Returning to work worries

[hmfair54]

Hi all, I'm currently 5 + 3 weeks pregnant with my first and am getting myself all wound up about going back into work at the end of the week following the Christmas break.

So far I've not had any issues or bad symptoms but I'm starting to feel the first niggles of nausea and couldn't think of anything worse than having to endure it at my desk once it starts to get worse in a week or two's time.** I've always had a sensitive stomach so it's pretty inevitable that I'll be struck down with it.

To make matters worse, my HR department are a bunch of unsympathetic crones and I don't qualify for sick pay until February (you have to be employed for a year for the privilege of 5 paid days off). I have a mortgage and not the best pay so unpaid time off isn't really an option and I can't do overtime.

Anyone else been stuck in this sort of situation? If I have to stay at work, what's the best way to cope? Honestly I think the thought of it's making me feel worse than I actually am.

Do you qualify for statutory sick pay? It’s not the best but better than nothing. I suffered horrendously in work with morning sickness. Eating little and often, telling my line manager so that i at least didn’t have to worry about getting in trouble and treating the women’s loos on another floor as my personal sickbay were what got me through. Tried not to schedule meetings in the mornings too as that’s when I felt worst. If you can tell HR early I would - pregnancy sick leave can’t be held against you but only from the point that you inform them of the pregnancy.

Hi, if it helps, in life I generally have a very weak stomach. I get car sick, air sick, train sick, I feel sick if I'm hungry, too full or even am tired. I did not have morning sickness at all. I felt nauseous at various times but never so bad that I couldn't go to work. If anything, I bizarrely have felt less nauseas and am now able to take long car journeys. Hopefully, you will be the same. I think having morning sickness that is so bad you have to get signed off is quite rare so hopefully it will not happen to you.

Thanks both, I'm hoping I'm just panicking over nothing and that it won't get as bad as I think. I think I do qualify for ssp but haven't ever had to take it so not sure as my old job was pretty relaxed about sick pay, it would be a relief if I did though. Keeping my fingers crossed for an easy(ish) ride through the first trimester and beyond 🤞🏻

If the nausea does get bad enough that it affects you getting to work, get to the GP and request antisickness meds. I wish I had gone earlier to get mine although they made me drowsy so didn’t take them that often!