6+5: How do you manage to get through the workday?

[EvelynSalt]

I'm thrilled to be pregnant after IVF but I'm only 6 weeks in and I'm already concerned about the impact on my career. Maybe I'm naive but I always thought it would be the last few months that brought intense tiredness. I didn't realise it's so common to be tired to the bone in the first trimester.

I work in an office environment but it's high pressure, contract-driven and my boss is amazing but has high expectations (this is one of the reasons I love my job!).

Today I've had to book sick leave as I felt so unwell this morning. My boss knows about my pregnancy and was reassuring but I'm really beating myself up about appearing to be out of control. I got quite upset on a call with her (I cried ) and, while she was very kind, I'm sure she must feel it was unprofessional of me.

Does anyone have any tips on how to keep it together and manage the workday when you're struggling to stay awake?!

Ah sorry you are going through this but to reassure you it does ease off. I’m 12 weeks now and energy is slowly starting to come back.

Would it be possible to work from home a couple of days a week for the next few weeks? Cutting down on the commute and napping in your lunch break might help.

I was in bed asleep by 8pm most nights so if that’s possible I’d say get all the rest you can get when you aren’t at work.

It will pass, your energy levels will be far higher after week 12. If you're 6+5 that would mean week 12 just before Christmas...? Can you try to have a relaxing Christmas break and capitalise on your new burst of energy?

It sounds like your boss is very supportive, which is half the battle. I'm finding the workday tough too, particularly my commute. A good audio book and plenty of ginger nut biscuits have made it more bearable. I also find lunch breaks really hard with food aversion/sensitivity to smells. I still take morning "coffee" break (herbal tea break now) with my colleagues, but eat lunch outside or at my desk. Perhaps you could identify 2 or 3 areas that are particularly trying for you, and see if you could make minor changes to get you through the next 5.5 weeks?

I had the least productive weeks from 7 to 11. Exhaustion and nausea were horrendous - I was lucky to be able to work from home most days and lie down/nap in short breaks between meetings and other work. After that it gradually got much better. Give yourself a break OP, if your body begs you to rest, it needs it. Work will still be there in a few weeks’ time!