Working while pregnant

[leanne9312]

I know I'm lucky to have a job and getting money in but during this pregnancy it's so hard I hate it I'm on my feet all day and get 30 minutes break which I'm usually rushing because there's more to do (I'm a cook) I do dinners and teas.

I feel exhausted and keep getting headaches which I'm sure is off having to take aspirin everyday and then I worry that I might be depressed again which could be why I feel like this, I feel guilty on my partner he wants us to enjoy this and after 5 years of trying I feel ungrateful :(
I just don't want to work but have to go in as my partners just got a new job so it's not 'safe' yet x
thankyou for any advice or help

Have you spoken with work to see if any adjustments to your role can be made? I have to walk a lot at work and ended up staying at home yesterday due to the hip pain, luckily only 5 weeks left till summer (I work term time).

Also pretty sure you shouldn't be taking aspirin unless it's a low dose prescribed by your doctor. If not, please stop immediately and take paracetamol.

How far into the pregnancy are you? I sympathise, it can be really tough to try and work through pregnancy but especially if you're on your feet all day. Can you sit on a bar stool type of seat while you work?

Sorry to hear you're finding it difficult. Have you spoken to your employer to ask about adjustments? If not yet then do speak to your boss in confidence. If you're so bad then maybe take some sick days, if it's pregnancy related they can't hold it against you. Hope you start to feel better soon.

I'm 14 weeks and doctor prescribed aspirin for previous losses ,
There's only me in my job they would need to hire someone new to take over which makes me feel insecure about my job and I feel like I would loose it, I work term time also so I have got that to look forward to just at the minute I'm struggling. I work in a private nursery .
I know if I have a day off they can't hold it against me but I have a feeling they would definitely view me as an employee differently

Thankyou for your replies xx

Also I'm still waiting on a risk assessment I told them when I was 4 weeks aswell

How far are you, and is it full time work you do?

If you’re early on in your pregnancy you will start to feel better, it’s just a case of getting through the exhaustion in the beginning.. which sucks.

The beginning is truly exhausting, you wonder how other pregnant women get anything done! But it normally improves and your energy levels should increase.

In terms of your work I’d push for the risk assessment to be done asap as they should do one when you inform them you’re pregnant. I understand that reducing hours etc may not be possible as you work alone. However you could request some smaller breaks through the day, 5 mins after you’ve prepped or after so many hours. Would a stool or seat of some sort be possible in your prep area? It might help to get off your feet more often. Are you getting enough water? Dehydration is common, especially if your working in a hot kitchen.

The skeptic in me wonders if this is why they are putting off the risk assessment. In mine it mentions lifting, having access to drinks, a place to rest and the opportunity to take extra breaks if needed. Definitely get them to do one soon, it should give you a jumping off point to discuss ideas on how they can look after you during your pregnancy.

You’ve obviously waited a long time for this wonderful moment, don’t let work stresses impact on your health. You and your baby are your top priority now. (I’m 29 weeks and it’s taken me all this time to get my head around putting myself and bump first!)

@Flamingo84 thankyou you've really helped me I will push risk assessment and ask about breaks I just can't help but feel like I'm not doing my job properly and I loved my job before I got pregnant x

I know what you mean. It’s a really tough adjustment at first, you want to carry on at the same speed and level as before but your mind and body won’t let you keep up!
It must be especially hard when it’s only you in the role.

You’re employers are going to have to make allowances soon anyway. Before you know it you’ll be having midwife appointments, scans and antenatal classes. You’re calendar starts filling up quickly and both you and they will have to be prepared to take a step back at times.

Hopefully you can both come to some agreements that will make you happy to go to work again and not feel so stressed and tired. Pregnancy is a marathon, not a sprint! So make sure you take your time and enjoy it 😀 x

Hopefully at 14 weeks you should be starting to come out of the fog of exhaustion and nausea soon, which will help a lot. I’m 17 weeks today and feeling a lot better than I was a month ago. Push them for the risk assessment though and breaks as you need them.

Yes, hopefully you'll start to get a bit more energy in the next few weeks. It might be worth getting your iron and b12 levels checked. Mine were both low and that can make you feel like you have chronic fatigue levels of exhaustion.

I took spatone twice a day from 34 weeks (it took that long for them to work out what was wrong with me!) and it helped massively.

@Flamingo84 yea I've had quite a few appointments already , I hope they will listen and help me I've booked a meeting to talk about it all tommrow and see how cooperative they are

@DrWhy I will do and I hope so!

@CocoLoco87 I have a blood test Friday went to doctors on Monday and they requested one so hopefully something will get found and I can feel better, I just can't help being scared incase I end up with depression again but maybe I'm just having a bit of a hard time and it's not that
Xx thankyou everyone