physical job

[s098]

Hi, has anyone else done a physical job ( more specifically worked with horses/ animals?) Whilst pregnant? If so when did you or do you plan on stopping work?
I'm due at the end of Jan so thought I'd be OK to try working till December ish but now my boss wants a date that I'm going to finish on and has said he doesn't think I'll manage even 11 weeks before I'm due!
Its really hard to know how your going to feel so far in advance

I have a horse but am currently looking for a loaner for him as I've decided to stop riding and I also don't feel too comfortable with leading him to and from the field now.. im 16 weeks and am just feeling super protective of the bump. I also started to suffer with spd so bending to pick hooves out and poo pick was just a no go.

I guess it really depends on how you are feeling and what you are comfortable doing. I guess at the minute you don't have much of a bump but once that starts to grow you may feel differently.

Yeah I do think it makes you more wary, I've not got much of a bump but do worry more about getting kicked. I also work on my own so can't get anyone else to do anything I can't do. I would happily give up work now but its just not do able money wise

Your boss does not have the right to dictate to you this way. You do not need to give a date until 15 weeks before your due date. And even then this may change. I hope a horse stands on his foot.

Haha glinda that did make me laugh!!
Good point about not having to give a date till 15 weeks before, I'd forgotten about that. I think he's seeing it as an opportunity to replace me with someone who will do part time as I only told him a week ago and he's already 'interviewed' someone!

It really depends on your pregnancy, 16 weeks is really early to tell how it's going to go. You might sail through until a week before or you might find as you get further along it'll impact on you being able to do your job. You won't know until you get there.

There is something to be said for carrying on and the positive impact on your state of mind though and body, as long as you are careful the exercise will do you good. I didn't ride during my first pregnancy and was miserable and got fat!

It's very different to working with horses but I have a horse and I'm 23 weeks now with my second. I've only just stared to notice my bump when riding but it's not slowed me down. I plan on going as long as I can..Aches and pains are starting to bother me about now but I only have 1 to do/ride not several.

My doc and midwife had no issue with it at all. I've not booked any competitions and stopped jumping but that's all

No advice on the physical job aspect of things as I work in an office, but I am in a similar situation regarding how soon I'm going to leave work (I'm having twins so no idea how to gauge how I'll feel in 2/4/8 weeks!). I found it useful to know that you have to give your employer your MAT B1 form 15 weeks before your due date, but you only have to give 28 days notice to start your maternity leave. The guy sounds like a first class arse!

You go when you are ready, your boss will need to make adjustments to your role to enable you to work safely until you are ready to start mat leave.

I'm currently 30 weeks with my first and both work with horses and have two at home. I'm self employed as an animal physical therapist and so whilst the work isn't necessarily back breaking, there are some adjustments I do (the pelvis!) which are physically quite demanding.

I intend on continuing to work as close to my due date as possible and currently can't see any reason why I will need to stop! I am slowing a little now, but I mainly feel it in the evenings and then I'm fine by morning.

I'm still fine to poo pick, lunge, groom and look after my two horses every day. I did stop riding at about 22 weeks - just because I didn't want to risk it. Although I'm often sorely tempted to have a little ride now :)

I think as long as you look after yourself then physical work is no bad thing - keeps you in shape for labour :)

Thanks, its good to know what other people are doing/ think ! Luckily I don't have to ride I'm basicly just mucking out and grooming as they are all youngsters and ex racers. And I can work at my own pace as I'm on my own so wasn't too worried about getting slower.
Maybe I can speak to him about cutting my hours down a bit when I'm a bit further along, would be better than having no income!

It will depend a lot on how you feel as you progress and you really can't know at this stage. I had 3 horses at the start of this pregnancy (one sadly its a couple of months ago) and have always done them myself either side of full time work. The first trimester was awful for me and DH did them for weeks. Not sure if i could have done horses for work. 2nd trimester wasn't too bad tiredness wise but did get mild spd. That has gone now but am tired again (38+3) and very ungainly. Only managed half barrow of poo, struggling a bit with feet as bump is in the way, abduction very wary of the idiotic one.

And, not abduction!

I work on a farm, told my boss I was pregnant at 14 weeks and said I wanted to carry on working as long as possible. He was ok with that, said we'll just take each day as it comes. I have slowed down a little, and am more likely to ask someone to help if I have to lift/move something heavy, but I'm still milking, sweeping out, carrying buckets around, and handling livestock. I would say be careful with mucking out, carrying buckets and wheeling wheelbarrows, as despite every good intention, I am less fit and strong as I was. You do need to protect those stomach muscles too, so just listen to your body and don't be too stubborn to ask for help. On the whole though, I'd say do as much as you can for as long as you can, as pp said, it really does have a positive impact. You will be stronger and fitter for labour, and it keeps you busy and focused. I'd go insane and probably start comfort eating if I was forced to take mat leave, which would not do my physical or mental state any good.

As for your boss, do you have any kind of contract with him? I hope he doesn't try to replace you or push you out before you're ready to go, but he really shouldn't be doing that in the first place. I'm self-employed, have to contract and therefore no job security, so if my boss sacked me on the grounds of being pregnant there's not much I could do, but most regular jobs should be protected from that kind of discrimination.

I don't have a proper written contract as such ( stupid I know) , I do have the letter with some terms of employment I got when I started but we've always got on well and he didn't want me to leave when I moved further away and decided to go to college one day a week a while ago and has carried on paying me the same wage even though I work a day less. I've got a feeling he will take someone on part time so it will cost him less. I agree with you on the physical side think id be bored at home for a real really long time and do want to stay fairly fit! Your boss sounds like a decent guy