Working in the last trimester :(

[mollie778]

Any tips on getting through work in the final trimester? Finding it a real struggle.

I only have a desk job but the long days sat in a chair concentrating is making me really tired and feel pretty ill.

Any advice on how to get through it?

Just get a bit active and walk a bit - I worked up to 39.5 with second baby it wasn't ideal but it's fine - try to enjoy it, it's the calm before the crazy 😜

Does your work have a first aid / medical room you could use to go and have a short lie down in after lunch? I used to disappear to my car for a nap, just as I finished someone told me I should have asked to use the medical room. Another thing that helped was stretching regularly with one a timer program on my computer.

How much annual leave do you have? With DC1 I worked until 38 weeks but used annual leave to take every Wednesday off from 32 weeks, it made a huge difference.

My previous work place offered me to use a meeting room and the camp bed they stored for pregnant employees, apparently it had been common for previous pregnant women to take naps after lunch there so they got a camp bed in! I didnt ever take up that offer (meeting rooms dont lock and people always barge into the wrong room so didnt want a someone barging in on me when sleeping!)

But I did take them up on their flexi-hours offer, I found I was better at working earlier and leaving earlier - could you try that?

Also getting up and going for a walk around the office every now and then really helped keep me alert.

I did take mat leave at 36 weeks though, the drive was becoming dangerous (2 hour commute) with how tired and how much pain i was in.

I did end up giving birth at 37 weeks so really only had 1 week off on my own anyway!

When are you due to go on maternity? Listen to your body if you can’t get through it maybe push your mat leave forward. I can’t imagine sitting down for so long! Maybe keep getting up every hour or half hour to walk around your work space area and keep drinking lots of water 🤔

I'm not in my last trimester but I am also struggling, I find if I get up once an hour have a glass of water and a small snack like a piece of fruit and have a wander for 5 minutes I feel much better.

Thanks for the replies guys :)

I have approximately 8 weeks left at work, there's unfortunately no medical/sleep area for me.

I've found having my fan on and cold water to be helpful, and walking around every so often. But man it's a struggle! I'm glad it's not just me.

Any tips on back/bum support for office chairs too? I have a footrest at the minute

I’m 31 weeks and really struggling at work. I teach so no chance of a nap, or a lunch break at all most days. It’s the crossing my legs for 2.5 hours solid that is killing me as I can only use the toilet at break times!

Can you change your end date? 8 weeks if you’re struggling is a long time. Some people seem to manage to go late and others struggle. Obviously it’s nice to have time with the baby but if you’re not coping well, performing badly at work etc then ploughing on isn’t necessarily in your best interest.

I’m in exactly the same boat OP!

Does your work allow you to work from home at all?

I was going to work until 3 days before my due date as I only get SMP but work and the pregnancy is making me so anxious and making my symptoms worse so I had to bring it forward.

Can you do the same?

I switched my chair for a birthing ball. Walking around whilst on the phone as well. Good luck

I’m dreading getting to the point of feeling like this. Currently 17 weeks and in a stressful job and I’m already exhausted every day, not helped with having a boss who says she’s going to “push me to get everything done” before I go. I look forward to the next few months...😫