stress at work

[pippin66]

Advice needed :( Just wondering what I should do, I work in retail and it involves a lot of heavy lifting and can be very streasful. I know all jobs are stressful but the people I work with are not being understanding at all and im being made to feel guilty for being pregnant! ! I can just see it getting worse the further I get (currently 16 weeks). Was really pushed today and now have a tummyache :( and am exhausted. I know I need to stand my ground but its really hard. Any advice would be appeciated as family are suggesting that I get signed off sick for a bit but im reluctant??

I had written a response, and just as I was about to post it, my Internet connection died and lost the grrrr.

So here is take two. Apologies if it doesn't make sense.

Look after you and your baby.
Speak to HR and find out company policy.
Look after you and your baby.
Speak to your line manager about your concerns and discuss what you can do.
Look after you and your baby. You would feel far more guilty if you put others first for fear of upsetting them, but don't be bolshy about it, as much as it is tempting to snap!
Look after you and your baby.
When you get home from work, turn it off and relax. Do some stuff for you, and spend some quality time with the other half
and...

...
Look after you and your baby.

I am finding work stressful too, although not too bad, but taking my advice and have just made it real to them by handing in my MATB1 form :)

The baby goes quiet when I am too stressy, and I don't like that, but it is a good indicator for me :) I am 24 weeks, so it could just be that the baby isn't big enough to feel it all the time quite yet, but the kicking makes me smile and remember what is important.

I've had the same as you hun and make sure they have done a risk assessment!

You can always talk to your gp about your concerns.
I had to get signed off in the end as it just got too much for me I'm 24+3

It took me a while to grasp the concept of look after youaand your baby. But after they way they treated me and the way I felt. Getting signed off was my only option

You and your baby are far more Important than any job.You should now put yourself first
It took me a while but I'm doing that now. And im not as stressed . Baby can sense stress.

You job can't sack you or anything while your off sick if it's pregnancy related so don't worry.

Think of yourself.. And your baby the last in you want is for you to have over worked yourself and something to happen. You'd never forgive yourself

. Have a good think and a chat with dp and if you feel you need a few days off then take them.
It will probably do you and baby good to have a rest

Its hard work making a human being

Keep smiling and remember don't feel guilty for thinking of yourself. Xx

Thankyou :) im just struggling at the mo. Dh and family are all so supportive its like im just starting to realise the effect it could have on my baby and thats what is scaring me. My boss is on hol at the mo so im not sure who else to talk to there. I think becauae im not showing that much they forget a lot of the time. Also no risk assessment was done until I kicked up a fuss and then ended up doing it myself, its now gone missing and I was never given a copy so its hard.

Yup same as what happened with me.
I got signed off went back for 2 days put was in a lot of pain and exhausted so got signed off again a and my team leader had a massive go at me...
So i thought bugger it they obviously don't care about me so why should I bother making the effort and ware myself out just for them!

Like I said you need to look after yourself now. It took me a while to realise it. But it's bloody hard work making a baby...

You can self certificate for the first 5 days so talk to DH and just take a few days off to de-stress and relax and focus on yourself. It will make you feel alot better.

Hi, I'm so sorry to hear that you are having a bad time.
I also had a really bad time at work and I would go home in floods of tears. I ended up in a really bad way with stress making me ill and in the end my gp signed me off sick until my mat leave began. There was no other option as I was suffering from the treatment and it was a small family run organisation there was no protocol, upper management or HR department available to support me.
I improved immensely as soon as I was away from there.
So my advice is to please put yourself first. Do what you can in terms of following correct procedure etc but do not allow yourself to be pushed past your limit - it's just not worth it. If it doesn't improve don't delay to see your doctor. Remember that your baby is your priority and I wish i would have realised the same much sooner.
Keep us posted and dot suffer in silence. I think too many companies get away with picking on pregnant ladies xx

They legally have to do a risk assessment and then alter your working methods as appropriate. If you work for a retail chain is there a hr dept you can phone or an area manager? If its an independent shop then maybe you need to sit your boss down and explain your concerns? You dont want to spend all your pregnancy feeling like this. Good luck!