AK89
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So as some of you may have read in another thread, I've been having a hard time at work lately. I have quite a physically demanding job - I work in a coffee shop where I have to be on my feet ALL the time, walking about, carrying things, bending down, making coffee, etc. No matter how much I try to avoid doing the strenuous things, I'm aching all over by the end of it. I've been getting sciatica for months now (despite doing regular yoga and other pregnancy-oriented exercises), and now I'm getting round ligament pain, which I ended up in hospital with it was so bad the other day. I had 2 days off for it this week but went back in work yesterday, which wasn't TOO bad but I was still in pain and physically drained by the end of the day.
Not only is my job physically demanding, it's f*cking STRESSFUL! It's always been very fast-paced. If you've not got somebody served and presented with their coffee within 3 minutes, you're doing a bad job basically. I know it's not rocket science or open heart surgery, but it's stressful. I've always been quite susceptible to stress, but since I've been pregnant I've been ten times worse. All it takes is for someone to look at me the wrong way and I'm seething. I think I may be overly sensitive to the fact that I've worked for the same company for nearly 7 years now, despite having a degree. I know that's my fault as I haven't pushed myself to do better things, and I have a plan to put that right, but at the moment I'm just having to amble along in this job that I pretty much hate, and have people constantly look down their noses at me. Some of this may be paranoia/over-sensitivity, but some of it definitely is not. Some guy yesterday decided to "educate" me and my colleague on the difference between a cafe and a coffee shop, laughing and asking us if we'd been to uni when we were oblivious that there even was a difference (which there isn't, he was just a dick). And I could literally go on for hours and hours about all the other delightful people we're forced to come into contact with on a daily basis! And if it's not the customers being rude, it's my colleagues winding me up! I was carrying some trays from the kitchen to the bar yesterday, as they were the only thing that needed to be brought through at that time - after 2 days off with ligament pain bear in mind - and my boss goes "Is that it now? You on a 4 tray limit?
" obviously in a jokey way but it's like "Yeah...yeah I actually am. I'm nearly TWENTY SEVEN WEEKS PREGNANT!!"
Basically, it stresses me the f*ck out, all the time. And it's now proving to be too much for me physically.
So last night I started to think about whether it's all worth it, and I was googling some things (mistake, obviously, as usual..) and I started to read about regular stress causing preterm labour and low birth weight and ARGH! It's surely NOT worth it if that's the case!
My original plan was to go down to 4 days a week yesterday, and have one holiday put through per week for 6 weeks, then I would have enough holidays left over to have 3 solid weeks holiday from 15th August onwards, and go on official maternity leave on 5th September (I'm due 6th October). I came up with an alternative plan last night that would leave me a bit skint, but it'd mean I would go on maternity leave on the same date, and I wouldn't have to work after this week basically.. I'd take 4 weeks off sick (I'd only get statutory sick pay which is something abysmal like £85/week), then take 4 solid weeks holiday rather than 3 'cause I wouldn't have been using them up once a week leading up to it, then go on maternity leave on 5th September as planned. Overall, I'd be £500 down, but I think it might be worth it not to have to go through the physical and emotional stress of work 4 days a week!
I've got an appointment with my midwife on Monday about this ligament pain I've been getting, so I'm thinking I'm gonna ask her advice on the matter. But I'd love to know what you guys think in the meantime! Have any of you taken leave earlier than expected before? How much leave are you taking this time? etc etc!
Not only is my job physically demanding, it's f*cking STRESSFUL! It's always been very fast-paced. If you've not got somebody served and presented with their coffee within 3 minutes, you're doing a bad job basically. I know it's not rocket science or open heart surgery, but it's stressful. I've always been quite susceptible to stress, but since I've been pregnant I've been ten times worse. All it takes is for someone to look at me the wrong way and I'm seething. I think I may be overly sensitive to the fact that I've worked for the same company for nearly 7 years now, despite having a degree. I know that's my fault as I haven't pushed myself to do better things, and I have a plan to put that right, but at the moment I'm just having to amble along in this job that I pretty much hate, and have people constantly look down their noses at me. Some of this may be paranoia/over-sensitivity, but some of it definitely is not. Some guy yesterday decided to "educate" me and my colleague on the difference between a cafe and a coffee shop, laughing and asking us if we'd been to uni when we were oblivious that there even was a difference (which there isn't, he was just a dick). And I could literally go on for hours and hours about all the other delightful people we're forced to come into contact with on a daily basis! And if it's not the customers being rude, it's my colleagues winding me up! I was carrying some trays from the kitchen to the bar yesterday, as they were the only thing that needed to be brought through at that time - after 2 days off with ligament pain bear in mind - and my boss goes "Is that it now? You on a 4 tray limit?
" obviously in a jokey way but it's like "Yeah...yeah I actually am. I'm nearly TWENTY SEVEN WEEKS PREGNANT!!"Basically, it stresses me the f*ck out, all the time. And it's now proving to be too much for me physically.
So last night I started to think about whether it's all worth it, and I was googling some things (mistake, obviously, as usual..) and I started to read about regular stress causing preterm labour and low birth weight and ARGH! It's surely NOT worth it if that's the case!
My original plan was to go down to 4 days a week yesterday, and have one holiday put through per week for 6 weeks, then I would have enough holidays left over to have 3 solid weeks holiday from 15th August onwards, and go on official maternity leave on 5th September (I'm due 6th October). I came up with an alternative plan last night that would leave me a bit skint, but it'd mean I would go on maternity leave on the same date, and I wouldn't have to work after this week basically.. I'd take 4 weeks off sick (I'd only get statutory sick pay which is something abysmal like £85/week), then take 4 solid weeks holiday rather than 3 'cause I wouldn't have been using them up once a week leading up to it, then go on maternity leave on 5th September as planned. Overall, I'd be £500 down, but I think it might be worth it not to have to go through the physical and emotional stress of work 4 days a week!
I've got an appointment with my midwife on Monday about this ligament pain I've been getting, so I'm thinking I'm gonna ask her advice on the matter. But I'd love to know what you guys think in the meantime! Have any of you taken leave earlier than expected before? How much leave are you taking this time? etc etc!
I wish there was a side to my job that wasn't as much of as strain on me, but there isn't.. My OH wants me to take the leave early. He's been on at me about getting stressed pretty much since I got pregnant! He says he'll try and get extra work and we'll make it work.. 
