To ask to WFH because of pregnancy health issues?

[redmalt]

I'm only 16 weeks and I feel dreadful! I feel nauseous all day, dry heaving a lot and my sciatica has flared up which means I'm in agony even walking the smallest distances at the moment, as well as the usual pregnancy fatigue.

AIBU to ask to WFH, rather than doing the majority of the week in the office?

I have a job where I can work remotely with no issues but feel I'd be being cheeky if I raised it with my manager. I know I'll be expected to just get on with it, which I did do in my last pregnancy as my company didn't offer remote working. However, it ended up in me having to go on early sick as the stress of commuting and my back pain was too much. I want to avoid that this time!

I don’t think it would be cheeky to ask. I’m 16 weeks and really struggling at the moment but haven’t asked as I haven’t yet told my employer. When I do, I’m going to ask if I can reduce my days in the office.

Of course you wouldn't be unreasonable to ask! They might say no for good (or bad) reason, but you absolutely aren't being cheeky to ask. They offer remote working and you would benefit from it. I don't see how that's cheeky in the slightest!

When I had my first dc, the company I worked for didn't offer wfh except director level 🙄. But even they let me wfh occasionally while pregnant as it cut out a train journey and march to both stations.

@nc14 Yeah I was thinking of doing that in the later stages of pregnancy initially, but to be honest I could do with it now. The back pain is too much and I just don't see the point of commuting and putting myself through that when I can bloody do it from home!

Definitely wouldn’t be cheeky to ask!
With my first pregnancy I was required to work from home from 20 weeks and it definitely made my life much easier. I’m pregnant again and already struggling at work but wfh isn’t an option anymore.

Try ask and see what they say, they may be able to offer more of a blended pattern so you’re still going into the office one day a week or so.

There is another colleague on my team who is pregnant and she hasn't WFH from much so I'm worried about being judged and compared, though I know every pregnancy is different. However, she has also struggled badly with sickness and has spent long periods of time throwing up audibly in the toilet which I would hate to have to do. Just seems pointless and I wouldn't want to be doing that, just for the sake of showing my face in the office

Posted on wrong thread sorry!

Nothing to lose by asking!

We are on a hybrid schedule but I’ve been WFH since 31 weeks as my pelvic bone has been so sore I can’t walk without limping. Nobody raised any objections whatsoever.

@ScarlettBeauregarde It's awful isn't it, that's what I had with my first. I literally couldn't get out of bed some days the pain was awful

Just awful! You have my sympathy! I had it a little with my first but nowhere near this bad. Keeping at bay with a support belt and paracetamol but it’s really painful.