Teaching is a tough job, but teaching while pregnant can be even more challenging! Before pregnancy, I thought it might add a few more challenges, but that overall it wouldn’t be that much different. Boy, was I wrong! Here are a few things I learned that helped me when I was teaching high school while I was pregnant.
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Food and Water
HAVE SNACKS. I had terrible nausea my first trimester and would go from not being able to eat anything to being SUPER hungry at the drop of a hat. I tried to catch those being able to eat windows as best as I could, and sometimes that meant snacking in class. My favorites were oyster crackers, cheese sticks, and the chocolate covered granola bars that are basically candy bars. Don’t beat yourself up too much about nutrition, just eat as best as you are able to. It’ll be okay!
I say have water, but honestly, water also made me sick the first few months. It was awful. Do your best to stay hydrated, but juice and flavored water are good alternatives if you can’t handle plain water. I carried a bottle like this everywhere and usually had one of these mixed in it.
Take Breaks
I’m a teacher. I get it. I know that the first reaction when someone telling to you take breaks is to laugh. The tough truth is that you need to listen to your body and its needs. That may mean running down the hall to the bathroom between every class period, and that’s okay. It may mean using a stool in your classroom to perch on – that’s also okay. Take breaks and rest more than you think you need to.
Get Clothes that Fit
For a long time I tried to just wear loose tunics and dresses like this one (which I LOVE – I mean, it has pockets!), but honestly it was SUCH a relief when I bought a few things that were designed for maternity. It can feel like you don’t want to make the investment for things you’ll only wear for a short time, but I wore those things every week until I had that baby. It was worth it to feel put together, and they fit more comfortably too! This brand had my absolute favorites and they stretched with me all the way to the delivery room!
The other thing that absolutely saved me while pregnant were bras from True & Co. They are incredibly soft and didn’t irritate my sensitive skin. Total lifesaver! They do have excellent sales every now and then, but honestly I don’t mind if I miss the sale or don’t want to wait, because I live in these, even after pregnancy. If you’re interested, you can use this link to get $15 off your order.
Have Sub Plans Ready
Obviously you know you have maternity leave coming up, but one thing I forgot when I was teaching while pregnant was the appointments! You will have so many appointments that are planned, but you also never know if you’ll need to go in for an extra check-up. Have some sub plans ready to go and make sure your sub binder is set because you might have to be out on short notice.
Along with your sub plans, make sure you prep for some low-energy days for yourself. You will have days where you just can’t. That’s okay. ¡Corre en Círculos! and Gallery Walks are two of my favorites to get kids engaged and moving without a whole lot from you. If you’re 1:1, Señor Wooly, TeachVid, Edpuzzle, and Gimkit are excellent options!
Give Yourself Grace
Most importantly, give yourself grace. Make sure you take some time for yourself and understand that you can’t do everything you did before, and that’s okay. You don’t have to! Your body needs you to rest, and your baby needs you to be healthy.
