Question for Teacher WMs

Karleesha

Hi all! I mainly lurk on this board but I am wondering what your thoughts are on my situation. Also, I rarely ask questions because they have probably already been asked if I scroll a bit :

I am finishing up a 2nd degree in Elem Ed and DD will be 1 in September. I graduate in May and so my first year of teaching will be fall 2014. I would REALLY like to start trying for 2 next Sept when DD is 2 and so I can potentially have a baby late May/early June and not take time off work.

I know that my first year will be hard but do you think I should wait until it's over to start TTC? I don't really want my kids to be closer to 4 years apart, but I want to do a great job!

Backstory: I had terrible morning sickness with DD, but other than that a great pregnancy.

Thanks!

mhickey426

I was sick the first 3 months which was during the summer.  I could not imagine being in the classroom feeling like I did.  I was happy that I was home. Eating helped (sometimes) when I was feeling sick which is hard to do while teaching.  You obviously get your lunch but munching on saltines while teaching a class could be a little difficult.  

On the other hand it could take a couple of months to get ku so that is something to consider also.  There is always going to be something that could make you put things on hold.  I think you need to see where you are when it gets closer and take it from there. 

honeybee111

I had DD(3) in January, so I had the majority of my morning sickness over summer break.  It was rough, and I would not want to be going through my first year of teaching dealing with that.  I had DS in late May, so I had morning sickness during the school year.  I've been teaching for 12 years, same grade level for 5 years, and even with that experience, there were definitely days I was not at the top of my game.  Just thinking about the learning curve during my first year with classroom management, curriculum, parents, assessments, trainings......it would be a lot to juggle on top of not feeling good.  Plus, not sure about your district, but in mine, you are probationary until you get tenure.  So, you will be observed a lot by administration your first few years.  I had a good track record with my principal, so even though he came in my room while I was eating crackers, it was ok.  I'm not sure he'd be that flexible with a brand new teacher.  If you REALLY don't want to wait a whole year, maybe see how the start of the school year goes before making any decisions about waiting or not. 

mommymegan831

I teach middle school which I think is less planning and prep than elementary so that helps a bit.  There were 3 new language arts teachers hired this year, the only one that was rehired is about 5 months pregnant right now.  While it's not ideal, if you're doing a good job your principal will want you back.  For me I found pregnant and teaching with a toddler easier than having 2 LOs.

Karleesha

Thanks for the advice!

My mom is a teacher so she is also chiming in her 2 cents, but she had to stay home with my brother for a couple of years because he had bad asthma. And she had no sickness whatsoever!

My other option is having 2u2 and have a baby in may when I graduate! Ahh I think my husband would die. Hah

Manda-Kay

I teach high school special education.  My first year was really, really rough and can't imagine doing it pregnant.   That being said, I taught and got my masters while I was pregnant -- stressful, manageable (but I also didn't have a baby). 

If you have a baby during your first year, make sure you make a killer impression.  In my school corporation, the first 2 years we are considered "temps" and we could not get asked back, no questions asked.

Five Months to Plan

You need to make the best decision for your family, and I know many people who do not like planning babies around work things. That being said I think it would be really tough to be pregnant and teaching the 1st year. I teach high school, and I was even able to sit a lot and my students were totally understanding if I was having a rough day.( which I know is different from Elem Ed.)  I had no morning sickness, and I still had a rough time. DD was born in Dec so I finish one school year in my 1st trimester and started the school year almost into my 3rd. I worked until trill delivery but that was a rough year classroom wise for me. She was born my 7th year of teaching if that matters. 

jgoetz1

I think being pregnant while teaching is easier than after you have the baby and are teaching.  I had DD in September and it was really rough that school year, adjusting to leaving my newborn in someone else's care and figuring out breastfeeding and pumping.  I had DS in March and that timing worked out perfectly since I had summer off after my FMLA ran out.  However, I also think that people often assume that they can plan when their babies will arrive before they TTC and don't realize how little control they have over when they will conceive.  I had 2 miscarriages before DD arrived, so it took us 2 years to get our first take home baby.  At that point it didn't matter when she arrived and how it would affect work, we were just happy to have her.

nosoup4u

You've never taught at all, period? I wouldn't want to be pg during my first year of teaching.

Karleesha

Thanks again everyone! I really appreciate the honest answers.

Just to clear some things up, it will be my first year teaching. My previous degree and field was in PR, but I quickly realized I picked that career for the wrong reasons. I skipped teaching initially because I knew my income would be capped and didnt want to do what was expected. But everyone I have come in contact with professors, mentor teachers , friends etc seem confident that teaching is what I was meant to do. So I am here now!

And I know I cannot really plan when I will get pregnant, I am just basing it on my previous pregnancy. I was off BC for 2 months before I got pregnant with DD. My husband and I were planning to get off BC, use back up BC until the two month window where we would like to conceive. I know it is not up to us, but we didn't have any previous problems. And the school district here will actually pay extra to teachers have do not have to take extra time off the school year for maternity leave so that is a great incentive!

mommymegan831

Karleesha:

My other option is having 2u2 and have a baby in may when I graduate! Ahh I think my husband would die. Hah

If you can get things together quick enough this sounds like a good plan.

KdgTeacher

nosoup4u:

You've never taught at all, period? I wouldn't want to be pg during my first year of teaching.

I'm not a mom yet (to an outside baby anyway), but I agree with this.  Hands down.