Working Through Pregnancy

If you are a working woman, if you feel well during your pregnancy, and if your job is one you can continue without risk or strain, then you can probably go ahead and plan to work until your due date or until your labor starts!

Consider your needs and decide how long you wish to work.  Some women like to work as long as they can so that they don’t waste any maternity leave and can then use more of it after their baby has been born.  Others get tired or uncomfortable and it becomes difficult for them to work, especially if they have a strenuous or stressful job or if they have to commute.  Talk to your doctor about your personal situation. 

While you are working, you want to maintain your health and ensure that your baby has a healthy environment in which to grow and develop.  Here are some tips:-

Some foods and smells can trigger nausea during pregnancy. The sweet roll you used to love for your morning snack may now cause your stomach to churn.  Recognize these changes and stay clear of these foods and smells so you don’t make your nausea worse.

Keep crackers in your desk at work and use them to stave off nausea – a stomach that is very empty or very full will cause more problems.

Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated.  Dehydration will make your morning sickness worse.

Get plenty of sleep and allow yourself more time to get ready for work in the morning.  Fatigue and stress will also increase nausea.

You might feel tired much of the time, especially during the first and third trimesters and even more so after a long day at work.  Make sure you take regular breaks, take a short walk (outside if you can) and move around during your time at work.  If your job is physical, try to take more rest periods.  Rest periods will also help you concentrate.  You may want to close your office door, put your feet up and close your eyes for a few minutes during lunch or on a break.

Particularly in early and very late pregnancy you may well find that you are getting tired by the afternoon.  In this case, change your work schedule if you can so that you can get the higher-energy tasks out of the way in the morning while you are feeling fresh.

If you have a very demanding job, try to cut back on commitments outside work and get more rest after work so that you will be prepared for the work day. 

Take regular exercise as this will also help your energy level.  If you were exercising before pregnancy, continue to do so with guidance from your doctor.  If you want to start exercising during pregnancy talk to your doctor about what you can do to stay active. 

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