Stressed out at work

[kittypower]

I'm so busy at work and am feeling really stressed out, it's going to be really busy for next three weeks. I'm worrying that running around and being this stressed is going to be bad for my baby i'm 25 weeks now. Can stress harm the baby do you know?

XX

I know how stressful work can be sometimes Kitty, but you really should try and calm down a little! The stress will probably make YOU feel worse, rather than harm the baby. You'll get headaches, wont be able to take anything, feel miserable, blah blah blah....

At the end of the day, you only have one pair of hands and so can only do so much. Dont let work stress you out to the extent that you are going home on the verge of tears etc (been there, done that).

Oh and dont be afraid to ask your HR department or your colleagues for help. Play the dumb pregnant girl if that's the only way you'll get the help you need! Better to give you help than for you to go off "sick" for the next two weeks, eh?

Chin up!! xxx

Stress can also make you feel extra tired and over anxious so concentrate on the most important things. Stay calm, take deep breaths and 5 mins to yourself.

Be careful if you're tired, if you drive to work (I used to have to park up in a layby and walk around it to keep awake).

I'm fairly confident that stress shouldn't harm your baby, I went through a terrible time at work when I was 9 weeks gone, I faced losing a job I desperately wanted because of my pregnancy, and I had palpitations and sweats I was so over wrought! I had lots of reassurance from the lovely ladies on this site that I wouldn't do any permanent harm to my baby. My mum told me on one particularly stressful day when I was all weepy over the phone "what do you think my mother went through, I was born during the Blitz!!" Puts it all in to perspective. Try and forget about how busy the next few weeks are going to be, work on being terribly organised, keeping lists of everything you're doing so you can cross stuff off (makes you feel like you've achieved so much rather than thinking about how much you've got to do) and try and make sure you're eating properly and drinking plenty of water. Hang in there!

xx

Hi kittypower, I know it's not easy but try not to worry! That will just make you more stressed.

Stress isn't great for the baby but it's not going to do any damage. If you know it's only going to be three weeks then try to stay calm and work through it. But if it's all getting too much maybe you can hand over some of the work to someone else, or postpone some of the deadlines. Yes, your work is important, but your sanity is the most important thing right now! Maybe try and get out of work for an hour a day just to relax and stop thinking about it.

Hi Kitty
I also have a stressful job (sales/target-driven etc etc)... I'd have to agree with the other girls that the stress is more likely to make you feel more rotten, than do the baby any harm - you're more likely to feel exhausted at the end of the day.

I read somewhere that "normal" day-to-day stress won't harm your baby eg. work-related, financial worries etc - it's major life-changing events (the article gave an example of domestic abuse ) which are more likely to cause problems...

Can you take time out at lunchtime to make sure you can go for a walk and get some fresh air? Maybe plan a "treat" for yourself when you get home in the evenings to help you relax, such as a nice warm bubble bath so that you get a good sleep for the next day.

At the end of the day, if it all gets too much, get your GP to sign you off sick - your baby's much more important than anything else (that's what I keep reminding myself!! )

Thank you for your replies. I was just getting myself into a real state as i could feel the baby moving more in the last couple of days than before and started thinking it was because I was making it stressed as well!! Your right I just have to get through the next three weeks.
XXXX

I was very stressed for my pregnancy, (I was made redundant), and was so worried it would hurt my baby. I have the most chilled out, smiley little boy you could imagine. Please don't worry about that, just deal with the stress on a day to day level - swimming and walking really help me to get rid of some of the tension, perhaps you could do something like that, or treat yourself to a massage?

Oh, I'm in real estate too! I was absolutely sick with stress (not to mention the usual 1st trimester nausea) around weeks 6-8 and week 10-11. My mother kept telling me not to get stressed about work, but how can you not?!?! Knowing my mother, I'm sure she got plenty stressed when she was pg. I am now thinking about looking for some temporary job that isn't straight commission sales.

What with the flood of hormones I don't see how it is possible not to get stressed!