This is it, I’m done! (For now anyway.)
After six years of sitting in front of my screens or running around Northern Europe with pitchbooks in my suitcase, I’m taking a break from bond issues, credit spreads, interest rate swap movements and all things fun (to some that is 😊). No more early morning commutes to the City in the navy blue/charcoal grey mass of suits, desk lunches from a takeaway box, meetings, conference calls, vending machine afternoon-pick-me-ups, late evenings with spreadsheets and power points. Yay!!
But when you take a City Girl out of the City, what’s left…? I won’t need to find out though because soon I’ll be a mummy and not just “me without my job”!! If taking a break from my job will leave any sort of a vacuum, my new permanent-forever-job as my daughter’s mummy will fill it for sure! For some time, at least. 😊
I debated when to start my maternity leave long and hard. Part of me wanted to keep on working until I’ll go into labour. What would I even do at home on my own, I thought. But after last week’s ordeal I realised I might actually cause a premature labour with my current pace which would not be in the best interest of my baby. I also didn’t really know of the challenges of the late pregnancy… Luckily I’ve been well and my baby is doing great but it’s not easy to be 36-weeks pregnant and try to live your life and do your job the way you used to. Or let’s rephrase: It’s not easy to stop trying to live your life the way you used to. At least it hasn’t been that way for me.
I wake up exhausted having my sleep interrupted by
- Braxton Hicks contractions or
- needing to roll over to my other side or
- needing a wee or
- needing a drink or
- all of the above.
I somehow manage to get up and ready (ode to dry shampoo and concealer!) but it takes me ages to walk to the station as every time I speed up I get contractions or pelvic pain. At work I forget I’m pregnant and work as normal not realising how tired I’m getting. By 7pm I’m ready to give up and crawl under my desk for a nap as the journey home just seems too much to take on.
So, if I can’t bring myself to slow down I need to call it. It’s time for me start my leave. I saw my midwife yesterday for the 36-week appointment and she continues to believe the baby could come any day. Whether we’ll have days or weeks before going into labour I’d rather be as rested as possible for it!
And there’s something else… The past month hasn’t been stressful and busy just for me. Simultaneously my fiancé has been having a tough time at work and managing our house purchase while attending all of the prenatal classes with me. Having him worry about me on top of everything is really not what we need. We are a team and we should do what’s best for our team.
Today was my last day. I wondered how this day would feel, but ironically I was so busy until the end that it felt no different at all! I’m not keen on drawing a lot of attention to myself and didn’t want to host a leaving party but I did get a box of cupcakes from Lola’s for my colleagues. I guess the reality won’t really sink in before Monday morning. No need to set an alarm hey!
But first we’ll have a fun weekend ahead of us. Tomorrow night we are due to meet up for a pub dinner with our NCT group and on Sunday I’ll have my baby shower!! How exciting!
xoxoxo,
Sini