In this article I will talk about pregnancy tips while working. We shall discuss a whole lot more in detail later on.
Getting pregnant is one of the most life altering events in a woman’s life. It is a feeling I cannot explain except that someone else has taken over your body!
You literally feel a change in your body, emotions, habits and so on.
As a working woman, being pregnant does not mean you have to stop working immediately.
It might seem daunting especially if this is your first pregnancy but with the right attitude and pregnancy tips you will do just fine.
I remembered when I got pregnant, I found it difficult to cope at work during my first trimester but by the second and third trimester I got my energy back.
I told myself I would be more prepared during my next pregnancy so I did some research on coping with pregnancy while working.
I would love to share some of these pregnancy tips with you here.
Your Rights during Pregnancy
The employment laws relating to pregnant working women vary from country to country so it is a good idea to find out what your rights are once you plan to have a baby.
Also check out your employment policies as these also differs from organization to organization.
In the UK, according to directgov a pregnant woman in the workplace has four fundamental rights:
- paid time off for antenatal care
- maternity leave
- maternity pay benefits
- protection against unfair treatment or dismissal
Your employer is obliged to ensure your health and safety during pregnancy.
Most organizations will conduct a risk assessment to ensure you and your baby are not at any risk while performing your duties. Examples of a risk could be climbing a ladder to stack shelves, or standing long hours.
If such a risk exists your employer must either remove the risk or offer you a suitable different role so you are not exposed to the risk. If neither is possible then your employer should suspend you from work on full pay.
You are not mandated to inform your employer about your pregnancy till at least 15 weeks before the start of the week when your baby is due.
However I recommend telling them earlier, anytime after you have done your 12th week scan at the hospital when you know everything is OK with your baby. That way you can easily take paid time off work for antenatal care.
In my case I had to tell my manager earlier than the 12th week scan (I think at week 8) as I suffered from morning sickness, which affected my work slightly. I didn’t want him thinking I was slacking for no reason.
Thankfully my manager was sympathetic and didn’t give me a hard time at work. I officially told Human Resources after week 25 of my pregnancy so I could sort out my maternity pay.
If you are ill during pregnancy and it is related to your pregnancy this should not count against you. However if illness occurs four weeks before your baby is due, you will be forced to go on maternity leave. Your maternity pay starts then.
Self-employed mums also have rights when it comes to maternity pay. This will be discussed under maternity pay.
Some women find that they are discriminated against when pregnant. If this is your situation try and address it with the person involved, if not inform the Human Resource Department of your organization.
In the UK, it is unlawful to discriminate against a pregnant woman because she is pregnant.
Pregnancy Tips
At home you might be under stress as well, as it is hard to keep up with your chores, cooking, caring for your husband and children if any. Learning to manage your time at home and dealing with only important tasks during pregnancy will come in handy.
Later on, I will provide pregnancy tips on:
- Dealing with morning sickness at work
- Eating healthy during pregnancy
- How to handle exhaustion in pregnancy
- Safety in pregnancy
- Tips on dressing during pregnancy
- Packing your hospital bag
- Essential items for the newborn
- Returning to work after maternity leave.
Being pregnant and working could be an amazing experience if managed correctly. I know these pregnancy tips might not apply to some women as they might have difficult pregnancies or may be confined to bed rest. However for pregnant women who are up and about, I believe these pregnancy tips we will discuss soon, will be of value to you.
If you are pregnant and stressed and would like to talk to someone that can listen, you can contact me here. I would love to be a listening ear.
EXTRA
- Check out this interesting article on momswisdom.net on what to do to prepare your body for pregnancy before you get pregnant.
- Click here to read how this pregnant mum juggles work, pregnancy and a toodler.
