21 weeks and struggling to work

[nicholetteb]

Hi, im 21 weeks preggers and slowly becoming immobile. I work in an office but have to carry and lug around heavy files and go up and down stairs to retrieve them. I am currently off today with seering burning pains in my bump and pure exhaustion to the point of fainting on the way to work. My job are having a chat with me later this week about my underperformance and inability to write complicated 6/7 page documents to go out to clients. I have quite frankly had enough. Im exhausted, feel like my work is not allowing for my pregnancy and have mum guilt for not being able to give my nearly 2 yr old the attention he deserves because working 5 days a week is quite frankly killing me. I wish i could quit, focus on my son and rest as i clearly need to for my pregnancy. I just feel it is so unfair for pregnant women. Anyone else experiencing this?

Have you had a pregnancy risk assessment? They should have done one the moment you told them your were pregnant. They should have then made adjustments so that you weren’t doing as much heavy/physical work.

Not officially they just said dont carry more than 1 file. Im struggling to carry any up and down stairs and am exhausted after doing it.

Hi Op,

I don’t know what your sick pay situation is at work but if you’re exhausted you could ask the GP to sign you off for a couple of weeks.
Then see how you feel when you go back, and obviously then ask for a meeting with them to review your risk assessment.
You can download and complete your own if they don’t do one, but your first step would be speaking to HR perhaps?
I hope things improve for you

Hi Coffee 3,

Thankyou for replying. Its a small company so no HR dept. Sadly. Im still exhausted this morning and in pain. I dont think being signed off makes much difference to calling in sick does it? X

Can you request for any reasonable adjustments? Such as no heavy lifting at all? You could get a GP note to back it up.

I'm surprised you are so exhausted at 21 weeks and yes I know every pregnancy is different and I'm not judging

Have you had your iron levels tested recently?

Have you seen your GP? Everyone is different but at 21 weeks I probably felt my best and had the most energy. I struggled after 30 weeks - twin pregnancy.

I am 20 weeks and stairs seem to be my nemesis. Every time I walk up them I feel completely breathless so I can’t image how you’re feeling having to carry heavy files up and down!

They need to ensure they are making reasonable adjustments for you. It’s not on to have you lifting if there are alternative jobs you can do in the office.

You can self certify for up to 7 days, you need a doctors note for any longer.
If you just need to rest up then a week might be long enough.
You could always get a doctors note later on if you’re not feeling up to going back in.
If there’s no HR department you might need to explain the employers position in terms of maternity rights etc to your manager, lots of people don’t know. You’ll find some tips online.
Hope you feel better soon

Hi Op,

I was in the exact same position as you at 21 weeks, absolutely exhausted.

As other posters have said, get yourself signed off - if it is pregnancy related your company cannot legally add that to your 'normal' sick days and investigate/discipline you for it.
It's also similar in terms of performance. Have you had a performance review fairly recently but pre-pregnancy? If you were deemed as good at your job it will high light the impact of your pregnancy on your work load. Do make sure you discuss the lack of risk assessment - again this is something they are legally required to do for you.

It may be also worth taking a look at what they can do for you - extra breaks, managing your work hours, ability to sit down when needed.

Hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well Op!

Have you seen your GP/midwife, I would be concerned to be so exhausted at only half way through.
Is it a twin pregnancy?
Hopefully with the heat subsiding, things will be a little easier.

I need to speak to them about reasonable adjustments i think you are right. Im considering asking for a 4 day week instead of 5 to be honest. Up until this week i have had energy. I am very short 4'10" and i am very big with this pregnancy. I was with my first but not as quick as this and my hips, back went. I have had physio already but i think i may need to go again. Not sure what they can do for round ligament pain though. Basically my body doesnt cope with pregnancy very well sadly

I think i may take today sick and i have holiday booked for tomorrow so thats half a week break. Yes i think i will explain what i am entitled to as my last work place did not know and tried to er get around it shall we say, being a small company as well.
I am still on probation so its my first review. I was doing well 1st 3 months of work then found out I was pregnant (not planned) and its slowly gone downhill. 90% of my work is fine its just 1 type of document they keep giving me to do and my brain just cannot handle it! Ive tried and tried but just cannot get it right. I want to say to them just take that off me but i dont think they will

I feel you OP.

I've been exhausted at work for weeks (29 weeks now), and have now developed hip/back problems to boot. Only had one day off so far but it's becoming more and more difficult. I think shorter hours may help your situation. If your work don't agree to it then they run the risk of you going off sick and I'm sure most employers would rather their staff were in on reduced hours than off completely.

They legally HAVE to do a risk assessment as you’re pregnant, as soon as you make them aware-they also HAVE to complete it with you, not for you. Reasonable adjustment are, I believe, for disabilities.

They should not be making you go up and down stairs like that, get your doctor to write a note saying you are not allowed to do it and present it at your risk assessment.

It’s been a while since I was pregnant but I remember finding that a pregnancy support band (Carriwell?) was really helpful. Like a big elastic thing that goes around your bump.

Plus get the iron checked out as that makes a huge difference.

OP as your employer doesn't have a HR department or a senior manager who is capable of looking up maternity rights, then it's is imperative that you look them up yourself then tell your employer. (Do it by email and keep a copy) They are actually putting themselves at risk of you being able to sue them for discrimination due to pregnancy by not doing things properly.

Anyway Maternity Action are a charity you can contact to ask them what your employer should be doing in your circumstances - www.maternityaction.org.uk/

I feel for you completely OP. I was in the same position, had HG, low folic acid levels and dodgy knees and had to be signed off from 20 weeks until I could go on maternity 11 weeks before due date. I felt miserable and pathetic tbh, especially when some ignorant people would tell me I'm 'just pregnant'...
Same as PP, pregnancy risk assessment is the first step. At first my duties were reduced (I was a supervisor in a pub so no heavy lifting, sitting down a bit more etc), then we went down to part time hours before doctor eventually signed me off. All I can say is that yours and the baby's health is so important. My partner and I really struggled for money (we'd just signed the lease on a new house 2 days before I found out I was pregnant!) but we coped and just made do.. not like we could go do anything fun anyway when I was bed bound and throwing up every hour haha.
Following your gut and do not let your job pressure you into anything you feel uncomfortable with and believe me they'll try!
Good luck OP

Thanks every1. I will do the rights for pregnant women both in our meeting and via email i thinks its a good idea. Thanks Gowie i am exactly that! Im trying really hard to work but its like my body is screaming no! Xx