Applying for possible promotion during IVF?

[DJ202]

Hi all,

I hope you’re keeping well!

I have a work-related question and am very keen to hear your opinions. I’ll be talking to colleagues at work about this too, but wanted to know your thoughts.

I’m just about to undergo round 3 of IVF abroad – and have a long and complicated history of diagnosed infertility, two miscarriages, a partial molar pregnancy with extensive cancer monitoring – a lot of heartache over the past two years or so!

An opportunity has come up at work to apply for a promotion funded externally. It looks like a good opportunity with flexible start dates. My career is important to me and being given the promotion if my application is successful would put me in a fantastic position in my professional life.

At the same time, I wanted to take a year or two now to focus on building our family (I’m 38 and there’s no time to wait). I wonder if it’s the right time to apply for this promotion. At the same time, I’m thinking I don’t want the fertility struggles to put my life on hold!

Any thoughts are more than appreciated! Thank you! x

[HaveFaith1]

I'm in a similar position to you DJ202! I've applied for an internal role and got an interview coming up but I'm considering pulling out. Great sounding job but rubbish timing. Like you though, I feel like my life's been on hold for too long. Sorry I don't have advice or an answer for you, I just wanted to let you know you're not alone. I hope you get the baby and the career you want ❤️

[MissSaoPaulo]

You HAVE to apply. Murphy's Law all but guarantees that you'll be offered the position just as you fall pregnant and don't feel comfortable accepting it!! Seriously though, you've nothing to lose by applying. There's no guarante for the promotion or for the IVF so you'd be shooting yourself in the foot to miss out on a chance with either of them, and who knows, you might get both 🤞

I'm sorry to hear it's been such a tough battle for you and I hope things take a turn for the positive this time xxx

[McQueeny]

I think you should apply. You don’t know how long IVF will take, and life has to move on! Besides, it’s good to have a bit of a distraction…. I moved jobs while doing IVF and got pregnant 4 months after starting new role 🙃

Apply - then if get offered it, you can always see where you are and reconsider if you need to. But go for it 💪🤞 x

[Mousegirl23]

I went for an interview the week of my egg collection and my view was “hopefully I get one of them” I am now in my new job and 8 and a half week pregnant and feeling very grateful! Go for it, you will surprise yourself how resilient you are! I believe we can do it all! ❤️

[Bexarama83]

Agree with the others, you should apply. You can’t keep putting things on hold. I was in a very similar situation to you back in April, I went for my promo, got it then fell pregnant on round 2. Unfortunately I ended up miscarrying but very glad I went for promo when I did. You never know what’s going to happen on this fertility rollercoaster. Best of luck on all accounts xxx

[Running79]

Definitely take promotion, don’t miss out on an opportunity- I work in a high pressured job and took promotion, where I managed a team of 90 people. I’m currently 32 weeks pregnant

[Fertilityjourney]

Definitely go for it! This bloomin IVF business means we have to put life on hold especially with Covid. But if you love the sound of it, go for it. You can always discuss working more flexibly when you get it and when you get pregnant 🤞 Good luck! Xx

[pink_lemon]

Hello, I agree with the ladies above. I did it. Applued for a new role where I work while going through IVF. I had no guarantee any of the two would be a success. Got the job 3 months ago and due to very delayed start of the position (that was not planned!) will only start the new job in the next weeks. 8 weeks pregnant, no one knows yet obviously, early days and I am still praying and wondering if my baby’s heartbeat is still going every day. No regrets about the decision. Even if I ended up on extended maternity leave in six months. The company will manage. Someone else will get a temporary oppurtunity for the role in my absence. And I will have a better job to return to one day.

Had I not applied nor got pregnant, I would regret it.

Go for it!

[Twiglet2]

I went for the promotion for the same reason as you, not wanting IVF to put my life on hold after years of trying. IVF was finally successful about 8 months later so the pressures of the better job didn’t affect me and I don’t regret anything. I personally felt ‘focusing’ on IVF was causing me more stress than having it ongoing beside my life. But you have to do what is right for you lovely xx

[Hoop123]

I agree with the others! Don't let IVF put your life on hold any further - if you want the role (and it sounds like an excellent opportunity) go for it. If you get it, and get your baby, then that's a double-bonus. xx

[DJ202]

Hi all, thanks so much for your responses! I realise I forgot to give you an update! I've spent that time putting my application together which I'm pleased to report has been submitted a couple of days ago! I don't even know what to do with all the time I have now having submitted this application, haha! Will keep you posted on the outcome! Thanks a lot for all the encouraging words - you've been a major contributor to me applying for it! xx

[MammaMia86]

Hi! I had a similar situation as a project came up and I was about to apply, when I realized that if I was getting pregnant or if I was having to do more cycles, the last thing I wanted was more stress. ( I usually jump to anything like this)

I think it is a personal decision base on how you feel, your possible new job hours, manager, salary,stress level.....consider all those factors and I am sure you will make the best decision for you. 😉