Can I take time off work?

[plum711]

Currently 17 weeks pregnant and still experiencing awful sickness. If I'm not being sick, I feel it. Smells set me off, sights set me off and I'm struggling to eat anything other than potatoes and crisps.

I've been off sick from work a few days here and there over the last month or two and I'm really struggling to get through the work day even working from home. My focus is completely gone as I just feel so horrendous.

I was thinking of asking my doctor to sign me off for a few days and try a new medication. Is this absolutely ridiculous? Like should I just be getting on with it? I'm in my probation at work as well and really worried how bad it looks when I'm off sick so frequently.

You can self certify for the first 7 days off work even when not pregnant so the dr won’t need to sign you off to try the medication.
Hopefully it works & you will be rid of the nausea soon.

I'm just getting so paranoid that work think I'm taking the piss. Scarred after working in retail where anytime anyone was off sick it was like a serious crime had been committed. I've tried 2 medications now and neither have remotely worked - its making me so miserable

Time off sick for pregnancy isn't counted against you like normal sickness. If you aren't well don't go in

Hi @plum711 I'm currently 12 weeks. I am also experiencing severe sickness. It's awful isn't it. I was taking the anti-sickness tablets and they did help. I have now been off work for 5 weeks. I have just got another sick note for another month. Your employer has to keep any pregnancy related sickness separate from any other sickness'. You cannot be dismissed for having time off sick because of your pregnancy as you're protected against discrimination while you're pregnancy. Do not worry about your job there are and always will be other jobs out there. If you need to be off sick from work then do it. Hope this helps xx

As ops have said - pregnancy sickness doesn't count against your normal sickness record so don't worry. I was the same when pregnant with DD1 - never actually sick but the nausea was something else; even the thought of the washing machine used to set me off. GP signed me off for a month and I literally slept the entire time, was given meds but advised to try not to take them so I didn't. It passed eventually, hang in there and take some time to yourself

Thanks everyone - that puts me at ease a little bit.

I’m going to call the doctor this morning and ask for a couple of weeks. I’ve woken up with a horrendous cold this morning as well so feeling very sorry for myself haha. Pregnancy in my head was all glowy and fun and so far it’s proving to be the complete opposite!

Hopefully I can get hold of the doctor quickly and work are understanding.