Guilt over wanting to start Maternity Leave early.
I’m 38 weeks tomorrow, first pregnancy and due to finish work as a SENCo on Friday. However I am wiped out. I get 5 hours of sleep roughly a night so am constantly exhausted on top of just being tired with being pregnant and the heat. I asked my Head teacher yesterday if it was easier for me to start maternity leave early or work from home this week. They said to try working from home today and see how I feel. But I’ve reached the point where I don’t care anymore and just want to rest and nest. I didn’t realise it would be so hard to go back on a decision you made 10 weeks in advance when you didn’t know how pregnancy would affect you.
I want to be able to just say I’m done but I don’t know how when the schools at capacity.
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I can 100% relate to this, I started mine at 37 weeks because I was just exhausted - my work is also 1h and a half drive away and I just couldn’t cope anymore
I think people need to understand the exhaustion from lack of sleep/worry a bit more, luckily most will.
As much as I worried/felt bad/felt like I was letting everyone down at work, as my husband said, a job is a job and we/baby is way more important than that.
I would ask them to start maternity leave now if that’s how your feeling! I get feeling bad but they’d have to deal with the same situation if you went into labour early, they will account for that so I’d definitely go with how you feel and start it now
As a teacher who is 33 weeks pregnant with twins I work my last 3 days this week then start my maternity leave. To still be working in a school at 38 weeks is extremely difficult (this is my second pregnancy). If you go off sick now for pregnancy related reasons your maternity leave will automatically start early anyway (if you are based in the UK apologies) Don’t let the school being at capacity dictate your decisions, you need to put yourself first ❤️
I ended up getting signed off work because of pelvic girdle pain. I then used up my last 2 weeks of holiday up before my mat leave started so I didn’t lose it and then my mat leave actually started the day before my son was born but I was already off for a long while. I just worked it out well in the end. I’d definitely ask to leave early if that’s how you feel because it doesn’t sound like you’ll be giving your best self to work anyway and you are allowed to feel that way at this point. Rest and nest!!
You absolutely shouldn’t feel guilt about prioritising your wellness. Even making it to 38 weeks is amazing! I’m going off from 37 weeks and even I’m wondering how I will do another 2 weeks when I’m so physically drained, so you’ve smashed it!
Thank you so much for the validation. I have asked that I stop now although my husband says it’s sounds like a break up text so clearly I need to work on the wording 😅 but thank you all so much for your time in replying
I am a teacher and planned to work up to week 39 but I went back last week and have opted to stop at the end of week 37, instead. 3 days to go. There is just not an easy day in a school and it’s also the busiest time of year! I regret not finishing sooner than this! Please just say you can’t go on until the end of the week if it’s too much x
Wow I cant believe you've been able to cope this long!
I went on maternity at 36 weeks 4 days and I was struggling from 35 weeks.
38 weeks 2 days now and I can barely go out for more than a couple hours let alone going to work all day.
If your body is telling you to slow down then listen to it and do what is best for you and baby. Now is definitely the time to rest and put you and little one first.
Do not feel guilty at all, its just a job at the end of the day. Nothing is more important than your health right now xx
I stopped working yesterday and it was such a relief. 😮💨
I nipped to Sainsbury’s today for a few bits and my legs feel like I’ve done a 10K 😅😅
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