What to tell work about morning sickness?

[Meringue33]

Hi first time pg here, just wondering whether you'd tell work about it before 12 week scan? I really don't want people to know but also really struggling with tiredness and sickness. Today I started to feel a cold coming on and was wondering - if I have to take time off should I say why???

I told boss in confidence as I was suffering this time around and want (a) his support and (b) back-up as we were in the middle of a very heavy workload which was dependant on me.

I knew I could trust him though, depends on your boss really.

I had to take a couple of days off (bad morning sickness) and said it was pregnancy related as this isn't counted in terms of monitoring sickness absence

Hi Meringue, firstly congratulations on your pregnancy.

I totally understand what you're going through I had the same problem, I'm now 12 weeks I had really bad morning sickness from week 5 and got progressively worse. I did tell my boss in confidence for the same reasons at PogoBob, for support and also because so busy at work and I couldn't function with the morning sickness. I took a couple of days of sick but also worked from home a few days with the sickness was so bad that I couldn't hold anything down.

I think if you're really struggling and feeling very unwell it's a good idea to tell your boss to see if it is an option to work from home or reduce/change your hours until you get through the difficult 1st trimester period.

I have been off work since week 5 with hyperemesis. (Now 17 weeks so it's been ages!) After I was admitted to hospital for the second time and it became obvious that I wasn't going to be well enough to work for weeks I explained what was going on to my (male) head of department and to one other (female) colleague who helped redistribute what needed doing. I asked them both not to explain what was wrong with me until after the 12 week scan in case I lost the baby. I think this caused huge speculation about the "serious but confidential" condition I was suffering from! But if you just need a few days off here and there I'm sure most people will just accept it.

Cool thanks guys. Will see how it goes and if I manage. Think the career girl in me is still desperately scared of appearing to be anything other than "giving it 110%" , realise I will need to let go of this soon!

You must tell them if you have to take time off. Pregnancy related sickness is not allowed to be counted in your overall sick leave total.