not doing so well

the midwife has put me off work till wednesday as my blood pressure is 170/90, most due to friday (being in a&e for gallstones), saturday (baby shower, started at 2pm got home around 9.30pm) and not sleeping yesterday (too busy finishing then nursery) and working this morning.

but she did say if it wasnt down next week, that i would be on early maternity leave and that i had to take each day, day by day and that it was essential that i rest as much as possible, because high bp at this stage can be dangerous.

So my boss has just rung and i am to ring in each morning as she wants to know how i am before i start work, i only have 3 wks left of work, but this bp has me really worried, and as this week is especially busy, i know if i work it, that my bp wont be down next week,

so i am going to talk to hubby tonight, and i think i might end up going on maternity leave from now, but if i do that i lose my entitlement to maternity leave from IRD because it beyond the 6 wk limit. maybe i will just work the mornings and not the afternoons.

on the brightside, baby is headdown, head firmly in my pelvis with her elbow sticking me everywhich way.

i am so tired and emotional at the moment i dont know whether i am coming or going.

the worse thing is, the more you worry about your bp, the less likely it is to go down!!! I would suggest taknig the week off, afterall, you can either take this week off and relax, or you'll need to take three weeks off. Go to a videostore, get out some videos, grab the phone, and big piles of snacks. Sit, eat and watch tv. Relax as much as poss.

can you take a week as emergency leave or sick leave?

Yea i agree as well, relax is the best thing you can do for you and your bubs.

Sorry to hear things arent going so well at the mo. Take a few days to just totally chill out. I ended up finishing work a few weeks early at 33 weeks, cos i was sick of it!! How come you arent entitled to paid parental leave if you finish now?

Kazzle - sorry to hear of your stressful time. Let's hope that by Wednesday and next week, things will be ok. In the meantime, do what everyone suggests - rest up heaps, and see where to from there.

Working part time would be a good option, if you can arrange it. And if you need to work more than a half day, are you able to do something from home? That way you can have a rest when you need it, but still get work done as well. Always worth asking about.

And having a wee cry in the meantime is probably a good thing - gets it all out!

If u are granted medical maternity leave isnt that a different situation? I remember reading about it somewhere.

sorry about your bp, i suffered high blood pressure in my first pregnancy and left work at 5 months pregnant. i got induced at 39 weeks, and was having frequent bloods taken to check that liver and kidney were still funtioning ok and i hadnt developed pre emplsemia (urgh how do you spell it?!!!) my first major blood pressure rise was around the same stage you are at so i know exactly how scary it is. goodluck and sending positive vibes your way..... keep rested as much as you can.... take care

Sorry to hear about your BP. Hopefully it comes down. Remember stress makes it worse so just relax.

Re the ird maternity leave. You should be on sick leave for the 3 weeks until you are due to take maternity leave (they should also pay you sick leave owing, so dont let your boss try to tell you that it will be unpaid). Then your maternity leave will start when its ment to.

Im a ex union rep, and the things that bosses try to get away with because their employees dont know . Anyway all the best.

i hope you are resting heaps kazzle and your BP comes down real soon

Relax and put your feet up. Work can take care of itself your health is way more important.

Hope you feel better after some well deserved rest.