How do you cope with sitting for long periods?

[HeavenHelp]

Office worker here. I'm sat for an hour on the train every morning, then sat for another 9 hours at work, then sat for another hour on the train...

27 weeks pregnant and counting and massively struggling. I crave being on my feet. Desperate not to sit down as my bump starts to ache, back starts to hurt, I could cry at the thought of sitting down a second longer.

How did you cope with having to sit for long periods? The 5 minute break every hour I am entitled to doesn't seem to cut it and I just end up in pain for the rest of the day...

Bump...

I used to work in a call centre, but I just got up and walked around - coffee machine, toilet, whatever. It's very bad for you to be sitting all the time, especially if you're pregnant.

Will your employer buy you a desk where the height can be adjusted? They are a godsend. Or one of those chairs you kneel on?
Regular stretching could help a bit as well.

I just posted something similar about my job except I'm on my feet all day and struggling!!
I think we need a happy medium lol!
I can't actually sit down when I need to because of I don't the food won't be ready or out on time 😦
Sorry I'm no help x

You know how smokers go out for a fag? You go out for those 5 minutes to walk the stairs or around your building etc

Could you even sit on a gym ball at work? I found it great for sitting on at home but it may be too low. Tall colleagues had their desks raised in my office this and a change of seat may help. Or ask for a standing desk? Your employer has to make reasonable adjustments for you.

I just wander off from my desk, but I appreciate that not everyone can do that.

I have found it helpful to adjust my desk chair so that I’m more reclined. It’s a bit harder to reach the keyboard but means I can still walk by the end of the day (bad pelvic pains at the moment mean I keep seizing up) x

I go to the loo and have a stretch. I also got a chair where the seat tilts back and forwards which I change constantly. I wear my support belt at work to support my back and bump a little (perhaps that would help you?). I do find my hips hurt by the evening though.

Definitely found to look in to a bump belt. I've been sat at my desk from 7:30am to 6:55pm as an urgent bit of work came through and I'm wondering how I'm going to keep this up for another 11 weeks...

If you are in the U.K. you are entitled to regular risk assessments while pregnant. If you need to walk/stand more while pregnant they need to allow you to do so.

Yes colleagues at my place have been given height adjustable desks so they can stand whilst working. Have you had a workplace risk assessment?

@burblife I have. I asked for one of these desks months ago for back problems but it's like getting blood out of a stone. The only person who has been successful in getting one had a back operation

At the moment I need to wee every 45 minutes so that requires a short walk and keeps me moving.

Sorry you’re struggling

@HeavenHelp that's not great then. As a pp suggested, have you tried a ball? You can buy larger sizes I think.