Signed off with pregnancy sickness, when to go back??

[chickenblueeyes]

Hi Ladies,

I need some advice please.

I am 10 weeks pregnant with my second baby, and currently signed off work as been suffering with sickness and nausea since 6 weeks. The first few weeks I struggled in and then in week 8 it got worse and I started being sick every morning so took a couple of days off work and went to the dr who signed me off for 10 days and gave me some pills. I have been taking the pills occasionally, although a bit worried about taking them all the time while pregnant, so while off work being putting up with the sickness when I can.

I am only sick normally in the morning (bile etc - sorry!) but the nausea lasts 24 hours a day, is worse when I move about or try to do stuff and actually makes me feel like I am going to be sick most of the time, even though I am not. I can keep food and drink down, but don't eat that much or drink loads as it feels like it is going to come up and makes me feel worse. I am eating enough I think and trying with the drinking. I was worse last week and dr said I was getting dehydrated so have been really trying this week to up my fluids. Some days are better than others. The sickness is keeping me up a bit in the night too, especially if my little boy wakes me up or I need the loo, I find it hard to get back to sleep as I feel so sick, so I am really tired as well.

My sick note runs out tomorrow and I am due to go back to the dr to discuss what i want to do. I know if I tell them what it's like still they will sign me off for longer, but I feel so guilty and think that maybe I should go back as some times I do have an hour or so in the afternoon when I feel a little better. It is only an office job so not on my feet and they know I'm pregnant so can be open about how I'm feeling, but the thought of dragging myself in is horrid. Part of why dr signed me off is that my job can be quite stressful and that was making the sickness worse.

I could ask to work on some things from home, either some or all the time and they might go for it, but some days I need to just lie down or sleep and so I'll get really under on my hours and have to make it up (I work flexi time) which seems a bit unfair as I'd only be doing it because I feel so guilty taking this time off and not because I am actually better.

If I went back to work I would have to take the pills three times a day as well, and they make me a bit drowsy and dizzy, so not sure whether I could work on them anyway, or even get to work, but I had 16 weeks sickness last time (although not quite this bad) and so worried that this could go on so maybe I should just go back and put up with it.

Please let me know your thoughts...

Thanks so much.

Don't go back until you feel well enough. And try not to feel guilty

Thanks, will try not to feel guilty. :)

well, if it makes you feel any better I've been signed off since 4 weeks pg with pg nausea. Luckily I had the summer hols in the middle (I'm a cookery teacher) but was signed off until I was about 18/19 weeks pg at which point I returned to work with reduced hours. Now am 21 weeks and struggling with that tbh as I still can't really cook much and the stress of work makes everything really bad, so looks like I'll be signed off for most of my pg. I feel/felt really bad but have come to think it's far better I stay at home and don't feel too bad as opposed to try and struggle in and keep having time off etc as I'm making myself ill - work will just get frustrated and it's not good for the students. Just do what yuou feel you can manage and ignore everyone else.

Please don't feel guilty about being off!!!

This is my 2nd pg with HG and I learnt my lesson with my first the hard way. Tried to work throughout it, was in for a few days then off again, throwing up all over the place and generally in a total mess. Was also fairly useless in terms of productivity!
Got no thanks for struggling on and went into labour 4 weeks early, they told me that my stress and HG might have been a contributing factor, I am sure it was.

So this time around I got signed off at 4 weeks till 14 weeks during this period of tiem I was hospitalised twice and given a variety of meds.

Went back on reduced hours for 9 weeks but when meds stopped working I was unable to carry on. I was also finding it near impossible even on reduced hours to work 5 days a week and look after a toddler. Was massively stressed and ill.

I am now 33 weeks and at about 26 weeks realised that it was higly unlikely that I would be going back. The only meds that work effectively for me also make me very drowsy so couldn't drive to work anyway.Once I accepted that I felt alot better and less guilty. I think it is much easier for work if they know you are not likely to return or be off for a period of time rather that self certing every few days. they can plan for your absence accordingly.
You are protected by the law when pg and off sick, it does not count towards your overall sickness record and as long as you are covered by Drs note you are fine.

There are lots of mumsnetters in a similar position and I have found so much help and support here

Try to stay postive and get to Drs soon.

Apologies for all the spelling mistakes