Work and ivf

[Grace30]

Hi, I have just signed up. I just wanted a little advise. I am due to start my ivf from my august cycle. Do you advise to tell work? I just don't want them to be funny with me. Any thoughts ? Xxx

[Leesalou]

I haven't, I just booked the days off for appointments, scans & ec and then booked 2 weeks for after et , I have told my work colleague but she's also a close family friend, xx

[Leesalou in reply to Leesalou]

Ps good luck with your cycle x

[Grace30 in reply to Leesalou]

Thankyou. I have just booked the same really , I wouldn't tell them if I was trying for a baby naturally that's the way I looked at it. Have you had ivf before or is it your first time! Xx

[Leesalou in reply to Grace30]

This is my 2nd cycle my first was unsuccessful but I worked for my inlaws last time and they just let me have the time off

Yes that's exactly how I looked it at, when you booked your weeks off may pay to do longer as mine all changed I was meant to have eg 31st but having it tomorrow so I'm early for everything but lucky I had the time booked off anyway time I'm done be nearly 3 weeks, lucky I save my holiday from last year, other wise I wouldn't of been able to,

I'm having the 2ww off as last time I didn't so I'm doing it differently this time xx

[Grace30 in reply to Leesalou]

Aahhhhh fab i have fingers crossed for you. Are you excited/nervous? It's hard to give exact dates so I have primarily booked 2weeks starting from when embryo transfer , obviously a day for eggs to be taken , I'm quite lucky in my job as I am very flexible as I travel a lot so not tied to one place. So can get away with nipping for scans etc. X

[Leesalou in reply to Grace30]

I got told to have the day off after ec so I booked 2 weeks from 31st

But had 28th already booked off as was meant to be another scan so I've got Saturday to recover. That's good that you can do that say my clinic is hour drive then hour back so I have no choice to book off day

I'm exciting but super nervous I'm more excited that first cycle but feel more ready this time and more happy with how I've got to where I am, although it's been long journey hopefully this this good things do come to those that wait and wait and wait lol 😂 xx

[Grace30 in reply to Leesalou]

They do, positive thoughts! Good luck. Xx

[sanchia46]

I told my boss. It's helped and she's been supportive and it means that if I need extra time off etc she'll understand why

[E_05]

I think some of it depends on what job your doing - I understand about not telling them if you were trying to conceive naturally but it can sometimes help for them to have a little understanding about what your going through x

[AndRelax]

I think it depends on your relationships at work and who you would tell. Is your manager or HR supportive and understanding? It might make it easier to have time off and talk about what you were doing during that time rather than feeling like you have to make something up or avoid talking about something that means so much to you when they ask what you got up to.

[KB11]

I am due to start the process soon and I am not telling work, we are all entitled to sick days and time off for appointments, I have to log it if I am having an appointment but I don't have to say what it is for.

As someone else has mentioned, you wouldn't tell work if you were 'trying' normally so why should you tell them this which is very personal. I am not telling my family so refuse to tell people at work over them, it is just too personal for me.

When I need to take time off, I will continue to be open that I need time off for hospital appointments but not say anything about why. So far they have been fine with it as long as I log the time.

I am paranoid it will be obvious what I am doing but probably over thinking it, at the end of the day just look after number one and do what you have to do.

Good luck

[Grace30 in reply to KB11]

Yes I feel the same. Also it's hard to give extra dates for ET even though it's so close still so far away. Hope everything goes good for you. Xx

[Lynnr54]

I told my work about it and they were great. I was given appointments for scans and EC and I took 2 weeks hol after transfer. The way I saw it was that I didn't know exactly what day EC was going to be - you only find out for definitely with 48 hrs to go so I needed them to be flexible with me. Some women also take longer to recover from EC than others so you may need more than 1 day off. I also didn't know which 2 weeks I needed off and as it happened my transfer was a week later than originally planned so I'm glad I had that flexibility. Our firm actually had a policy around ivf on our intranet (hidden in the special leave policy) so worth a look to see if yours has one too. Good luck with your cycle!

[fayzee94]

hey grace30! im starting my first cycle after my august period! due on around the 9th august then start meds 21 days after! I told my work yesterday about it all as I wanted to be confident I was ok to have the time off I wanted, the main dates ive booked is the egg collection and day after and then the 4 days off after transfer to rest, and just to let them know if I have any serious side effects to the meds I can have a day off here and there to feel better and they was absolutely fine with it all! I think its best to pre-warn them, as its one less stressful thing to think about when it all starts!

hope this helps xxx

[Niki2217]

It's your privacy and you should keep it only for small cycle of people you are close to.

Wish you luck! <3

Please share how it went.

[kt_11]

I'm starting in August too. I've had to tell a few people at work which feels a bit odd as I haven't even told my mum! I work in the NHS in a clinical outpatient area & we are not allowed to book any leave even for appointments unless it's 6 weeks in advance, so I didn't feel I had any option but to ask for help in managing the situation.

Everyone has been really supportive so far but it is tough having other people know.

[baby2016]

I was fully honest with my work and told my manager everything. They were very supported and never questioned anything when I was signed off for the 2ww, (3wks this last cycle) although it's not nice knowing you work know everything at the same time this journey is very emotional, and my with my bosses knowing they have fully understood why my mind wasn't 100% on the job and given me less work, even going back to work after my bfn, and still having emotional days they have brilliant. Because I was signed off for anxiety because of ivf treatment my sickness wasn't classed as any sort of trigger. I suppose it depends on they type of company you work for and your job etc. For me I had to do what ever I felt best so that down the line I would have no regrets what ever the outcome, and as much as it's a tricky subject I am fortunate to have brilliant managers (ironically all male) who have brilliant.

Good luck with you upcoming cycle x