31 weeks and refusing to go into work

[Fatandtired12]

Hi all,
So I did post something similar asking for advice.

I'm currently 31 weeks pregnant with my second. For the past week I've felt awful (some kind of flu bug I think) u dud one shift Tuesday and it felt like I was going to pass out.
Yesterday I was meant to be working but had to call out sick. I still felt like shit and to top it off I woke up at 5am having to empty my bladder and bowel (sorry tmi). (My body was and still seems to be purging anything and everything in my stomach, when I wiped first thing there was a yellowish mucus on the paper but I was tested for infections a few days ago and It was negative plus it was only there on the first time of wiping. I had this overwhelming panic that baby was getting ready to make an early appearance. I also felt like I had to get as much done as I could to set up for baby as I thought he had seemed to move lower and had become more active
This morning I woke up feeling a bit better flu wise, it's mainly a cough and blocked nose now but called out sick this morning as I'm exhausted, my back won't stop hurting, my bump feels tender and I still can't hold onto any liquid or anything solid. I can't explain it but it just feels like something is going to happen soon.
But now I think I'm being unreasonable for missing a shift over something I just feel and thinking I should have just powered through my shift today.

I think there is a general idea that you should come into work anyway because it's letting the team down. I don't agree with it as health regulations are there for a reason.

@Twinsybalinsy
I think I might have to get checked just to be safe as I'm exhausted and feeling so much pressure on the bottom of my back that the only way I feel comfortable is in a squatting position or in a warm bath

All those signs sound like labour could be fairly imminent op, please speak to a midwife.

I would contact your midwife asap, and also try and get a sick note from the Drs so you can take a proper rest next week

You're heavily pregnant and have a bad sickness bug. Your boss has sent you a text wanting you to come in despite knowing this. This is the same boss left you and a 16 year old to work on busy Saturday recently and was unhappy with a bad review or feedback that a customer gave. Your boss has ongoing staff issues with a lack of staff and needs to work on sorting this out rather than harassing you.

At this stage you need to think of you and the baby. Stay at home until you are well and get medical advice if anything changes.

Definitely get checked asap. I don’t want to scare you but I had a premie, my plug started coming out at 31 weeks due to dehydration. And it sounds like you are likely dehydrated with a stomach bug and starting to pass yours. After a hospital stay, an IV drip and steroids to help the baby’s lungs she came 3 week later. Focus on you and your baby. Work will sort itself, you’re not responsible for your manager. Start drinking water right now and get checked please x

You don't go in if you are sick. Ultimately it's the manager's responsibility to make sure there are enough people working and maybe call in temp staff or something.
It's not your job to come in when sick because they won't get any cover in.

You look after you and your baby!

1. You are sick
2. You are heavily pregnant which makes 1 even worse

Of course you should stay home. YANBU. Your boss is a dick.

That being said, I find people suddenly become very very unreasonable once you mention pregnancy. People think you're making excuses because God forbid a pregnant woman gets any extra understanding. You're sick so just say you're sick, for your own sanity.

I'm pregnant and working from home full time now. My bosses are all VERY understanding and lovely and I have a doctor's note explaining why I can't come to the office. My job can be done 100% from home (and we are all allowed to work remotely for parts of the year etc) so no issues there. Several colleagues have complained that I shouldn't get special treatment just because I'm pregnant. They're pissed off they need to come into the office 2 days a week and want the heavily pregnant woman to do the same 🙄 they obviously know nothing about my dr note but still. What dickheads.

Never mind the job, you need to go and get checked out and i am not a going to the dr kind of person. you need to look after yourself

You need to get checked I had those symptoms and it was a precursor to labour for me.
Could also just be feeling rotten because of a bug but better safe than sorry. x

Thank you to everyone.

I saw my midwife. She was great. It's possible I have lost some.of my mucus plug and while she can't say for sure the symptoms are the early signs of labor starting since I am sick in general she said its possible baby might want to make an appearance in the next few weeks.
I've been told to rest, drink plenty of fluid and not stress myself or my body. If I have any other signs, i start to feel worse or i feel something is wrong I'm to go to my labor ward immediately.
As for the pressure I'm feeling, it's due to baby moving down so it's just a wait and see game.

No matter how 'friendly' you are with a boss, never mistake a boss for a friend.

You owe them nothing, beyond doing the work you are paid to do whilst you are at work.
You don't owe them loyalty, you don't go "above and beyond", you don't "go the extra mile", you don't take on their problems as yours to solve, you don't put yourself out to help them out, and you certainly don't go into work when you are not well enough.

If the business was in financial trouble, the boss would make you redundant without a second thought. The loyalty never goes both ways.

So glad you managed to get seen and hope you manage to have some rest and relaxation (and recovery more importantly)! Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy