How do you manage at work?

[knittingirl]

Any tips for managing at work?

I'm 30 weeks, and have another six weeks until I finish. I work at a desk job so am sitting down most of the day, but have got backache and sometimes feel lightheaded/ill. In addition, I broke my foot a number of years ago and when that foot gets a bit swollen it gets painful where the break was (scar tissue maybe).

How do you all manage to minimise the more unpleasant symptoms at work?

I have to get up and walk around every hour. Even if just going to the loo. I have been suffering with a really bad back this time around with being pg with dc2, my work have been really good and I am working 2 days a week from home to help with the pain being caused by commuting. I am going on mat leave earlier this time at 32 weeks. Last time I left at 35 weeks. Have you had your desk and seating arrangement checked by occupational health? It might be worth it. I got a new chair and foot rest which has helped too. I would recommend you speak to HR to make sure you are getting all the help you can. I also got referred to physio via work and got some free sessions too.... Oh the glamour of pregnancy! Hope you feel better soon!

Hi, not a great deal I can contribute beyond suggesting you have someone carry out a desk assessment to make sure your chair /pc positions are correct.

Do you have a footrest or lumbar support?

My lot are pretty hot on this and since I became pregnant they've been really good ( even got me my own aircon unit! ) and I'm having another assessment this week. I'm 27 weeks.

I'm 25 weeks and at about 14 weeks brought a camping mattress to my office so I could have a lie down for half an hour every day (which I take as my lunch break). I actually can't get through the day without doing it: no matter how much sleep I get I'm absolutely wrecked by about half eleven every day.

I got really restless at work (also desk job) - had to get up regularly and walk around - go to the printer / drinks machine / loo / just walk up and down the office. Also just went easy on myself - stopped going for a walk and doing errands at lunch time, made more effort to bring lunch with me so I could just eat and rest. Make sure you keep drinking lots too, will help with the swelling!

not easy - i'm 24 weeks, my work don't know.

i am mainly at a desk but my job is very demanding, 12 hour days, pressurised and stressful and lots of client meetings all over the city.

i work in a country with virtually zero maternity rights so i'll be workign until i drop and there's nto much allwoance made for people who are pregnant.

i try to negate this by making sure that i have a lie down when i get home, and that home is a very special relaxing place that i look forward to getting back to.

I'm 30 weeks too and the back pain is making sitting at a desk all day pretty uncomfortable. I have just over 6 weeks to go too, and have tried having regular, quick breaks, eating little and often, and putting my feet on a little footrest beneath my desk. I'm finding commuting either end a bit of a nightmare too. On train home now, and slowly cooking. Thank god for small mercies like air con and a kitchen in the office x

I am a Special Needs Teacher so it is physically demanding but luckily I work with very kind, good natured people so I haven't pushed chairs etc for a while.
I leave when school finishes and do my paperwork at the weekend, when I am less tired.

I really struggle through my working day, I work in retail and am constantly on my feel, going up and down stairs all day etc. it's a physically demanding job! Obviously I have had risk assessments and am not lifting anything heavy or going up ladders or anything but by the end of the day I am shattered and my whole body aches.

It's even worse at the moment as we are really short staffed. And I'm only 21 weeks so I have a while to go yet!!!

I'm dreading the 12 hour nursing shifts when I get a bit more pregnant. I think I will be going on maternity leave around 36 weeks but it's going to be a struggle at work until that point.