Occupational health, please help!

[Keeponhoping]

Ok, I'm going to try and cut a long story short as much as possible! I've had 3 losses and currently pregnant again and have just had my 12 week scan which thankfully all was ok. However I have been signed off work for the last 5 weeks due to terrible anxiety for fear of something going wrong. I thought I would be ok after my 12 week scan but I'm still really anxious. I work for the NHS and can get quite stressful and just couldn't cope with work on top of my extreme anxiety of fear of losing the baby, I'm pathetic I know! I kept my manager informed via email and updated her every time I saw the gp out of courtesy. Today she emails me saying that on my return I will need to have a chat with occupational health which has really stressed me out as though I feel I'm being pressurised back to work when I still don't feel ready. She said it's just a formality and to not worry, however I'm doing the complete opposite and worrying!

 

[Princess81]

With all major organisations it’s just a formality. Just look at it as them making sure you are actually ready. I had a significant time off with losing my sister a few years ago and they wanted to make sure I felt ready to be there. Try not to take it as a bad thing x

 

[LyndseyB]

OHU referral is for the employees benefit and you should view it as the company looking after you, definitely not something to worry about as they really are there to look after you.

Glad to hear all went well at the 12 week scan, can I ask what stage the 3 losses got to? x

 

[netty]

don't worry ( i sell occ health for a living ) its only to make sure you are actually ready to come back and its the right thing for you and the company. Its nothing to fret about they really are just looking after you.

It isnt to MAKE you come back, if anything its to check if coming back is going to work for you at this stage and if not what can they do to make reasonable adjustments for you.

You can't be penalised for absence when pregnant

 

[Keeponhoping]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Lyndsey. The first 2 were 6 weeks and the last one was nearly 11 weeks so I've got past that stage, well just! but I'm still anxious, stupid I know!

 

[Princess81]

Not stupid at all! We would all feel anxious in your position x

 

[Keeponhoping]

My current sick note runs out tomorrow, I've been off for 5 weeks as gp wanted to get me through this first phase. I see my gp tomorrow but now I feel pressured to go back when I want to tell the gp I'm not ready.

 

[netty]

tell the GP you're not ready then and get yourself signed back off if you still feel very anxious x

They are not trying to pressure you but i know thats how it can feel, more than anything they are trying to also cover thier own backs and make sure they are following the right procedures x

 

[Keeponhoping]

Thank you all so much. I will talk to gp tomorrow and tell her how I'm feeling. X x

 

[netty]

I hope you can settle into your pregnancy soon, take another couple of weeks and have some good hard looks at your 12 week scan pics because your risk now of MC is down to 1%

I have MC previously and i am about 7 weeks now and i know how it feels to want it so badly and be so worried!!

 

[holli]

I had to have it Hun it was just a chat and like a risk assessment so they could work round me (I’m a care assistant in a care Home) but although they have been great with me I’ve worked 3 weeks out of the whole pregnancy I just got signed off sick through it all and then 2 weeks ago I officially went on maternity leave, so do what’s best for you if you don’t feel ready to go to work then don’t your boss will understand and they can’t be funny with you about it either but if you want to go back the chat will be fine nothing to worry about xx

 

[Keeponhoping]

Netty, thank you, I think I will take your advice, sounds very sensible! I really hope this is your time! X x

Holli, thank you for your experience, advice and support. I really do appreciate it. I hope you are doing well now. X x

 

[LyndseyB]

Absolutely be honest with your doctor, you will regret it if not. This time is about you and what you need, not your work.

It is not silly to be so worried, its hard to believe everything is OK after such horrible experience in the past and if you're anything like me you decide you will feel better after x date, then realise you don't! If you think about it in a CBT way, your mind remembers the bad things that have happened so far in pregnancies and so it is reverting to those as its all it knows, remind yourself that good things have now happened and like netty says, get images of that scan in your mind and paint over those negative images you had before and hopefully your thoughts will naturally go to those new images.

Big hugs and positive thoughts xx

 

[Keeponhoping]

Lyndsey, you are right. I don't want to have to worry about work at the moment, just need to focus on myself as selfish as that is! I'm sure I will know when the time is right to return to work, until then it will have to wait. I see you are pregnant too, congrats and I hope things are going well for you. X x so glad I asked you girls, you have reduced my worries. X x