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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Did anyone have to take any time off work in their first trimester?

24 replies

Pigeoncat · 03/04/2018 21:41

Hello,

I’m relatively new here so hope it is ok to post?

I’m getting very stressed because I’m only 6 weeks pregnant, but am already feeling super wiped out, absolutely exhausted, sick and getting headaches. I’ve been fine with work up until today, when at 2pm I just had to go home and sleep it off. And I needed it, I was absolutely dead to the world when I got home.

Has anyone else had to do the same? I feel like a bit of a wimp considering it is so early on, but I just couldn’t sit in front of a computer today any longer. I hope it’s just a one off as I know I am going to have to save my sick days for later down the line for scans and such!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Fidgety31 · 03/04/2018 21:47

I have today because of bleeding and will stay off the rest of the week at least
I am 8 weeks

wizardswife79 · 03/04/2018 21:48

I had to work from home from approx weeks 6 - 13 due to sickness, nausea and sheer exhaustion. I had a couple of days off as sick leave when I was too ill to even sit at my desk at home and work.

I do have a 1.5 hour commute each way which makes things tougher.

Luckily my job can be done from home.

Nemophilist · 03/04/2018 21:52

Yes I basically had weeks 5-15 off work and then had to go on early leave at 27 weeks due to very heavy bleeding and HG.

Original poster

Pigeoncat · 03/04/2018 21:52

@wizardswife79

I have the commuting problem too - Hertfordshire to London and back every day. My job can be done from home but my boss is funny about working from home, so I don’t think it will be an option.

What did you do about telling your boss officially at such an early stage?

OP posts:

NerNerNerNerBATMAN · 03/04/2018 21:56

I had to tell my boss very early with both pregnancies as I was so sick. I've lost count of the number of weeks I've had off due to HG, most of the first trimester definitely.

somersetsoul · 03/04/2018 21:57

Yes, I had a 'stomach bug' when I was about 6 weeks. I took 2 days and sat on the sofa watching crap! It was just what I needed :)

I'm 11 weeks and am hopefully telling my boss tomorrow, dreading it though!

VanessaShanessaJenkins · 03/04/2018 21:58

I went off week 7 and managed a few days back in tri 3 and that was that. HG had me wiped out!

windchimesabotage · 03/04/2018 22:00

Go to your GP and get signed off sick/a doctors note saying you need to temporarily work from home. That would really be my advice. I lost my job (well was on zero hours so just lost my hours) because I was so sick during the first trimester. I kept going in and trying to work but just throwing up everywhere and being unable to lift anything because I was exhausted. I was left penniless because I could not take maternity leave until much later.
Thing was I was okay in the second trimester so couldve worked again, I really should have just gone to my GP and got signed off until things picked up again (which they often do in the 2nd trimester)
The first trimester can often be the worst for people and completely floor them.

Also you know that you should legally be given paid time off for scans and it should not count as a 'sick day'?

wizardswife79 · 03/04/2018 22:01

I was honest and told my boss at 6 weeks that I was pregnant. Didn’t want to tell work until 12 weeks but had no choice.

I saw my doctor (who is brilliant) and got medication for my sickness and my doctor signed a certificate advising working from home/reduced hours.

I explained to my doctor about my commute etc.

Thankfully my boss has been fantastic.

windchimesabotage · 03/04/2018 22:01

www.gov.uk/working-when-pregnant-your-rights

hopingandprayingthistime · 03/04/2018 22:02

@Pigeoncat if you’re feeling awful I would just tell your Boss now as pregnancy-related sickness is protected legally and doesn’t go down on your record in the same way as normal sickness. Probably better that they know what’s going on rather than wondering why you’re suddenly taking sick days!

See here for guidance:

www.maternityaction.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Sickness-during-pregnancy-and-maternity-leave-2017.pdf

Alibaba87 · 03/04/2018 22:03

I found a lot of the symptoms did get better after 19 weeks, in terms of tiredness and sickness. I had lots of sickness but not HG. You shouldn’t have to use sick days for scans or appointments, maybe double check with your HR.

Cakedoesntjudge · 03/04/2018 22:05

I had HG from 6 weeks so had to tell my boss so she'd understand. Luckily I had a boss that was good with not gossiping so she agreed to keep it quiet for me until the end of the first trimester! I would seriously advise it if your boss can be trusted.

Blaablaablaa · 03/04/2018 22:08

Oh god yes. Got told to take a week off at 5 weeks due to bleeding then ended up being signed off for 3 weeks due to a water infection and severe sickness.
Told my boss ( and most of my team) when I was 6 weeks because I couldn't hide it. They were fabulous and cut me so much slack - probably more so because they knew I was pregnant.

I hated being under par as I'm such a hardworker usually and spent years going above and beyond. One of my mangers actually said to me ' sometimes you end up giving more than you should so don't feel bad for taking some of that back' I was so lucky as nobody made me feel bad for pretty much being a nightmare for a few months.

blueberrymuffin88 · 03/04/2018 22:27

You are definitely not a wimp, the first trimester was so hard for me and the first few weeks can be some of the hardest as your body gets used to all the changes. From about week 6 I was indescribably tried - I could literally have slept for days. I also had terrible morning sickness, constant all day nausea and couldn't keep a lot of food/drink down. This lasted until about week 18 unfortunately. I told my manager straight away and she did all she could to make work easier for me so I struggled through most days. But some days were just too much, I ended up going home early a lot and called in sick about 5 times. I felt so bad and like I was taking the piss a little bit - esp since other staff didn't know why I kept being off. About week 10 I ended up going to the doctor as I was so miserable and fed up. I was diagnosed with HG so signed off for 2 weeks. Doctors are usually very understanding and if you tell them how much you are struggling they can sign you off so you can get some much needed rest.
All the best to you x

blueberrymuffin88 · 03/04/2018 22:30

tired ^

I'd get home from work at 5 or 6 and had to go to bed. Evenings were a write off

megletthesecond · 03/04/2018 22:32

Yes. First pregnancy and I was floored with nausea for a few days.
Second one I had HG and couldn't leave my house due to sickness.

I told my manager early in both pregnancies. They were fine.
I bounced back in the second trimesters.

Enidblyton1 · 03/04/2018 22:35

I had to have a couple of days off with the 'flu'

The rest of the time I somehow managed to go to work, but I was sick on the tube (sorry to the man I was sick over ) and at a tube station several times. At work I would have to eat all the time and constantly spit into a tissue because of excessive saliva.

I'm so glad I don't ever have to go through that again!

Floralnomad · 03/04/2018 22:36

First pregnancy I was off sick from 3 weeks with HG / miscarried twin at 12 weeks and with the second I also had HG and went to work from about 17 weeks to 23 weeks .

HaroldsSoCalledBluetits · 03/04/2018 22:39

I would advise telling your line manager so that if you do need to take time off sick it will be recorded as pregnancy related rather than as a regular absence. You can tell them that you don't want others to know if that suits you best.

I think it's pretty common - the first trimester is often the worst in terms of sickness/exhaustion/bleeding and women do need time off. This won't be the first time your manager has encountered this.

HaroldsSoCalledBluetits · 03/04/2018 22:45

And yes, you shouldn't be using leave/sick leave for scans - you are entitled to time off for them. Give yourself a break - pregnancy is a unique circumstance and if this is recognised in law then you can recognise it too. If a colleague came to you and told you she felt like you have outlined in your post, you'd think it was fair enough for her to be off work, wouldn't you? Well the same goes for you.

DameSylvieKrin · 04/04/2018 09:47

I've had to have five weeks off.

0310Star · 04/04/2018 10:18

I had to tell my boss around week 8 because I was floored with pregnancy and had a bad bout of flu (twice) at the same time. I had almost 3 weeks off work which was very out of character and in the end felt I had no choice but to tell them.
They were great and it really was a massive weight lifted! I also needed a day and a half in January due to pregnancy induced headaches which one day turned to a migraine and they just put on my back to work form that it was pregnancy related.

Also, as other poster have said, appointments should be paid and shouldn't cut into leave or sickness at all.

Nothisispatrick · 04/04/2018 10:24

I reduced my hours for the whole first trimester due to morning sickness, starting at 10am each day rather than 8.30. I also had two days off due to bad sickness.

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