Working While Pregnant: All Your Questions Answered
While many women embrace pregnancy as an opportunity to stop working, many others are keen to stay in their jobs. Whether it’s concerns about money, career ambitions, or just fear of being bored, there are lots of reasons why an expectant mother would want to keep working.
The good news is, working while pregnant isn’t as difficult as you might have thought. Read on to find out more.
Can I work the whole time I’m pregnant?
If you work in a safe environment that doesn’t put too much stress on your body, then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t work right up until your due date. If you work in a more physically demanding career, then you should get advice from your doctor – but it’s likely that you’ll have to scale down your work or start maternity leave early.
Are there any kinds of pregnancy-related complications that might stop me from working?
Yes, however these probably won’t become a problem until later on in your pregnancy. If you have high blood pressure or you’re at risk for pre-eclampsia, then you may be instructed to stop working and rest up as much as possible. If there are any reasons why you may deliver early (e.g. twins), then you may have to take time off in advance of your due date.
What should I do if I get morning sickness at work?
Unfortunately, there’s no way around morning sickness, and if you have a full-time job it’s likely to affect you while you’re working (despite the name, the nausea can hit at any time of day). Some women find that snacking throughout the day helps to soothe their nausea (salted crackers and ginger ale can both help), but it’s not always easy to avoid sickness completely. The best thing you can do is keep bags, mouthwash, a toothbrush and paper towels with you at work, and to head home if you’re feeling really unwell.
What’s the best way to stay comfortable and healthy at work?
Contrary to what you might have heard, pregnant women should not spend all their time sitting or lying down. If your job involves a lot of sitting, then make an effort to do some light exercise over the course of the day – just walking around the office and doing a few stretches can really help. You should also make sure you have a comfortable chair, and that you eat regularly and drink plenty of water.
How do I broach the subject of maternity leave?
Just be open and honest! Establish a maternity calendar with key dates, and work out in advance how much time you want to take off. Once you know when you want to leave and when you want to return, fill your employer in on the details at least a month before you intend to start maternity leave. Let your co-workers know that you’re not checking out of the job totally, but that for the next few months or so you’ll be focusing on yourself and the baby.
The most important thing to remember is that your health and safety always come first – if you’re getting run down or stressed out, it might be time to go on maternity leave. Then again, if you feel happy and healthy, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t keep on working.
*Images by Pixabay used under the Creative Commons license.
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HELLO! I’M MICHELLE.
I love my family, building successful ventures and helping others achieve their dream motherhood. This blog combines those three loves.
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