AIBU to take a sick day tomorrow

[GreenMeerkat]

I'm just exhausted.

I'm 6 weeks pregnant, sickness has started but not so bad that I would need to take a day off just for that. But I am exhausted. I can't focus on anything for more than 5 minutes without zoning out. My DD has chicken pox and has been up crying for the past 2 nights and looking like it's going the same way tonight too. I don't know if I can cope with a full day of work on top of 3 nights little sleep, morning sickness and pregnancy fatigue. I just feel horrendous.

AIBU to consider calling in? My boss is aware I am pregnant.

I don't think so no. Sounds like you need the rest.

Sorry but YABU if your not physically being sick . Iv had 4 pregnancies and suffered horrendous morning sickness and always made it to work. Iv also attended work even when not pregnant but been up all night with poorly kids. It's just what it's like when your a parent. If your physically unable to keep food down and are being sick then yes call in sick but if not then I'd go to work

I have been to work on literally ZERO sleep before now when LOs have been up all night sick. I know it's not a reasonable excuse. Pregnancy fatigue is so difficult though because there is no bloody end to it. Plus no coffee 😩

Green meerkat why are you even asking ? Just phone in sick!

I'd take the day off

The pregnancy fatigue has made me feel like I've not slept for a week and that in itself makes you feel ill I think.

I hope you feel better soon, I felt horrendous throughout pregnancy.

I'd probably agree to take a day so you can rest - for me my sickness got soooo much worse when i was sleep deprived.

But saying that i can work from home so tended to do that instead so i could lie in a bit, rest when i needed and avoid the tiring commute but still get my job done. Not sure if that's possible for you though

Take a day off. Tiredness affects us all in different ways. If you're feeling rubbish then take a day off and get some rest.

Call in sick and look after yourself. You're exhausted, if I was a boss I wouldn't want someone to drag themselves in feeling utterly shit. And no guilt trips too, just rest as much as you can you'll be better for it x

No need to be a martyr. If you are unwell/unfit to work then phone in sick.

Also you can have a little caffeine in the day... again, don’t be a martyr. Some chocolate, a can of cola, a small coffee... all ok.

Personally I wouldn't. Being tired is not sick. If you need to rest the take annual leave.

I don’t mean you are being a martyr.

I’m saying you don’t need to be pressured by the mums who have had eleventy billion children and never missed a day of work. Threw up in a paper cup so they didn’t leave their desk. Gave birth over the copy machine (while duplicating reports for filing) so they didn’t take the piss out of their employment. Learnt to type with their toes so they could breastfeed without costing the company time or money...

Unless your sickness record is terrible, I don't think your BU to take the day as sick. Being exhausted can make you very ill and not just physically but mentally as well.

I would, if you’re exhausted you’re more likely to make a mistake. No one ever looks back from their deathbed and says I wish I’d worked more.

@soph88 pregnancy sickness is not classed as normal sickness when of work so won't matter if her record is bad or not. Pregnancy fatigue is no joke it makes me so poorly xx

Absolutely take the day off. Get yourself rested and see if you can get someone to come and watch DD for a few hours so you can have a sleep xx

People saying you’re not really sick are talking rubbish. Extreme tiredness or exhaustion is exactly like being sick. You feel horrendous. Like a zombie. You can’t think, you make mistakes, you wobble about the place. It’s no joke. Definitely take the day OP. You’re probably a risk to yourself and others if you’re driving.

Take a day of annual leave or a day of unpaid leave. Not a sick day.

I'm 31 weeks and have the flu and am considering staying off tomorrow.. not too sure yet!

heather if you are only considering staying off tomorrow then you don't really have flu, just a bad cold perhaps. Real flu would mean no way would you feel well enough to be going to work. Also have you not had the flu jab? Flu can be very nasty in pregnancy.

In some professions you can't take annual or unpaid leave when you feel like it.

Nottakenusername couldn't have put it better!

Take the day. I've had awful nausea this pregnancy and not missed work for that but I've also had extreme fatigue. I feel permanently exhausted and going to bed at 7:30 most nights! When I'm working I simply cannot focus and sometimes feel like I'm about to fall asleep (and I work part time, wfh and only commute to the office once a week!). I've pushed through because of my work circumstances but I can absolutely understand why when in the office all the time, it would become too much. The only trouble is, do you think one day of rest would fix you? In my case it's definitely wishful thinking. I know that a day of rest would not fix me. I've had plenty on my non working days (although still looking after children) and I still feel wiped out.

I think that in addition to a day of rest, think about whether you are eating and drinking enough and if you are eating the right things. This is my starting point. Also what are your iron levels like? You might need to check with your MW. Have steak for dinner tonight and it might give you a boost.

Hope you feel better soon.

Heather you have not got the flu ! Real flu you wouldn't even be typing on mumsnet let alone thinking of phoning in sick. You would be phoning in sick for a week to 10 days with real flu !!