected by employment rights, so 2 years.

Alkaline182 · 08/05/2025 14:12

Hi, been looking for similar threads to this as I’m bored at work with no opportunities to progress so find myself just sat doing almost nothing day to day. Been here 18 months and have been TTC for 6 months. What are the advantages of waiting for the 2 year mark? I’d need maternity pay which is why I’ve stayed where I am so far.

Original poster

MissLambyBeans · 08/05/2025 14:17

Mrsttcno1 · 08/05/2025 14:02

Would you need enhanced maternity pay or be okay on SMP?

If you’d be reliant on enhanced pay then it depends where you go what the rules are. At my place you have to have been employed for 12 months by the time you are 25 weeks pregnant to qualify for the enhanced pay. If SMP then less time.

But I’d also say depending on the job I’d stay until I was fully protected by employment rights, so 2 years.

I think I COULD be okay on SMP (I had SMP with my last 2 and survived some how but that was over 10 years ago!), but I would prefer to get enhanced. I like the company that I work for so ideally I would like to find something internally and that way I would still be eligible for EMP (you have to be employed for 6 months by the time you are 25 weeks pregnant), but there aren't many roles available so it's looking like I'll have to go externally which then changes everything.

OP posts:

Liveafr · 08/05/2025 14:32

Why are you unhappy at your current job? If you are in a toxic environment, I would get a new job asap and try for a baby

Mrsttcno1 · 08/05/2025 15:12

Alkaline182 · 08/05/2025 14:12

Hi, been looking for similar threads to this as I’m bored at work with no opportunities to progress so find myself just sat doing almost nothing day to day. Been here 18 months and have been TTC for 6 months. What are the advantages of waiting for the 2 year mark? I’d need maternity pay which is why I’ve stayed where I am so far.

After 2 years you are fully protected by employment rights. While legally you can’t be sacked or treated badly for being pregnant the reality is very much that lots of companies still do & just disguise it as something else.

Original poster

MissLambyBeans · 08/05/2025 15:20

Liveafr · 08/05/2025 14:32

Why are you unhappy at your current job? If you are in a toxic environment, I would get a new job asap and try for a baby

I work as Exec support and I don't gel with the person I support. A lot of the time I'm made to feel like I'm not doing my job properly/don't know what I'm doing. It's caused me to be feel very anxious when doing my job, so I want to go asap.

OP posts:

eyeswide21 · 08/05/2025 15:29

If it were me, I would start trying for a baby straight away and stick with your current job and give it another few months of trying for a baby. Might happen quickly at which point you can switch off from your job, and knowing you're going for ff on mat leave might be enough to make it bearable

MoominMai · 08/05/2025 17:45

MissLambyBeans · 08/05/2025 15:20

I work as Exec support and I don't gel with the person I support. A lot of the time I'm made to feel like I'm not doing my job properly/don't know what I'm doing. It's caused me to be feel very anxious when doing my job, so I want to go asap.

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I think you should trust your gut and go elsewhere before falling pregnant. I know someone who had a similar sort of dilemma and stayed in the job she was unhappy with and the stress on her body/hormones was not good. It also sucked a lot of the joy and excitement she should have been feeling and when she was on paid maternity it was like a huge shadow over her that she’d have to go back to that same set up. So yeah, it’s such a precious time, hopefully you can find a way to make a new job/baby happen ♥️

Private1980 · 08/05/2025 17:53

Let fate decide come off all contraception and if it happens then it's ment to be if it takes a while then you have time to do what feels right

BaileyHorse · 08/05/2025 18:48

Most maternity policies mean you need to be employed for a minimum of 1 year before you qualify for full maternity pay. Just to factor this in to your decisions.

Emmz1510 · 09/05/2025 11:51

I honestly would just try for the baby now. You may or not find a job quickly. You may or may not get pregnant quickly. If you do become pregnant you are not obligated to tell the new employer until a certain point. If you are later in your pregnancy and are nearer the point where you need to tell them or you are starting to show, then of course they might not take you on- of course they can’t say it’s because you are pregnant but that will probably be the reason if they don’t! In that case you’ll need to stay in your current job for now- or quit, if you can afford it!
And yes check the maternity regulations of your new employer in case there are rules around how long you need to be there to qualify for maternity pay.