Working Moms - Working While Pregnant

I have a desk job, but I work 45 mins from the house. With my son I worked in the office until the last 3 weeks.

With my daughter I worked from home for 5 weeks before my due date, but she came 3 weeks early so I was only working from home about 2.5 weeks.

I just presented a dr note stating that I was not to drive more that 30 mins. But I also went into pre term labor which was stopped about 20 days before I had her.

I had a desk job and I worked right up till delivery.
I had no restrictions.
I didn't think about what I should lift or not but then my co-workers took it upon themselves to not let me lift anything heavier than 2 reams of paper.
I didn't need to ask for any accommodations.
I could use the restroom as often as I needed to.
It was a family friendly company and it seemed like we always had at least several pregnant women working in the office at any given time.

I worked AT WORK until a week PAST my due date, which was 5 days before she was born, then I worked that week from home transitioning my "operational / paperwork-type" work to those who would cover my responsibilities.

I had NO accommodations, except I didn't lift shipment boxes, or climb up on ladders to move merchandise.

no restrictions. worked in an office, sitting most of the day (at that time). you go girl. i have had several women come through that couldn't even handle an office job while pregnant. you're one tough chickie.

i worked up until i had him. i was scheduled to be induced (two weeks past due date) monday. worked all day friday, water broke sunday morning.

I worked in an animal hospital full time. I cut my hours to half time a week before my daughter was born.
The only "restrictions" I had were ones that the vets I worked for suggested - I didn't take x-rays, I avoided certain chemicals (such as flea dips), and I didn't lift big dogs.

I was in law school during my first pregnancy and was determined that absolutely nothing would change just because I was pregnant. The only exception was asking for a special parking pass for a reserved lot so I did not have to walk across campus in 100+ heat. I should have acknowledged the fact that I was pregnant and made some small adjustments- I ended up with PIH (BP up to 180/140) and on bed rest for the last couple of weeks. Then I did bed rest badly and ended up with a C-section. With my second, I still lived my life and stayed active, but I cut back a bit at work, avoided extra stress or long days, and tried to pay more attention to my body's needs. My BP the day of my (natural) delivery was 120/80.
I highly recommend taking it a little easy, even if it goes against your personality like it did for me :)

I worked full time in child care so I was on my feet running around all day every day through the week. I puked each and every day after I was just a couple of weeks pregnant. I sometimes puked 3 or 4 times per day.

I also swelled but didn't know it was an issue. I thought it was standing around on the playground in 90 degree heat for a couple of hours every day....lol.

I left work on Friday and had my daughter that Sunday. Then I went back to work wrapping gifts at C. R. Anthony's in Redding Square in OKC when my daughter was 2 or 3 weeks old. I worked 2 jobs once I was able to go back to work at 6 weeks.

I worked through Friday, had DD on Saturday. My job allowed me to sit when I needed, and required me to drive and walk between company buildings. They offered a special permit to park in the handicapped row for pregnant women (no doctor note required). I took them up on that about one week before I delivered, because the parking lots were big and I needed to carry a fairly heavy backpack with laptop and materials between several company buildings each day.

I worked until the day before my baby was born. I had an office job, but it occasionally required moving heavy boxes. I just got the warehouse boys to move my boxes for me in their spare time, they were happy to do it. I also had one guy who would help me in if it was even the littlest bit icy out because I'm a klutz and my boss didn't want to risk me falling and hurting myself. (I did fall down the stairs onto my hands and knees when I was 8 mnths pregnant tripping over my own feet, so their fears weren't unfounded.)

I'm hoping to get pregnant soon and will continue with the same unless I have complications.

I worked full time as a restaurant manager with my first pregnancy. I was on my feet 9 hours a day in a stressful job, then my dad passed away, and after a couple of episodes of threatened pre-term labour I went on medical leave at 7 months. With my second son I was working part time as a grocery checker, and I had no restrictions, however I would have provided a note if there were restrictions. The day before he was born I worked an eight hour shift with a 30 minute lunch break and two fifteen minute coffee breaks. It didn't occur to me at the time, but I think I may have been in labour that entire day. I got off work at 7:00pm, and I left for the hospital shortly after midnight, and gave birth around 3:00am.

I ditto the restrictions working in a veterinary hospital. I worked full-time as a veterinarian up until a week before my due date - and this included standing on my feet and walking around all day long, even while covering emergency shifts at night, and doing surgery. I was able to do what I felt capable of and if I couldn't, I couldn't. Restrictions included:

1. No x-rays
2. No handling of chemotherapy drugs and certain other substances
3. No performing surgery if the pet was only anesthetized with a mask - if they were intubated so that there was minimal leakage of anesthetic gas, I was ok with that (some doctors were not).
4. No lifting anything heavy

I did not need a specific doctor's note - most vet practices have had pregnant employees at one point or another (especially with the majority of vet clinic employees being women these days) and are very reasonable about what is allowed and what is not. The things I listed are basically a given.

ETA: I did not put any restrictions on myself while I was still trying to get pregnant. It took me about 8 months to get pregnant once I stopped taking birth-control pills and I know some people did not want to take x-rays, etc. if there was any change they were pregnant and did not know it yet. It was only 5 weeks for me between becoming pregnant and finding out and in that time span, I did end up coloring my hair, eating sushi, and drink a few cocktails. I did NOT do any of those things once I knew! Baby ended up being just fine!

I worked the entire pregnancy. My doctor said, I had no restrictions, she said to just follow my body..

I was even on a business trip the week I gave birth. I was at the World Trade Center in Dallas purchasing for the fall. This was a 10 day trip.. I swam almost every afternoon.. We were at the Trade center every
day 9 - 5 yes, even Sat. and Sunday.. We flew there and back.. I even had to face backwards on one flight it was so full.

Then back to the store the very next week.. 4 days later Worked the whole day went into labor even went on a business call. I was craving a certain restaurant, so we went to eat lunch there.. then we decided to leave work early.. 4:30. I had NEVER left work early at this job before..

I picked up something to cook for dinner, went home,changed clothes, was going to read the newspaper in bed and the moment I settled in, I realized I was about to loose my water! I swear I heard and flt a pop.. I stood up and yanked off my bottoms and water trickled out! This was 5:30 pm.

I was 3 weeks early! Completely in denial..I kept telling the doctor I was not in labor.. He kept telling me to get to the hospital. Got there and they said, you are having contractions.. I told them I was not feeling a thing.. No real rest or break for me. Had the baby the next day at 1:00pm.

IF You feel like you need some time off. Just ask your doctor. I am sure she will write up a directive, that you need to not work.. or to work half days.. What ever you need. My doctor told me she would be happy to follow my lead with these things..

I worked full time until my due date with both of mine. I didn't have any pregnancy complications so it was possible for me. Towards the end, I felt pretty miserable with my size and aches/pains. I just reasoned that I was going to be miserable anyway and I might as well work and save my leave time for after my little ones were born.

I worked in environmental consulting so I did do a variety of things. I did get a doctor's note for lifting restrictions simply because I had a boss that was clueless and didn't seem to understand. Even then, it was sometimes a hassle to explain AGAIN why I couldn't lift over 25 lbs...nevermind that I had a doctor's note on file with HR. I also was told that I could not fly in my 3rd trimester. Not something that I did frequently anyway, but I did have to inform my boss.

I didn't ask for anything that wasn't expressly a doctor mandate. I was accountable for billable hours and I was largely able to make all of my hours without doing the things that I was susposed to do. I did find that my employer at the time just wasn't as family friendly as I needed. When my second was 6 months old, I moved to a different job in which I could plan my workload better and it was not so much "fly by the seat of the pants".

The medical restriction I recall is lifting a certain amount of weight. I had a desk job, but every now and then we would need to carry a box. Usually a nice co-worker would offer because I was pregnant. It was an easy pregnancy and I worked until a couple days before due date. I wanted the max days with my baby once he was born vs stay home nesting. You have 2 children already, so extra responsibilities compared to me.

Oh almost forgot, my work was also one that I could stay home in the AM half awake while being on conference calls from the East Coast (6am my time 9am their time). I totally feel asleep turing one of them.

Each pregnancy is different, so I would let your doctor know what you are doing at work and ask if he recommends restrictions based on how you feel (tired, stressed, heart burn etc.)

My first pregnancy was hard because I had extreme back pain. I ended up having to have physical therapy to get through it, but it was doctor prescribed and I had a note, so I just turned it into HR. Everyone saw me struggling to just walk and so everyone was super helpful. I was a little niave with that pregnancy and worked right up until the day before he was born. But, with the 2nd pregnancy, I was pre-emptive and asked for physical therapy on my back early and got it, but did not need it as much. I also started working part time two weeks before I delivered. I just took half days of vacation for those two weeks.

-L.

Technically, I worked two weeks past my due date, but I knew the time frame of when I got pregnant and my son was right on time. I worked full time up until he was born. Worked on Monday, went into labor that night, and son was born the next day. I had an office job, so it wasn't that big of a deal and I had a very smooth pregnancy. During my second trimester, we had voluntary overtime available, so I would work 12-13 hours a day. It was great timing because I wasn't overly tired. I never had any restrictions from the doctor.

I worked all the way up to the last 2 weeks prior to delivery. It depends on your job,manager as far as schedule and flexibility. If they are not willing to accomodate the breaks etc of the pregnancy and in such high paced environment, you may want to take care of yourself and leave earlier. I worked 1/2 days sometimes toward the end.

I had a desk job (mostly) and no restrictions. I was allowed to take howevermany potty breaks I needed and honestly worked til the day I went to the hospital (Hrm...is my water leaking?). I know this is not always the case, but I had no complications with DD and didn't need a doctor's note. I did need to have all my paperwork done in advance (around 6 months) for short term disability and FMLA and my leave request and had to have my files in order for the rest of the staff, but that was about it.

Hi-
With my first pregnancy, I intended to work throughout the entire 9 months. However, I was hit really hard with hyperemesis gravidarum and spent most of the first 6 months in the hospital being hydrated. I did have my doctor write a note to excuse my work absence. Then, I tried to return to work and only worked a few months and then had preeclampsia which took me out of work for the remainder of the pregnancy. I did also obtain written permission for this leave.

Fortunately, with my second pregnancy, I was working only part time. I also had a better pregnancy. So, I could pretty much reach out to what I was doing. At the end, I got preeclampsia again and couldn't work for the final month, but they didn't ask for a note. They were really understanding.

Currently, I'm going through a third pregnancy. I feel pretty rotten with this one too and had to call in for some sick days. Other than that, I've been working, but I'm very tired when I return. I've already decided to take the last few months off and have talked to the boss about this. So, hopefully, I won't have to worry about the high blood pressure at the end again.

Other than leaving my desk to pee more often nothing really changed, and I didn't ask for anything special. Oh, and I did miss some time due to doctor's appointments obviously.

I have to lift 30 lb boxes of check stock and I chose not to lift them. I was already going through a situation at work, so my supervisor told me to get a note from my doctor. I asked for one and he said he didn't write notes. My employer accommodated me anyway. I was already in the midst of working with HR at the time, so I am sure they wanted to play it safe. I worked to the day before I went into delivery.

I was in a nice , climate controlled office at a desk so I didn't ask for anything special. It seems to be a lot different story if you don't work in those conditions. I felt like my stomach was going to fall off with my second pretty early. I couldn't imagine being on my feet all day. So you already were tough. If this time you need things easier, seems reasonable to me!

I worked through both my pregnancies and I never asked for anything. If I needed to leave due to extreme nausea I left. I would run to the bathroom to throw up or even drive home. Then I'd call my boss or email her to let her know. I did marine science research and was a part of a team. I was friends with my bosses and they understood and it was never a problem. Most of the time I was fine and healthy and did my normal duties at work. One time I was in charge of a science workshop and I needed to introduce each speaker. Unfortunately I was VERY sick that day with nausea and puking and a co-worker graciously took over for me. I did have to stay away from the marine mammal necropsies due to nausea, so I no longer helped with those. I did need to snack more bc it helped with my nausea. Really, it was never a problem for me bc we all respected each other there and my employers knew me well and knew I was always a hard worker. Nothing had to be documented. They trusted me and trusted my judgment. I guess that does not help you. I didn't ask for any changes except to not work with any toxic chemicals in the lab...which they knew any pregnant woman would ask for. I think I was very lucky to work with such nice people.

I worked as a bank teller during my only pregnancy, on my feet for most of an 8 hour day. When I went into my last two overdue weeks, they put me in a back room, sitting at a table, doing the other teller's paperwork. No notes from a doctor were required.

It was a kindness because they knew my husband was not working (that's another story. g-r-r-r…), but they were very nice to me at that bank. Also, I think it might have been to get me out of the public eye ("Why are you people working that poor pregnant lady to death?" ;-)

But I was fit and strong and had a pretty easy pregnancy.