I have a small dilemma that I need some help sorting out.
I had to work all day
yesterday teaching a
class. I realized when it was done that completely over did it and
went to the point of exhaustion. My abdomen was so sore and hard last
night, and I basically just went to bed and slept right through until
this morning. I'm still feeling
sore and tired today
(like a bad hangover). I've had a few other days like this recently. My regular work demands involve lifting children, stooping and bending, getting on and off the floor, driving, carting equipment around to people's homes, and generally being on my feet. Most days I have managed to get a nap in when I get home and seem to be mostly recovered, but it does seem to worsen as the week goes on. I'm starting to re-evaluate my plans to work
for another 4 weeks.
Option 1: If I got a doctor's note I could
go completely off work now. The downside would be that it would use up
the rest of the sick time in my bank, so I would have nothing left when I
return in 2013. If my baby got sick or I did, I'd be stuck for taking
time off.
Option 2: I begin my 2 weeks of vacation time now and
start my maternity leave after that. The downside is that my maternity
leave would end in November of 2012 and I'd have to go back to work then
instead of in Jan 2013. They've hired my replacement to work the full year starting in January.
Option 3: Drop down to part time days using some, but not all of the banked sick time for the next 4 weeks.
Option 4: Suck it up and continue on with work as planned.
I
do feel very lucky to have the maternity and sick time benefits that we
have, so however it works out I know things will be OK. I have an OB appointment on Thursday and plan to discuss it further with him then.
I vote for option # 3 until you discuss with OB on Thursday. That way you will have medical advice to keep you and little Silver safe.
ReplyDeleteI'd go for #3, or ask your OB for a note for reduced activity. Is there any way you can just the teaching, without the lifting/bending/carrying? Can you get an assistant in your class? Or just do 'admin' work? That way you could continue working and not use any vacation/sick time!
ReplyDeleteOR your doctor could put you on short-term disability (if you qualify), you can go off now and not use sick time.
Hope that helps!
I don't normally teach, I'm a Physiotherapist. I'm already on 'light duties' (as light as they really go). There are no assistants. Paperwork depends on doing the physical work, so that would only carry me for a few days. There is no short term disability until your banked sick time is depleted, so that would put me in the same bind as option 1. I too think some version if #3 is probably the best.
ReplyDeleteHi - my advice is to discuss with your OB. In my situation, my doctor ended up putting me on medical leave quite early. This qualified me for a pregnancy related medical leave through EI. My employer doesn't offer short term disability or any other benefits, but this way, I have been on leave, with EI. And, it doesn't subtract any time from my maternity or parental benefits so I will be able to stay home with my little one for the duration. The big negative is that my salary is much higher than what I make on EI, but when the health of your little one is at stake, we'll make it work. It may be something to ask your OB about??? Good luck and take care.
ReplyDeleteI was going to suggest going on medical leave as well. If you're already feeling exhausted, it's only going to get worse. I finished work at 38 weeks (took two weeks before my due date) and I was so done by about 36 weeks (I was feeling good and doing really well physically and then all of a sudden it all hit me, like from one day to the next), and my last week I was completely useless, both because my replacement was doing everything, but I was so uncomfortable and tired and swollen. You will be glad for the time off, and all the physical discomfort you have/will have will feel a lot better. I had one stressful day that I had some tightening across my belly (it was midway through my pregnancy) and I know that if I felt that way on a regular basis, I would have left earlier. It's just not worth risking.
ReplyDeleteI checked the EI sick benefits and in order to start that you have to have depleted all of the sick time benefits offered by your employer first. Not what I really want to do unless I have to. Of course if there is any risk to the baby there's no question, but so far my OB hasn't been at all concerned with my activity level.
ReplyDeleteMy vote is Option 2 or 3...I know how scary it is right now to possibly overwork yourself into pre-mature labour and that would suck infinitely more than any options presented. So my vote is to seriously seriously take it easy as that's whats best for baby. I hated when the doc told me this as I felt like my own body wasn't my own and I was soooo sick of taking it easy as I wanted to just get my body back to do normal things again...but you are in the home stretch now and rest is now more important than ever. Sorry if I sound so harsh as thats not my intention but I think your body is trying to tell you something so my vote is either option 2 or 3.
ReplyDelete