Work and travel - when to slow down?

[afrikat]

I am currently 20 weeks pregnant, no issues to speak of (other than constant exhaustion which refuses to budge).

My job is a role which involves managing a national team and involves some travel - up to 5 hours on a couple of trains and overnight stays a few times a month and train journeys up to a couple of hours away most weeks. I am just wondering how long I should plan on being able to do this for.

When I am staying overnight I usually have a wheely suitcase that needs lifting up and down stairs / up and down from storage compartments on trains. I also have a backpack with my laptop etc. to carry around. I am currently nearing the end of a 5 hour journey, feel achey and tired and fed up but I don't suppose it's doing me any harm as such?

Should I presume that if all is going well with my pregnancy I could plan on doing this up to my ML (finishing at 36 weeks) or should I be trying to ramp things down before then? Are there any medical reasons why carrying / dragging bags will become an issue?

Be good to get some feedback - this is my first pg so have no concept what the next few months hold. Whilst I don't want to coddle myself too much, I obviously don't want to put myself in any danger. Meetings for the next few months will start to get in the diary soon so I need to figure out how feasible travelling up to Scotland, say, is going to be as I get further along...

Once you start to get a bump, anything involving lifting or twisting becomes hard. I couldn't do those things at about 30 weeks, and I'm not really that big yet. Sleeping also gets harder as you get bigger, strange beds certainly became an issue for me as I have a soft topper on my normal bed, hotel beds were too hard.

You don't mention driving but last week I had an hour drive to an exam each way, at 33 weeks. My bump was getting uncomfy and also the muscles in my clutch leg began to cramp. If you can move about on a train it might be easier.

If you are able to assess things week by week it might be a good idea, but I wouldn't assume you will be able to keep going to 36 weeks, in all honesty. And if you do have the option to ease up on some aspects it will give you more energy for those things that are most important, if that makes sense? If you strain something now it won't heal until after baby comes owing to the relaxin affecting your body. So go steady x

I agree, 30 weeks onwards things become hard work. As bump grows you may find it harder to get comfortable and your energy levels may go down. Once (if) this happens it happens fast and your not doing yourself any favours by yourself too hard.

I work in sales and advertising and have a job load that's pretty similar to yours. I stopped travelling after 30 weeks and worked in the office until Tuesday (39 weeks). After you get a bigger bump (which varies on everyone really) you'll find carting luggage etc around very difficult. Even when DP and I went down to London on a personal trip at Christmas (I was 20 weeks) I found it really awkward to humph my luggage up and down the tube etc.

*pushing yourself too hard.

I finished at 30 weeks because of circumstances and its been great to not have the travel in addition to work pressure. I probably would have been fit to keep working as long as the travel was reduced after 30 weeks if you can find a way to work it in your job - more teleconferences and delegation perhaps?
I used the car which I found convenient for toilet stops, less walking with cases and allowed me a slower more flexible travel time - that may be an option, although depends on size of your bump. At 34 weeks now I think even the car would have to stop as I'm getting uncomfortable sat in a car for longer periods because of my bump.

Really depends on how you feel, I'll be 33 weeks tomorrow and still teaching Bodypump classes, so lifting a suitcase would not be an issue. It's entirely possible you could keep the travel up until mat leave - but I would not make commitments unless you have a back up plan in case you are not able to do it.

30 weeks is sounding like a common time to start winding down (obviously I will need to judge how I feel for myself). I have to say even at 20 weeks I didn't find it enjoyable so will just have to make sure I am using my team appropriately.. Guess that is the perk of being a manager!

I would have been able to manage the things you describe pretty much to the last few weeks of the pregnancy, but I did find I was getting very out of breath on stairs -- so all the walking around station platforms would have been tiring. Also once you are visibly pregnant people seem to get very upset to see you hefting cases etc, but don't generally offer to help - weird... But it's probably best to be cautious and then if you can do more, then hurray.

I meant to add that some lifting is no bad thing, as you will need those muscles to lift the baby. They are surprisingly heavy!

I was also exhausted at 20 weeks but then I got my energy levels back soon after and I'm still feeling fine energy-wise at 32 weeks. My job involves lots of long journeys and driving and I don't feel the need to start winding it down yet, although my employers will find me some home or office-based work if I tell them it's getting too much. I obviously can't predict the future but I'm finishing at 36 weeks and I can't currently see any reason not to continue as normal until then.