Opinions or advice requested, working up until due date

gadzooks_3 · March 2016

I could use some advice/opinions.

Prior to finding out I am pregnant I agreed to teach a summer course (I am a graduate student ). Now I need to decide if this is something I can do, and something I should do. The course will run from July 1 -July 30th (I am due august 6th). I am torn. Part of me feels obligated to complete the course because I said I would, and no one else in my department teaches this course. It would be nice to teach the course again, good for my CV, goid to hash out some pedagogical issues with the corse etc. Also, the additional income with a baby coming could really help.

But, I suspect teaching a 3 hour lecture 2 days a week, while standing in my last month if pregnancy is a decision I will regret. And what if there are complications? Or I go into labor early? (I could record the last week's lectures ahead of time, but not more than that). I really can't have someone take over for me.

My childless colleagues I have asked think teaching is a crazy choice. DH Aldo thinks I should take the month to prepare for baby and get work done on my dissertation as I fon't get as much done when I teach.

Thoughts? Is it crazy to take on a commitment that close to the due date? I need to decide soon before the course is posted for student entollment.

Curls919 · March 2016

I know plenty of people (including teachers) who have worked until their due date. However make sure they have a backup in place in case you go into labor early.

gadzooks_3 · March 2016

That's the thing, I don't think I can have a backup.

bananers · March 2016

I worked past my due date, up until I went into labor, and DS was 4 days late! And those were 8+ hour days, plus commuting an hour and w half each way via bus and walking 6 blocks each way to and from the bus! I was tired, but I tried to stay active during pregnancy. Toward the end, I would end each day with a list of the status of everything I was working on, in case I didn't make it in the next day. I think it's definitely doable.

Bookhousegirl · March 2016

I worked basically full time up until the day I went into labor (I was actually texting clients from the L&D room to cancel sessions later that day). It's definitely do-able, not necessarily easy, but I plan on doing the same this time. I would find out more info on coverage though, because it may be needed.

lalalorelai · March 2016

I don't think there's an issue with working up until the due date (I will need to work until I pop, barring any complications) but you need to alert your department ASAP. What if you go into labor two or three weeks early? There needs to be a backup in place. See if you can team teach with another grad student or designate a backup who you can fill in ahead of time and can step in if needed. I'm a grad student too so I get that it's not always set up for pregnancy or maternity leave. You probably will have to come up with your own solution and propose it.

gadzooks_3 · March 2016

I think I was not clear, sorry. It isn't whether to work. It is whether it is best to allow myself work solely on my dissertation or to work at the teaching at the same time. I also cannot gave a back up. That is why this is a concern. I know lots of people work up to their due date, but if I go early I am on the hook to teach. That might be via Skype or with pre-recorded lectures, but it is on me. The course I am teaching has not been offered for 6 years prior to my taking it on because no one is qualified to teach it.

gadzooks_3 · March 2016

Buy it is really nice to know that thinking I can teach etc right up to the due date is not unreasonable, thanks ladies!

lmtrmama · March 2016

I worked up until my due date, but I had a job where I could sit pretty much at any time. Would it be possible to sit while teaching? Can you plan ahead for an emergency situation like if you go into labor? I say go for it and prerecord some lectures!

ramoseecology · March 2016

I can't comment on working until you're due but I would say don't underestimate the importance of having some dedicated time to make solid progress on your dissertation. I work in grad education and talk with a lot of students who need more time then they planned for (in general and after having a baby).

PJpeppercorn · March 2016

I worked in education and worked up until the day I went into labor. A month before EDD is a long time to prepare and I think I would have gone nuts with all that time waiting. I think I'd record the last week of lectures and go for it!

bananers · March 2016

Definitely agree with the others on prerecording some lectures! You can do this.

huskymama725 · March 2016

I worked retail with dd, got off at 10pm the night before I had her..water broke at 9am. I also work retail now in management and plan to work until two weeks before (because dd was almost 2 weeks early)

Jenniferk08 · March 2016

I planned on working until my Edd with #1 but when I had to fill out the FMLA papers he was breech so I opted to leave a week early.
I went into labor my last morning of work. I worked in a clinic and spent an hour+ commuting each way, 8+ hours dealing with registration and supervising.

3 hours twice a week doesn't seem like much. But if you feel it is what about a tall stool so you can sit/lean if you get tired.

lalalorelai · March 2016

Ok, since the issue is purely whether you should commit to a month-long class immediately before your due date, I may change my response a little. I'm also a grad student teaching undergrad courses. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I don't know if it's fair to students to prerecord as many as one-quarter of their sessions. Viewing recorded lectures is VERY different than having a real lecture, from a student perspective. I've taught both online and in-person classes, and the student experience is very different. I think making up the lectures beforehand and having another grad student (even one not specialized in the area) would be better than pre-recording the lectures. Plus, you will have to grade at the end of the class, right? I don't know about your department, but at my school there are very quick grading turn-arounds for summer sessions, like only a few days to get everything in. If you give birth in that time period, you might not get the grades in on time.

When are you planning on defending your dissertation? Definitely don't discount the time you'll need to take off once the baby gets here. My friend had a baby the same year she was due to defend, and had to push it back a whole year because she didn't anticipate how exhausted she would be and how much time the baby would take up. So if you're planning on finishing your dissertation sometime soon after birth, you may want to give yourself the month before birth to get as much work finished as you can.

Just some food for thought. I don't think it's just about whether you can or should do it, but whether it's fair to your students. You probably should speak to your advisor about this and get his or her input.

Curls919 · March 2016

If you can prerecord lectures then I'd say go for it but if you will be expected to actually be present (even if it's via Skype) after you may have the baby then I think you should pass on teaching the class. I'm sure no one would fault you for turning down the opportunity. You can even tell them it's because if you go into labor early you would need backup.

DDRRT1982 · March 2016

I worked with each pregnancy up until the last moment and did not find it awful. I work in a hospital and am on my feet primarily for 12 hours each shift. This was my experience though and you might not have the same experience. I just tried to sit as much as possible and stay well rested on my days off. Can you not lecture from a chair if it becomes too burdensome? I had professors lecture from their desks all the time while in college. I wouldn't necessarily back out at this moment, but maybe find assistance or modifications to help. Good luck.

HeyStVincent · March 2016

I worked as an RN (on my feet - although it was a clinic setting and not a hospital setting) and went to school (part-time) in a master's program when I was pregnant with my first last year. I actually was in labor at the hospital completing a paper (a review of several studies) that was due that night. The paper was mostly done at that point, but I did make some final changes and then submitted it from my L&D room.

I think it's totally possible to do both commitments. If possible, it might be wise to try and front-load the class. That said, you should do what you are comfortable with. If you are having major reservations about doing both your dissertation and teaching a class, then you should go with your gut. I don't think you'll have regrets regardless of which way you go.

gadzooks_3 · March 2016

@lalalorelai Yes, the fairness to the students if things don't go as planned is my primary concern under the "should" question.

I also feel unethical bailIng on the class.

I will defend Winter of next year, but I also need two full chapters ready for job talks before baby comes because I will be on the job market in the fall.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond!

I appreciate all the input it has really helped clarify for me what the issues are do I can get answers from the right people at work. Thank you all!

ebilbao · March 2016

I am also a teacher and worked up to my EDD with DS. However, you have to realistically think that you could deliver anywhere from 37 weeks on. If you can't have a sub ready, then you'll need another plan. If you go into labor, that's it. It's not like you can fill out sub plans then. Good luck!

tmk0325 · March 2016

@liljabee is the course already posted for students to sign up or do you have a few weeks yet? I taught a masters level course last summer for a month and most of my students didn't sign up til like the month before. With that said, if it's not posted I think you need to decide quickly whether or not you can do it or wait to offer it again next summer (or winterim if possible). I personally probably wouldn't do it, if I felt like I wouldn't be able to commit to the whole thing. You just never know with pregnancy what will happen when... Plus I would probably rather spend the time and get a jump start on my dissertation! Good luck!

SkiChic626 · March 2016

I personally wouldn't, I'd take my 4 weeks of "before" leave and run! That's what I did with #1 and probably will with this one, too. I didn't NEED To be out that early, but it was nice to have that time off to just chill. But that said, I do know people who have worked up until they literally go into labor or the day before their scheduled C. If you choose to do it, I would just make sure you have a backup in case you go into labor early or something happens. At 30 weeks I had an irritable uterus and was on "rest" for 3 days, not allowed to go to work. Then, I unexpectedly had my daughter a week and a half early just because of high blood pressure that came on out of nowhere in those last couple weeks. That's usually when the crazy stuff happens, so just be prepared and have a plan. Pregnancy can be so unpredictable - you might be totally fine to do it and go 2 weeks past your due date, or you could deliver early, there's just no possible way to know for sure until it happens.

gadzooks_3 · March 2016

tmk0325 said:

@liljabee is the course already posted for students to sign up or do you have a few weeks yet? I taught a masters level course last summer for a month and most of my students didn't sign up til like the month before. With that said, if it's not posted I think you need to decide quickly whether or not you can do it or wait to offer it again next summer (or winterim if possible). I personally probably wouldn't do it, if I felt like I wouldn't be able to commit to the whole thing. You just never know with pregnancy what will happen when... Plus I would probably rather spend the time and get a jump start on my dissertation! Good luck!

No, the course is not posted yet. I want it resolved so that the department can have time to advertise for an out of department adjunct if they want. I taught it last summer and I am teaching it this quarter, it tends to be a high enrollment class so the may be willing to pay a non-graduate student adjunct.

Based on the feedback here I am talking to the office and if they will agree to team teaching (something I have never seen done) I will do it, if not I will give them notice so they can try to fill the spot out of the department or not offer the course. It seems the most responsible option for the students.

jamiesc58 · March 2016

I worked up to my due date with both my first dd and with ds. With second dd I was taken off work at 32 weeks as I kept going into labor. I will work as long as I can again.

lalalorelai · March 2016

liljabee said:

tmk0325 said:

@liljabee is the course already posted for students to sign up or do you have a few weeks yet? I taught a masters level course last summer for a month and most of my students didn't sign up til like the month before. With that said, if it's not posted I think you need to decide quickly whether or not you can do it or wait to offer it again next summer (or winterim if possible). I personally probably wouldn't do it, if I felt like I wouldn't be able to commit to the whole thing. You just never know with pregnancy what will happen when... Plus I would probably rather spend the time and get a jump start on my dissertation! Good luck!

No, the course is not posted yet. I want it resolved so that the department can have time to advertise for an out of department adjunct if they want. I taught it last summer and I am teaching it this quarter, it tends to be a high enrollment class so the may be willing to pay a non-graduate student adjunct.

Based on the feedback here I am talking to the office and if they will agree to team teaching (something I have never seen done) I will do it, if not I will give them notice so they can try to fill the spot out of the department or not offer the course. It seems the most responsible option for the students.

I know you said in your OP that teaching again will be good for your CV. According to my advisor, once you've taught a class once, it's on your CV so there's no further "experience" you gain from teaching it again (at least not on paper). Your field may be different, but at least on my CV I just list all the courses I've TA'd for or taught, I don't list how many times I've done so. Just another thing to consider! Good luck -- hopefully your department can come up with a solution that helps everyone.

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