When will going into the office become uncomfortable?

[RPH92]

Hi all,

I’ll caveat this post with the fact that I am 15 weeks pregnant and I had really severe work related stress and anxiety in December before I was pregnant and was signed off so I’m just trying to think ahead about how I manage a situation… please go easy on me!

I’m pregnant for the first time and starting to notice the more physical impacts of pregnancy earlier than expected (back pain, breathlessness) and I work in a very high pressure company with long hours which is a door to door 2 hour commute on public transport into central London. We’ve been put on a mandate to work from the office 3 days per week recently in a bid to get everyone back in.

I think work will be open minded to allow me to revert back to full home working as I become more pregnant but I also know that it’ll take a lot of influencing and the decision makers are all male… So I’m just trying to anticipate at what stage such a long day might become too taxing on the body and wanted your experiences. For context when I commute in, I’m out of the house for 14 hours ish. 4 hours sat on transport.

Based on previous experiences, especially if you had a long commute, when would you start to think about home working more?

Have you spoken to your midwife about feeling breathless? That doesn’t usually happen until later on as it’s caused by baby taking up more space.

As for the job it’s totally up to how you feel. I have a physically demanding job and can work up to 12 hours a day, I worked up until 38 weeks with my second and felt absolutely fine. A girl I worked with ended up going on mat leave a month earlier than planned because she was getting a lot of braxton hicks from being so active. It’s very much a personal decision. Speak to your boss and see if you can come to an arrangement about working from home.

It depends. In my first pregnancy (before covid so wfh didn't exist where I worked) I finished at just before 37 weeks and I did struggle the last week. My last pregnancy I finished at 35 weeks (going into the office probably at least 3 days a week) and I probably could've carried on.
I didn't have a long commute though. I'd just see how you get on really, it's going to be too early to know what point you find it difficult with the journey.

I think it is pretty person dependent, but that sounds tough. I worked to 39.5 weeks at a long days/stressful job and did a 30 minute commute either way in central London up to 38.5 weeks (do not recommend, btw). I found the commute in particular pretty tough near the end - I don't remember exactly when but I am thinking maybe 33+ weeks.

I really hope you are excellent and indispensable and your management recognises this! I found male management pretty reasonable, company culture seemed to be more of the deciding factor.

I think it is pretty person dependent, but that sounds tough. I worked to 39.5 weeks at a long days/stressful job and did a 30 minute commute either way in central London up to 38.5 weeks (do not recommend, btw). I found the commute in particular pretty tough near the end - I don't remember exactly when but I am thinking maybe 33+ weeks.

I really hope you are excellent and indispensable and your management recognises this! I found male management pretty reasonable, company culture seemed to be more of the deciding factor.