I am after some opinions and advice. I am about to start my first cycle of IVF in a week or so. I work as a midwife in a very busy consultant unit. I was, up until this week, working 30 hours a week, which includes shift work, days and night. I reduced my hours down before the IVF as I felt that she shift work was putting a strain on my body, which wouldn't be beneficial to the treatment.

So, I am now working 22.5 hours a week. When I asked to reduce my hours I also asked to come off of night shifts. Prior to this i had been to talk with occupational health, who advised me to reduce hours and stop working the nights. I have been open and honest with my manager and told her I am having IVF. She point blank refused to take me off of nights, but agreed to give be 2 a month, not 3.

On the new rota that has just come out she has given me 3 nights!! My dilemma is, should I just go back to occy healthh and ask them to step in and talk to my manager about me coming off of nights, or should I just get on with it.

How much do you think a stressful and tiring job can affect the sucess of IVF? I only get one free round where I am and obviously want to do all I can to increase my chances . My manager is not an easy person to deal with, and I think this is making me reluctant to approach her about my hours.

If you have read this far, then thank you for sticking with me!

C xx

Hey C

I also went through occupational health and my job have to consider taking me off frontline duties and restricting my workload for IVF.

I would speak to occupational health and get it sorted - as you said only get 1 free shot so really your job only has to dealt with it for a 2 month period eh?

Will you do long or short protocol?

We have long so i will be on the pill for 6 weeks before the remaining 4 weeks for the 'proper' bit - i'll be on light duties whilst i'm stimming and i'll take a week off after EC before coming back to work and wrapping myself in cotton wool!! I'd definitely do the same if i were you

Hi

I would go speak to OH as you gave your manager every opportunity to help you, and she chose to ignore your request. If she's not happy at you getting OH involved then tell her that you felt that she gave you no option.

As for whether it actually makes a difference to the overall outcome of IVF - I don't know. What I do know is that if you're anything like me, and you haven't done everything in your power to make your treatment as stress-free as possible, then you'll kick yourself and wonder what if all the time.

good luck for your cycle.

xx

Rachelle, what do you do? Your workplace sound great! Good luck for the treatment.

Both your posts have put me into action and i have contacted occy health and my GP this morning to try and do something about this.

My manager is not a nice person. One reason she gave me for not being able to take me off of nights:-

"you'll go off and get pregnant, then won't want to go back on to nights"!!!

My other manager who was sitting int he room at the time said:-

"occupational health will need to know if you are unable to fit the contracted role for your post"

In other words, it was a threat, do the job or I'll report you. I didn't tell them at the time that I had spoken to occy health, and it was at their recommendation that I was requesting to come off of nights.

I was in tears til 1am and am still very upset now. I am going to speak to an occy health nurse this afternoon so i will let you know the outsome. GP appointment not until next week. Usual story, no appointments.

Thanks to both of you for your support

C x

hi, omg...ur managers sound horrible!! Definatly spk to oh + gp, and if you need time to b off they will hav to cope with out you!! Im hoping to be refered 4 ivf soon, find out at my db male fertility dr where we guna go frm here, but if my work told me no, i would b devastated......an i guess i wud quit hehe. I knw thats irresponsible but hey, i want my baby...an if work cant understand that! i think ur gp + oh will defo tell u to take it easy will make sure u get the rest you will need *fingers crossed* good luck an try not to let them get to you. They ovbiously hav never been in our shoes! Cz quite frankly i would do anything+ everything to get pg! Lots of luv x x

Hey C,

Wow your bosses sound harsh... and if they are not careful i'd bloody sue them! They can't discriminate and they should definitely know better!

I'm a Detective in the police so majority of my work is office bound... they are used to being sued so will bend over backwards to make sure all is okay! I even get 4 hours off for scans no matter how many i need! The only thing i don't get time off for is EC but i could probably take a day sick for that as a hospital appt! Good luck - i hope you get the outcome you want and need

Hi... saying that Caline... im just as worried about time off work. Im just about to start a fixed term contract in a pct trust and worried about telling the manager. They have given me the job and are just sorting out pay etc.. do you think they could hold it against me for just starting the job and then going for ivf?? I have worked at the same place for a few years but as a locum worker and now finally changing to a proper fixed term contract. does anyone know what the laws are regarding time off work for ivf within the nhs???

Hope yours all works out for you Caline!!!

What did the occy health nurse say?

Hi, I really hope you get this sorted, it's so stressful trying to work around work whilst having treatment.

There does not seem to be any laws about allowing time off for IVF however I did read a couple of factsheets on infertility network called 'employment issues' and 'employment - time off for treatment' which you might find helpful.