How to balance morning sickness & work

[flso]

I'm 6 weeks pregnant and for the last week or so have been struggling with 'morning' sickness and fatigue. I usually feel very nauseous until about 3/4pm when I start to feel a little bit better.

I work from home so have been able to have a slower morning to start slightly later, completing easier tasks when I feel worst, taking a nap at lunchtime, and saving harder tasks for the afternoon and evening when I feel better.

I'm meant to be leading an in-person meeting with a prospective client next week, but I'm worried I won't be at my best - I've been struggling to concentrate on putting the slides together never mind presenting for over an hour!

What would you do? Would you speak to work to explain the current situation and have someone else step in, or suck it up and try to get through it even if not at best? I'm worried that 6 weeks is too early to say anything to work.

I was off from 7-16 weeks with my first (hyperemesis then loss). Then this time 8-12 weeks. It’s unfathomable to me that women are forced to work through it. It’s horrific and debilitating.

I've always told my boss early so she is aware and can support, can you do that?
I'm also just back at work after being signed off for 4 weeks as I was struggling to cope with the nausea.

I had awful sickness and told my work at 5 weeks. I had the same concern as you that it was too early but I’m so glad I did as they were very supportive and made adjustments for me to be able to manage. I’d definitely talk to them

I'm considering telling work in the new year. I'm 5 weeks at the moment but only have a week left at work, so I'll power through that, but I don't have anything major going on.

I think in your situation I would consider telling your manager now, depending how supportive they are. Alternatively see if you can reschedule the client meeting to 3/4pm when you might be feeling better?

My morning sickness is awful until late afternoon, too. Tell your boss, ask them not to share the news but tell them you're really struggling and worried about the meeting. I'd ask if your boss can cover for you on the day at short notice if you need that this is what I've agreed with my boss and it's such a relief. Telling my boss early was the most sensible thing I did it made everything so much easier. Also means I can take more breaks, sick leave without trigger points, call the doctor when I need to.

My GP gave me a fit note saying I needed to wfh. I was already hybrid but this made it full time for probably weeks 5-12 of pregnancy.

It did mean telling them sooner than I otherwise would have, but I couldn't have gone into the office.

Speak to your boss. I have had most of July and November off this year due to sickness in two pregnancies, first was a loss.
In July I kept trying to struggle into the office for face to face meetings. In November my boss told me to stop, stay at home, look after yourself, work when you can and we'll cover what you can't do.
I had three weeks off work where the combination of fatigue and sickness had me bound to the sofa. I'm no worse than I was in July but having it back to back has been tough as I hadn't fully got back to normal after the first pregnancy. I ended up in a and E after dizziness from fatigue caused a fall and a sprained ankle. The rest has helped immensely and I'm back at work but completely from home for the next few weeks at least

I was the same as you and I didn't tell work and just powered through. I honestly really, really regret it. It contributed to me feeling worse and worse mentally. You are sick, you need adjustments or to take time off.

Thank you so much for your advice and support everyone ❤ I spoke to work and they were super excited and understanding which was really lovely!

Ahh thank you for sharing an update! Glad they were supportive and hope you start to feel better soon!

I've been similar. My third pregnancy I finally tried Xonvea which worked better for me than anything else I've tried across my pregnancies and I only had about 6 weeks off work instead of the 12 or so in my first two pregnancies.

You have to make a judgement call on this tbh OP. Either you reckon you will be well enough to push through - in which case I would recommend doing so - or if you really don't think you will be, tell work. However this latter option depends on how flexible and understanding your employer is tbh. In one job I've had the response would have been 'do it or go off sick' with no amendments made.

@LegoHouse274 how did you find the med vs others you tried? I'm on promethazine but thinking of switching as 9 weeks and really struggling xx

I found orange segments and orange juice very good at keeping sickness at bay. Have little and often. Avoid ginger biscuits or you'll pile on the weight.

@Georgia324 Hi, Promethazine had no benefit for me except for helping me sleep better at night as a side effect (and some residual grogginess the first few hours of the morning for the first week or two). It didn't work for sickness for me at all.

Xonvea helped my sickness a lot. Side effects wise it gave me a dry mouth and slightly more dry eyes (I already had dry eyes anyway so already had eye drops on prescription, but I did need to use them more often).

Xonvea helps me too, I started with two at night and then upped it to add one in the morning.

Annoying it has to be taken on an empty stomach as feeling hungry doesn't help the sickness but it's made a huge difference!

Thank you thank you. I will report back soon

Xonvea

You dont need to suffer!