should I quit my job with only 4 months to go till I go on paid maternity leave?

[Mrs McAwesome]

Hi everyone

I am wondering if anyone else has done this. I work for a national health insurance company that is extrememly well known and I am entitled to 6 months at half pay maternity leave. This is what my husband and I budgeted for as we would not drop down to one income till after oct next year.

I never expected I would get so sick. I have been unable to work from about week 5 I have had horrible morning sickness and am just extremely tired all the time. I have exhausted all my sick and annual leave now so being home is on unpaid leave. I attempted to go back on monday but with the anxiety of my job (it is extremely stressful, I get abused on the phone all day long) the hours suck one week 8-4 next week 12-8, then 10-6 etc. My Dh says that even though we can survive on one income at the moment just he would prefer it if i could work a tad longer. My work won't allow me to go part time or go to one of their offices. My only options are full time in current conditions in call centre in the city.

So I guess my question is am i completely insane for even considering quitting my job 4 months prior to paid maternity leave or is my mental health more important.

Thanks
Cara

[AliBaby]

I suppose only you and your husband know what to do.

Personally i would try and stick it out so I could get paid maternity leave but thats because we couldnt afford for me not to be working if I didnt get paid maternity leave.

You have come this far. I was really sick for the first 16weeks but it did get easier. Maybe just put your mat leave in to start when you are 8 months pregnant (which means only 12 weeks to go)!

Hope you are feeling better soon.

[Janie]

I guess one thing to consider is that at 12 weeks you may soon start to feel a bit better, and then you might regret quitting? It's really hard to know. I totally sympathise, because I get really sick too, usually not starting to feel better until after 16 weeks. And really not coping well until 18 weeks+. But everyone is different, you might find that in 10 days you feel like a new woman!

Do you think you could hang in there for a bit longer? If you discussed it with your DH, and put a timeline on it.........if you had an end date in sight, if you don't pick up, maybe it would help you to get through.

I think mental health is extremely important......but after having the baby as well as before. I guess my question is, how much stress will this put on you if you are not receiving paid maternity leave after having your baby? The stress that new mums face about having to return to work too soon after having their baby is HUGE. And if you're breastfeeding, and that is something that is important to you, then it adds another thing into the mix. It certainly can be done, many mums combine breastfeeding and paid work with great success, but the prospect of it tends to stress mums out.

I don't think you're insane at all........it's great to consider all the options. Just have a think about the long term too, and what your financial situation is likely to be. I would hate for you to end up in the position of being pressured into going back to work sooner than you feel ready to, once your baby is here. If finances aren't going to be a worry, then yes, resigning now sounds very appealing!!!

[suse]

If you can try to stick it out for a while longer, do so, you don't know that you'll be feeling this way the entire pregnancy. I was hideously sick until about sixteen weeks, then my morning sickness tapered off and by the time I hit twenty weeks was totally gone. Most people find that their morning sickness only lasts till around 12-13 weeks though.

But yes, your mental health is much more important, so although it's not a bad idea to see how you feel in a few weeks, I wouldn't push it too hard.

[HotI]

Don't quit yet. I found the first 12 weeks really hard, all day sickness, so tired. But 2nd trimester many women get a burst of energy. From 12 weeks til 18 weeks i felt really good (then i hurt a muscle but my energy is still way up from 1st trimester.

just hang in alittle longer, cos you might start getting your mojo back. 6 months 1/2 pay maternity leave is a great entitlement.

[Ella]

I think your work has to offer you alternate duties if you are unable to do the ones you are responsible for... Perhaps give legal Aid a call, they might be able to advise you about this...

I was super sick too and ended up quitting at 4 months cause I was nursing and doing heavy lifting, but I did have about 2 months where I perked up in the middle there so maybe hold out a little longer if you can????