Did I do anything wrong???

buddhabelly · October 2010

On Tuesday night at about midnight, I lost my mucus plug and had really bad cramps. I called L & D and they said to hold tight, but call my dr. first thing in the morning. Since I'm only 33 weeks, this was a concern. So anyway, the next morning I called my dr. on the way to drop off my son at daycare. Then I was headed to work. Well, as soon as my dr. heard about the plugs and the bad cramping, she said I needed to go to Labor and Delivery asap to get evaluated. So I called my work and my principal's cell and left messages about not being able to come in and they'd need to call a sub. (I'm a teacher.)

Well, I spent 5 hours in the hospital...my cervix was fine but the baby's heart rate was low. I had to get a biophysical profile ultrasound, bloodwork, non-stress test, etc. It was awful, but thank goodness baby is okay.

So I get to work today and my principal calls me into her office and starts lecturing me about how it was irresponsible of me to call that morning to tell her I couldn't come to work. She said from now on, I need to call by 5:30 the night before. She said, it was unacceptable and it left her in a hard place trying to find a sub. What the he**???? I explained to her it was an emergency and the dr. really didn't leave me a choice...and I had to think about the health of my baby. Then she starts talking about how maybe I need to go on bed rest and take an early leave if I can't handle my job.

Ugh, so frustrating! Seriously, what could I have done. I did what the hospital and dr. told me to do. Am I in the wrong here?

hewinked · October 2010

That is awful! You did nothing wrong! How are you supposed to know at 5:30 the night before that something would go wrong? What's gonna happen when you go into labor and it happens after 5:30? You could have woke up sick the next morning, would that have been unacceptable, too? Sound like she was just annoyed that she had to do extra work in finding a sub on short notice. Nothing you could have done to prevent it!

uluvfranke · October 2010

you did NOTHING wrong. Nothing at all babe. Hold your head up. It is unfair that you are being treated that way!

LitchfieldMom · October 2010

Umm Its not like you had the flu and had it the night before ... I dont think you did anything wrong I would have done the same thing ! I would think twice about working for someone who cant be alittle more flexible . Do you all out often ?? Has your pregnancy been hard on your job ?? If none of these things apply to you I would literally say F/U to her because you gave her plenty of notice being a pregnant women .

pitterpatter129 · October 2010

Oh my gosh! I teach too and I can't imagine my principal acting that way (and she tends to be pretty flaky sometimes!) Even though our district has the call in by 6:00 policy too, an emergency does not count. Did she understand you were in the emergency room?! (I think I would refer to the labor and delivery ward as the ER when speaking to her also.) I think at this point in my pregnancy I might be annoyed enough to go to HER boss and complain, or at least clarify with her boss if an emergency situation warrants a lecture... Of course, if this has happened before there might be a reason she's upset with you? If this is a first, then she's completely off her rocker!

jessakris · October 2010

Yeah, you definitely didn't do anything wrong. And that borders on inappropriate, IMO. I would suggest going over her head and talking to someone, but I hear that issues like that can be extra tricky in a school system. Hopefully another teacher will have some advice. I'm so sorry you have to deal with a crazy boss.

mrschahbar · October 2010

You did absolutely nothing wrong. I'm a supply teacher and my board has a website that we can check constantly to check for jobs that come up... When i was still accepting jobs I would refresh that website every couple of minutes until 11 at night but most of the jobs always came in the morning. I have no idea what your principal was talking about, people wake up feeling sick or have emergencies the last minute he/she had no right to give you a hard time.

pirateragdoll · October 2010

WOW that is completely ridiculous. And way out of line. And no, you did nothing wrong, and any of us in that position would have done the exact same thing. Don't let her bring you down or make you doubt your decision to put your baby's health first.

ashgirlxo · October 2010

you did absolutely NOTHING wrong... tell them sorry for being a good mother.. geez.

spunkyprincessmande · October 2010

Is that the normal policy for getting a sub? I'm a teacher and in our district you can call the morning of for a sub. The secretary at the junior high is the one you call and she finds a sub. Subs are used to getting called early in the morning for jobs. I think your principal was overreacting.

sigmabelle · October 2010

I would tell your Union about this...If you went into labor early then she really would have been in a bind.

sounds like this is called intimidation which is a form of harrassment. Your principal probably did not mean this to be such but I would let your Union rep know and get a DR's not for your work file.

You do not want her using this against you in a few years if schools have more lay offs.

BakerMommy · October 2010

sigmabelle:
I would tell your Union about this...If you went into labor early then she really would have been in a bind.

sounds like this is called intimidation which is a form of harrassment. Your principal probably did not mean this to be such but I would let your Union rep know and get a DR's not for your work file.

You do not want her using this against you in a few years if schools have more lay offs.

Lurking (nostalgic now that the LO is almost one Wink ) former teacher--and my first thought was "Call your union." This is not okay and they need to know.

Arielle27 · October 2010

I think your principal sounds like a b****! You did what was necessary and healthy for you and the baby. Too bad for her!

nosoup4u · October 2010

BakerMommy:
sigmabelle:
I would tell your Union about this...If you went into labor early then she really would have been in a bind.

sounds like this is called intimidation which is a form of harrassment. Your principal probably did not mean this to be such but I would let your Union rep know and get a DR's not for your work file.

You do not want her using this against you in a few years if schools have more lay offs.

Lurking (nostalgic now that the LO is almost one ) former teacher--and my first thought was "Call your union." This is not okay and they need to know.

Yup, I agree with the above two...definitely get a doctor's note and talk to your union, bc your principal sounds shady.

pepomntpat · October 2010

No, you did nothing wrong and if she tries to discipline you in any way you need to talk to a union rep and/or HR. You cannot anticipate an emergency.

The only thing I may have done differently was to continue to call until I spoke with an actual person after leaving a message.

Dutchess_15 · October 2010

Absolutely NOT! You did nothing wrong. Do you have any type of Human Resources representative in your school system? My Mom is a teacher so I know it's a little different than corporate HR departments, but you have rights and even if you just went to talk to someone it might make you feel better. When I talked to my HR rep once I went "public" at work with the pregnancy, she said "just keep us in mind if your boss ever gives you trouble about appointments, etc" she didn't go into detail but it did make me feel better just in case I needed them. Definitely know you did nothing wrong, and your principal was frustrated the burden was on him/her to find a sub, but should NOT have taken it out on you.

Water_Wedding · October 2010

I resigned as a school administrator this summer because of LO. I agree with those who say you need to speak to the union. A meeting needs to be set up with the you, the rep and the principal. Something like this can very essily happen again this school year (before baby arrives or baby getting sick once you're back). It's in your best interest to deal with it now. Also, not that you necessarily want or need to present a note to the principal. (I wouldn't. Sets it up so you have to each time.) But in case you need it later, go ahead now and get a short letter from the doctor that basically says he ordered you to the hospital that morning.

[Deleted User] · October 2010

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Mommysaurus123 · October 2010

spunkyprincessmande:
Is that the normal policy for getting a sub? I'm a teacher and in our district you can call the morning of for a sub. The secretary at the junior high is the one you call and she finds a sub. Subs are used to getting called early in the morning for jobs. I think your principal was overreacting.

Yeah... This. I was sick on Tuesday and DH was able to call the sub service by 6 AM. Maybe she was mad because there were no sub plans left? But still... you're pregnant. Your doctor said to go to L&D, it's not like you had a routine chckup. I would check with your union or something to see if there are guidelines for cases like this.

trinadesrosiers · October 2010

Ya, that's ridiculous. If you re still working when you go into labor you should call and tell her " I just went into labor, I know It is essential I let you know a day in advance, so I understand if I need to come into work today, but I hope it's ok I bring my dr in case I have the baby in class"

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