Flying for work in early pregnancy

[DisneyLady1]

Hi all, I'm having a bit of a pregnancy-related dilemma and could use some other opinions!

I'm in my first trimester (6-7 weeks) and the nausea has hit. It varies, but usually worse in the afternoon/evenings, and I have to eat snacks pretty much all day (no exaggeration) to stop myself from dry-heaving. When I'm stood up it is much worse, so I spend most of the evening on the sofa once my DD is asleep.

Next week I have to fly with work. Not a long flight, but it will require getting up at 5am and I won't be back home until 9pm at night. I also have to give a presentation that day (stood up in front of c. 100 people).

I'm quite nervous about it - not least because the presentation is just before lunch and I won't have the opportunity to eat snacks for around an hour beforehand because I will need to sit and listen to other presentations. I'm having visions of walking up and then heaving in front of everyone. I'm also nervous about the flight - it is a gruelling day even when not pregnant, and has always knocked me for six in the past, especially if there are delays etc.

I'm considering explaining this to my manager and opting out of the meeting . I think I would be ok in second trimester, but right now I just feel generally rubbish. I don't want to be a wimp, and am usually the type to power through regardless, but when it comes to pregnancy (as someone who has had multiple miscarriages before) I am trying not to put myself under too much pressure.

What would you do in my situation?

I'd opt out if at all possible. Ducking behind the podium to vom into a bag isn't the best look and is what would have happened to me in that scenario.

I would try get out of it!
I’m flying for work next week myself for a work Xmas gathering and changed my flight to the afternoon so I don’t have to get up at 5.30am, as the thought of doing it was waaayyy too much. I’m also going to be bringing a bag of mini brioche in my handbag as I throw up if I don’t eat every x2 hours 😂 ohh the joy.

Luckily, I don’t have to give a presentation but if I was I’d 100% see if someone else could cover me. Good luck!

Thanks so much for your messages! It's good to know that I'm not just being a huge wimp! Good idea to change your flight @LexIvy88 - definitely what I would have done too, if the meeting wasn't in the morning. Hope yours goes well.

I'd opt out. I had bad nausea and sickness throughout the first trimester and was honest with my manager really early on about being pregnant as it simply wasn't possible to function as normal. I'm sure your manager would also rather know now than last minute if you feel even worse on the day.

I travel often for my job but mostly work at home. I had to get a fit note for amended duties in my first trimester because there’s no way I could have managed travelling with the sickness. Second trimester now and everything’s fine, I flew to London and back this week with no problems and managed to get a seat on every tube I went on. If someone was sitting in a priority seat and standing room only I just asked if they required the seat and if not could I please have it as I’m pregnant and had no issues with people moving for me. Just be totally honest with your manager about what you can and can’t do and make sure they do a risk assessment with you.