To take time off for morning sickness?

[Rosebel]

I have been suffering morning sickness for the last month and have taken two days off this week. I feel very guilty for taking time off as we're short staffed and Christmas is the busiest time but my husband and midwife have said I need to put myself first.
I have tried various remedies but I can't face eating at 5 when I start work and then don't get a break until 9 so usually feel lousy by 7:30. Am I being unreasonable to take time off for morning sickness? Can work sack me (been there less than 2years)?

[OrangeZog]

You can be dismissed for any reason within two years as long as it’s not discriminatory. Sickness as a result of your pregnancy is protected but some unscrupulous employers do use other reasons to dismiss people.

YANBU to have time off work if you are not well enough to be there as a result of your pregnancy. Have you considered speaking to your doctor for medication for your sickness and/or nausea.

[Venger]

Do they know about the pregnancy? They cannot sack you for pregnancy related absences.

YANBU to take time off for it, pregnancy sickness is grim and it's even worse when you're tired. You can ask your GP to prescribe anti-emetics which help but it can take a bit of trial and error to get the right medicine and dose.

[MsChatterbox]

Yanbu. However have you considered asking them if you can take a short break shortly after starting to eat something?

[Rosebel]

Thanks. My manager and team leader know but no-one else. They haven't been particularly sympathetic as my team leader told me his wife didn't have a single day off when she was pregnant. I am going to see the doctor on Friday so will ask about anti sickness medicine then. They're pretty strict on breaks but I can always ask.

[AhhhhhhNuts]

Do you have to take the whole day off? Are you sick all day? My colleague used to come in for the afternoons as she was normally ok by then. They aren't meant to dismiss you for this but they can find ways around it. But your health does come first, regardless of how unsympathetic they are!

[SleepingStandingUp]

Thing is there's degrees of morning sickness.

Do you feel a bit queasy at 7. 30 or are you actually sick? Can you last til 9 and if you ate then would be fine or are you ill through the rest of the day?

I'd push to get your health and safety assessment done at work and speak to them about earlier breaks or a later start

[WorraLiberty]

You haven't really said how bad it is OP

Are you constantly puking?

[AliceAbsolum]

Yanbu take some time off and look after yourself. How many weeks are you?

[xtinak]

I went to work feeling awful, but if I had my time over I would not do the same thing again. My sickness lasted for the whole pregnancy, which I didn't bank on, and by the time the baby came I was already so knackered. There's no break when they arrive and my health has gone downhill since. All pregnancies are not the same. Some people sail through, others have it rough. You should do what you need to take care of yourself. I wish I had. Just make sure you follow all your company's procedures and keep records. My two cents anyway!

[Wingingthis]

Honestly, put you & your baby first. I have taken time off for morning sickness both pregnancies, it’s awful. Sending you love x

[OrangeZog]

my team leader told me his wife didn't have a single day off when she was pregnant.

Every pregnancy is different. I didn’t have a day off with DC1 but I spent weeks in hospital with DC4 and unable to work around six months. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Rosebel]

Unfortunately it lasts the whole day but worse in the morning and the evening. Have only actually been sick a few times but constantly feel sick and exhausted. I'm only nine weeks but just feel so drained. I do try and go to work as much as I can but some mornings just feel too ill. I wasn't sick at all with my other children and keep praying it'll end at 12 weeks although I know there's no guarantee.

[DefConOne]

I was the same when pregnant but had a desk job so managed to take take any sick leave. I was able to eat at my desk when I wanted which helped. More difficult if you don’t have a desk job.

[DefConOne]

Managed not to take any sick leave.

[PixieDustt]

Didn't have any morning sickness but I'm a dental nurse so day was completely full with patients and appointments but if I felt like I needed 5 I just took it. They need to be more understanding of your pregnancy.

[LucaFritz]

Typical man's reply doesn't he know all pregnancies are different ! You could have Hyperemsis OP i had it until 27 weeks and it was horrendous

[AhhhhhhNuts]

Typical man's reply doesn't he know all pregnancies are different ! You could have Hyperemsis OP i had it until 27 weeks and it was horrendous

Doesn't sound like anything as severe as that from the update. Feeling tired and nauseous is not the same as physically puking up all day. You haven't said what your job is so I won't comment further. There are definitely some jobs where those symptoms could be managed.

[AhhhhhhNuts]

Sorry, that was aimed at OP

[Rosebel]

I work in retail picking items for home shopping so it's not really a job where I can sit down and take it easy if need be. Everyone is expected to pick over 150 items an hour and they don't make exceptions.

[aveenos]

did you have a risk assessment relating to your pregnancy given that you have a physical demanding role?

[Rosebel]

No. I asked for one which was refused because I'm so early on. My midwife said today they need to do one so I'll talk to my manager again tomorrow and escalate it to HR if needed. Hate making a fuss and confrontation though.

[tempnamechange98765]

YANBU to have time off, as pp said pregnancies vary (as you know as it's not your first!). With DC1 I think I only had one day off sick, when I had a bleed, but with DC2 I had a whole week off twice (week 7 and week 9 were a killer for me). I felt horrendous most of the time.