Stories

5 years of a degree and dream career to lose it all

I was employed as a student cardiac physiologist. In addition to working full time I was studying for a full time degree whilst being paid, great! I had worked very hard to be offered this post. 3 years in I had an unplanned pregnancy. I was advised to take a short maternity leave and come back and complete everything ASAP (I had a year of study left).
I had to return to degree work almost immediately after my son was born (I missed a lecture 5 days after the birth, that was it!). This was followed by a return to full time when my baby was 4 months old. I didn’t know at the time but my son additionally had autism, so was very demanding. I was exhausted and could barely cope. I would be told off at work for not doing enough reading at home but then I was constantly pulled out of work training sessions due to their staffing crisis meaning I had a huge amount of catch up to do at home. Additionally I would be repeatedly told off at uni for not meeting deadlines, not being able to make meetings and was told I was a poor communicator. I was under such a huge amount of stress I developed rheumatoid arthritis which was agony until I was started on the right meds. I couldn’t even dress myself some days.
I struggled up to my final essay before I finally failed. At that point I had just gotten my sons preliminary diagnosis and had no strength left to fight over losing my university place and entire career. I felt there was so much pressure on me in the workplace and no give whatsoever that I had a baby at home and finals/essays that they wanted me to do. I spent 5 years of my life working so hard towards my career to lose it all.

Stories

Never Miss Out {{ responseTitle }}

Sign up to the Pregnant Then Screwed mailing list so you can stay in the loop on our latest campaigns and achievements as well as tips on how you can help end The Motherhood Penalty {{ responseMessage }}
Whoops. The form is invalid.
  • {{ value }}.