Sick days from work?!

[SWeller93]

Hey mamas,

I just want to get a bit of insight here because I'm getting a bit stressed out about it.
I'm 23 weeks along with my first and it definitely has not been an easy ride. I've have severe nausea and vomiting, exhaustion, antenatal depression, and countless sinus infections. On top of that, I'm being tested every couple of weeks for gestational diabetes as he's currently the size he should be at 27 weeks. (Sorry, not gunning for sympathy here, I know it's difficult for all!)

I have found that I am probably taking 4/5 days off work sick each month, and having to work from home most of the time. My job isn't physically demanding, but it's quite mentally exhausting (I'm a project manager in an engineering company) and there's a lot of pressure on me deal with massive project changes, hiring my replacement for mat leave, and then train up my replacement in three months... all while feeling like I'm at 30% of my normal capacity. My work has been okayish with the sick days, but I know they think I'm a burden and don't really understand what I'm going through (it's a very male dominated environment), and I'm trying not the stress of taking sick days get on top of me, but it's hard!

I'm curious to know how many sick days you all took and what you'd consider 'normal' I guess?

I know these are ramblings of a hormonal, over thinking, anxious pregnancy brain, but please shed some light for meeee 🥰

No sickness at all during either of my pregnancies, worked full time upto 2 weeks before due date.

Everyone is different and you can only do what is best for you and your baby- be guided by your midwife. A replacement will be found for you and the world won't stop turning in your absence if you don't manage to download your brain to them before you finish.

Hope all goes well.x

I was very lucky in pregnancy and didn’t have sickness so didn’t take sick leave. I also work almost entirely from home so it was easier for me.

Everyone is different and has a different pregnancy. I have worked in HR for years and have seen women signed off for months and others who just take a few days a month as and when they need it. Pregnancy related sickness does not get counted towards any absence management procedure and in my experience managers and colleagues are generally quite understanding.

1st pregnancy absolutely no sick days! 2nd pregnancy 1 week of for each episode of bleeding. 3 weeks of during covid (mandatory isolated + not 100%). Then worked until I went into premature labour.
Honestly don't even bother comparing yourself to others and do what's right for you and your health. Pregnancy guilt is the worst and you're probably harder on yourself than needed.

I’ve been off for 6 weeks already and I’m only 12 weeks pregnant. Hyperemesis, and I had the same issue at the same workplace with my previous child. It was during covid and I ended up only being able to work about a month of my pregnancy in my job. I work in healthcare so I felt incredibly guilty during the pandemic and pushed myself to work when I wasn’t fit to and made myself much worse. It sounds like you are pushing yourself, and no wonder with those expectations. I would have a blunt conversation with your boss about being unable to fulfill that workload and ask them what their plan is to change it. They have to make reasonable adjustments to protect you in pregnancy as part of a risk assessment. If you have a HR department/occupational health might be a good idea to chat to them first. Your working rights protect you from any action on your sickness during pregnancy.

There's no point comparing as everyone is different.

I don't remember taking any sick days off, I remember puking in the street on the way to work very often.

I have a chronic illness and make sure I get to work no matter how rough I feel. If I took time off every time I was sick I'd never be at work.