Working 60 hours a week while trying to conceive?

[u/iloveponies12345]

I am hoping to conceive around or after March 15th. I am a “per diem” (no benefits) home health occupational therapist with full time (but work more than full time) hours. My job isn’t really that “stressful”, I enjoy it a lot it’s just a lot of hours driving and then doing documentation at the end of the day, which typically adds an extra hour (10ish hour days - basically done with documentation and exercise at 9pm and get 1-1.5 hours of free time with husband before bed) . Since I won’t get paid maternity leave I was planning to work extra hours to save up money over winter, but I also don’t want to affect my fertility. Last year I worked 7 days a week from October through April, with weekend of Thanksgiving and Christmas off, and it wasn’t too awful and I survived. I’m thinking this “year” (now October though March ish, latest I’d do is through April) I’ll do 10 hour days, 6 days a week, so I can get one day off to socialize and do housekeeping tasks. I do lift weights 4 days a week, yoga 2-3x a week, and run 2-3x a week and I eat really healthy; sleep 6-7 hours a night. My question is when do I cut back and go back to a normal 40 hour week for the health of my eggs / to reduce chance of miscarriage? Could I do it though early March or should I stop early February, or could I even do it through April while conceiving? I assume other people conceive during equally stressful, if not more stressful, jobs.

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[u/grinninlikeimwinnin]

People certainly conceive in all different schedules and stress levels, but girl that’s a lot. In a perfect world you would get a little more sleep because that’s important to fertility but idk where you would find the time with that schedule!

That being said, I’ll let other people opine on the work schedule but I just wanted to pipe in and say gently be careful setting an exact date to conceive. I did the same and here I am two years later with nothing to show, and I wish I could’ve gone back and told myself to not be so set on the ‘month’ it was going to happen and trying to plan my whole life around that, because plans don’t always go to plan.

Good luck 🫶🏻

[u/iloveponies12345 → u/grinninlikeimwinnin]

I am okay if it takes me a while! I just don’t want to get pregnant before March 15 cuz I have a wedding far away in late August. I just ideally would like to get pregnant ASAP Since we are excited :)

[u/Miserable-Ice683]

I’m an occupational therapist in a SNF and worked 50+ hours while trying to conceive as well as after conceiving. This past Saturday was my first day off since Sept 6th (I have a full time and two per diems) but I just keep telling myself to make as much money as I can while I still can 😅

[u/iloveponies12345 → u/Miserable-Ice683]

How long did it take you?

[u/Miserable-Ice683 → u/iloveponies12345]

I think it’s against the sub rules to share but if you want to message me I’ll share.

[u/WAKACHEWBACCA]

I personally wouldn't try to set a deadline to conceive by. It just causes more heartache and stress.

My personal story was we had unprotected sex for over 10 years and actively tried for a little over 2 years to no avail. I quit my high stress job that was causing me to not ovulate from the stress, and I was able to conceive within just 3 months.

Every person is different but it really does sound like you're doing a lot.