To My Fellow Teachers...

autumnrf · June 2017

Hey everyone! My name's Autumn and I'm a first grade teacher in PA. This is my first pregnancy (due Feb. 12th) and will be my second year as a permanent teacher (I did long term and para for a few years prior.) Are there any other teachers on the board? Are you nervous about teaching while pregnant? And when are you telling your principle and coworkers?? Hoping to find some other ladies in the same position!

smorzandoj · June 2017

I teach 7/8 math in this special place called hell.

Not nervous. This is my third pregnancy and my 14th year teaching...only thing I'm thankful for this time is first tri being in the summer.

I principal knows already. We have a staffing disaster so I wanted her to be prepared for me to be out for 12 weeks. One of my coworkers knows bc I screen shot a text from a student and in the top corner it had my ovia app listed. Oh well.

tjm527 · June 2017

Same! First grade teacher (next year I will be teaching 3rd), 2nd year as permanent teacher (para, long term sub then title I teaches for a few years). Also first pregnancy, I hear teaching while 9 months pregnant is no fun but we'll survive! I plan to tell my close coworkers and principal at/after 14 weeks.

sgio7485 · June 2017

I'm also a teacher. I teach a k/1. I've been there for several years and this is my second pregnancy. It honestly wasn't too bad, my last child was born in January so similar time frame pregnancy wise and i felt good the entire time (plus it was cooler weather!) I will tell my principal after 12 weeks/when I return to work!

autumnrf · June 2017

Ah, after you excited about switching to third? I was almost switched to forth but luckily got to stay where I am, I love first! And yes I doubt it will be fun but on the bright side by the time school starts we'll only be teaching for about 5-6 months. I plan to take the rest of the year into the summer for my leave, so I'm a bit excited to have 6 months home with the baby

We'll have to keep in touch!

ladybug0088 · June 2017

7th grade teacher here.

Excited to have 1st trimester done before going back to work. This is our 2nd LO and I was working when I had my other one too so I feel like I know what to expect.

I'll talk to my principal after first trimester when school is back in swing.

mrsgunsta · June 2017

I am my principal lol- but I have two awesome APs that can run our ship while I'm out. I plan on being out through the end of the year.

Guess im not wrasslin' any crazy kindergarteners when the year starts up...

sammich078 · June 2017

I'm a school counselor by training but my official title is behavior interventionist at the elementary level. This is my 2nd but my first while working at this building. It will be my fourth school year there. We are getting a new principal hired next school year so I'll tell them when I see then next year...it'll probably be obvious by then lol. I thought about telling some coworkers at our end of year staff luncheon but I probably won't. I'm going to sign my contract for next year this week but I'm not going to say anything to HR until after first tri. I'm hoping to take a full 12 weeks, maybe even an extra if spring break doesn't count against me. I don't know how that works though.

Chawk17 · June 2017

I'm a first grade teacher going into 4th year teaching. Taught kinder for 2 years first grade for 1 year and returning to first this coming year.

magnolia305 · June 2017

I teacher preschool--I taught up until the day I delivered with DS. I would literally almost knock kids over with my belly by the end

I plan on telling my coworkers and principal when we go back in the fall--I will be right at 12 weeks. I plan on taking the full 12--I haven't checked out the timeline to see if it will get me into the summer, although I am going to right now

LadyMillil · June 2017

I'm not officially a teacher but I'm doing some guest lectures at the local university in January so that should be fun at 8 months. I don't think I'll be able to switch them earlier because the topics build on a lot of the previous lectures in the course.

autumnrf · June 2017

I love seeing all the responses! I may tell my principle when I start summer school in two weeks. And I don't really have a choice about taking the full end of the year. In my district if you don't take enough time to be considered long-term then you have to pay $100/day for your own sub after your sick time runs out. I'm not trying to do that!

Are you planning on telling your new kids when the year starts, or waiting? IDK why but the idea of telling parents is freaking me out a little

smorzandoj · June 2017

autumnrf said:

I love seeing all the responses! I may tell my principle when I start summer school in two weeks. And I don't really have a choice about taking the full end of the year. In my district if you don't take enough time to be considered long-term then you have to pay $100/day for your own sub after your sick time runs out. I'm not trying to do that!

Are you planning on telling your new kids when the year starts, or waiting? IDK why but the idea of telling parents is freaking me out a little

That is insanity!!! But on the bright side at least it gives you an excuse to take off longer.

mbirdie · June 2017

I am a certified teacher but am currently working as a counsellor at a junior high. I was there for my last pregnancy as well. Last time I went on leave a bit early and while I liked the time to organize and prepare for the baby, I think this time I'll try and work longer. I have new admin coming in the fall so I'll probably just email them before the school year starts with a little "just so you know when you see me, I'm pregnant not just full of pizza". I'm mostly sad to tell my kids because I really wanted to see out a whole school year with my oldest students, but oh well!

K&Elizabeth · June 2017

I'm an elementary special ed teacher. This is my third pregnancy while teaching and I'll have to say that the hardest part is bathroom breaks haha. I already told my admin because the population I work with have complex medical needs and aggression. I will probably tell my parents at meet the teacher night. I've had some of my students for almost 4 years, so I really comfortable with their families. After we decided to be done at 2 (oops, this is #3), I started my principal certification program. I still need to figure out how this will mess with my classes.

JandJ62914 · June 2017

Teacher here! I taught kindergarten for five years and will be teaching first grade next year. I'm a STM and teaching while pregnant was okay the first time around. I had the call the office to send me a sub so I could go pee a few times, but that was it!

I wasn't nervous to tell my principal last time around, but I am this time. Just because of my grade level change. I'm afraid she'll be annoyed about my timing.

neener*neener* · June 2017

Teacher here also. This is my 12th year teaching. I have two boys already (7 and 3). I'll tell my principal at our first teacher day, I'll be 12 weeks or so. I'm not worried about how he'll take it. Family comes first.

One thing that I am planning for is maternity leave. I had to go on 8-10 week bedrests with both of my sons and I had short term disability to cover my pay during that time. But this time our pregnancy wasn't planned and I am not signed up for short term disability. They consider it a "pre-exsisting condition"... so, I have 40 days saved to be paid either for bedrest or maternity leave, but not both. How do your schools handle maternity leaves? Any of them paid?

winnie1122 · June 2017

I taught through my last pregnancy (2015-16) and was basically pregnant the whole year, haha. It wasn't too bad except first trimester when I was trying not to let the news out but had horrific morning sickness. So a lot of people suspected lol. I told my principal after first tri, but it wasn't as big of a deal since I was due in the summer, so he had time to plan. I ended up not going back after DS was born, I wouldn't have had any extra leave time since I was only a second year teacher and my commute was 40 min one way so I couldn't fathom the thought of going back with a 2 month old. Hats off to those who do though! Now a year out I think I could go back if I needed to. I'll be covering a former coworkers maternity leave this Aug-Sep so hopefully my morning sickness won't be so bad this time around!

gingermama29 · June 2017

I'm an elementary music teacher (grades PreK-6). This is my first pregnancy and will be my fifth year teaching. A lot of my colleagues already know and I told my principal. I was too excited to keep the news to myself!!

bs_otw_0201 · June 2017

I teach 5th grade. This will be my third year teaching at my current school. I plan on telling my principal when we go back to work. I'll be around 13 weeks. I'm hoping that my 6 week maternity leave will take me into spring break! I am so nervous about writing sub plans for that long!

smorzandoj · June 2017

bs_otw_0201 said:

I teach 5th grade. This will be my third year teaching at my current school. I plan on telling my principal when we go back to work. I'll be around 13 weeks. I'm hoping that my 6 week maternity leave will take me into spring break! I am so nervous about writing sub plans for that long!

Check with your union. I only have to provide plans for 2 weeks. I will provide daily objectives and where to find materials for the rest of the time but that's it.

essentialpeace · June 2017

Hi! I've taught 5th grade for three years and there is a possibility that I will be teaching 4th grade next year. There are many changes going on at our school right now. I will be about 10 weeks when we go back to school. I really don't want to tell my principal until at least 12 if not 15 weeks. I'm a little concerned because even now, I'm nice and bloated.

Oh well, maybe they will think I just really enjoyed food this summer!

I am a STM and I actually really enjoyed teaching while pregnant.

Chawk17 · June 2017

smorzandoj said:no

bs_otw_0201 said:

I teach 5th grade. This will be my third year teaching at my current school. I plan on telling my principal when we go back to work. I'll be around 13 weeks. I'm hoping that my 6 week maternity leave will take me into spring break! I am so nervous about writing sub plans for that long!

Check with your union. I only have to provide plans for 2 weeks. I will provide daily objectives and where to find materials for the rest of the time but that's it.

Same. It's up to long term to do their own lesson plans after 2 weeks and to collaborate with my team.

bs_otw_0201 · June 2017

Thanks @smorzandoj and @Chawk17! I did not know that. I work in Alabama and we don't have a union. But, there are several teachers who took maternity leave last year and I will check with them!

Chawk17 · June 2017

@bs_otw_0201 I'm not sure how it goes with no union. They usually are a Pain, but do keep us covered in times like this.
Let us know what you find.

K&Elizabeth · June 2017

@bs_otw_0201 We don't have unions in AZ either. I've had to write sun plans for my 2 prior maternity leaves. What really helped me was to meet with my sub before hand. That way you can show her where to find resources, introduce her to a teammate that can be helpful, etc. Then I wrote 2 weeks of VERY detailed plans and more of outlines after that. Once you get going, it isn't that bad.

kbrinks2 · June 2017

I am a high school math and science teacher in Canada! I worked up until 4 weeks pregnant and I was okay! Tired a lot of the time but manageable! I will tell my principal when I get back from summer holidays! It's different for me because I will take the full year off so I will plan for 2 weeks and then it's up to the sub to finish the rest of the contract!

Knottie1454806974 · June 2017

Fourth year teaching in my district and I just moved schools at the end of the year. My new principal does not know. It certainly wouldn't have gotten me the job (plus I barely even knew I was pregnant). So grateful to not be teaching with this nausea and fatigue. I'm praying my new co-workers won't be able to tell I'm 14 weeks preggo when I first meet them! There will be some strategic clothes shopping taking place!

I'm also hoping that I don't have to return to school until next year. Anyone else planning on staying out until next school year starts?

neener*neener* · June 2017

Knottie1454806974 said:n

Fourth year teaching in my district and I just moved schools at the end of the year. My new principal does not know. It certainly wouldn't have gotten me the job (plus I barely even knew I was pregnant). So grateful to not be teaching with this nausea and fatigue. I'm praying my new co-workers won't be able to tell I'm 14 weeks preggo when I first meet them! There will be some strategic clothes shopping taking place!

I'm also hoping that I don't have to return to school until next year. Anyone else planning on staying out until next school year starts?

Are you in the states? On school insurance? I had two previous Jan babies and stayed off the remainder of the school year but 1. Wasn't paid after my sick days ran out and 2. Had to go on my husbands insurance after 12 weeks or pay $1400 pet month to keep mine.

This time I will be out 12 weeks and go back the final month to keep my insurance.

morganracker · June 2017

I am going into my 4th year of teaching 4th grade. I just told my principal mainly because she is pregnant also so I can talk to her about things

this is my first pregwe are getting a new assistant principal this year too so we will see. I'm most nervous to tell parents and haven't decided when I will. When students start I will be 14 weeks so I guess that will be about the time to start sharing news!

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