Time off work for sickness?

[Sailorstripe]

Has anyone been signed off for sickness and nausea. I don’t have Hyperemesis but I am struggling so much with nausea which is hugely exacerbated by screens. Has anyone ever been signed off work for this reason? I’m 8 weeks pregnant now.

I have had to time off both pregnancies for HG. Was about 3 months in my first and 2 months in my second with a phased return to work for both. Do speak to your GP about medication and it may be worth taking a few weeks off to get through the worst weeks - weeks 9 - 12 are often a peak and yes, concentrating hard, looking at screens and not getting enough rest all made me feel worse too.

@Nomnomnew i had sickness with my first baby but it’s much worse this time round. I’ve just been throwing up constantly for an hour which has made me feel better but it’s just rough!

Yes it is absolutely brutal. I’m past the worst of it now I’m in the third trimester but we won’t be having another baby after this, it’s just been so tough on me but also my husband and toddler.

There are medications which are safe and effective though, I’d really recommend speaking to pregnancy sickness support as they can provide loads of info about the different treatment options and how to get your GP to listen (if you have a rubbish one!). I wasn’t as bad this time as first time because I got medications early and wasn’t prepared to just put up with it - in my first pregnancy I had no idea what was normal whereas this time I knew where I’d end up if I didn’t get help!

It sounds like your symptoms are pretty severe and are affecting your day to day life - even if it’s not technically HG (though it sounds like it could be!) you don’t have to put up with it. Please do ask for some help and put yourself first work wise etc - it’s better to have a few weeks off and stop yourself deteriorating to a very bad place than getting worse and worse and then needing longer off to recover.

I was the same as you more nausea than anything and i took about 5 weeks off i think, i needed it felt so ill, Doctor didnt question it gave me a sick note for the whole time i requested over the phone. Take the time and rest if you need it!

Hi, yes I was signed off for about 7 weeks. I have a stressful high pressured job that requires me to be focused at all times with no room for mistakes.
Honestly from about 6 weeks I felt like hell, barely left the house, was unable to function. There was no way I could have worked during that time. I tried various medications and I didn’t find any made a huge difference tbh but I know they can really help some people so worth also asking your g.p. I had no issues at all getting sick notes from my g.p and my employer was understanding. I felt guilty and stressed a lot about the time I had off but ultimately I knew I had no choice and had to just keep surviving each day.

So I’d say absolutely get signed off if you feel like you can’t cope - don’t put any pressure on yourself. Pregnancy sickness can be debilitating. Look after yourself the best you can. It is the time to really think about yourself and not worry about work.

I have had time off in 3 pregnancies. The first two I struggled in just taking the worst days off and made myself feel awful. The third pregnancy I accepted a 4 week sick note. It took a much lower tole on my body.

I think I was off for pretty most of the first trimester. I was in for about 3 weeks from week 5-13 of pregnancy. I couldn't eat without wanting to vomit, but I also wanted to vomit because I wasn't eating. I was sleeping constantly, from the second I closed my eyes I would pass out asleep. I had absolutely no energy at all, and working in a warehouse I kind of needed that energy as I'm on my feet all day at this job. I did feel a bit guilty being off so much, but there was absolutely no way I could have went to work.

Yep I was signed off by the doctors for a few weeks. I ended up working some days at home (doctor said fine) but it was nice to have the note in place. I just view it as if ordinarily you were vomitting you’d take the day off work. Then suddenly just because we’re pregnant we doubt ourselves and whether that’s allowed. Do what is best for you and baby xx

You can be signed off. As it is pregnancy related you are protected against sickness absence policy (although might have to tell work earlier than usual)
If you take pregnancy related sick leave after a certain date you can be bounced onto maternity leave early but as you are not yet 12 weeks this isn't an issue.

Thank you everyone. I had a sick day yesterday self certified as I had been up all Monday night vomiting. I didn’t look at a screen all day and my nausea and sickness was 100 x better. Today I worked and I’ve been vomiting since lunchtime.

I really don’t want to tell work about my pregnancy but it’s so tough!

I’d honestly just tell them or one manager at least. It is not worth it if you’re feeling so poorly and they should not tell others anyway. I had a missed miscarriage earlier this year and had to notify them of the bad news and take time off work following this as I’d not told them before 12 weeks. Now I’m 6 weeks and I told them straight away so they’re aware. Good luck, but please put yourself and baby first.

Why don't you want to tell them @Sailorstripe ? I told one manager when I was 7 weeks as my sickness was so bad and I needed a few days off (I self certified). They are bound by confidentiality so they can't tell everyone else.

I don’t want to tell them as I’m waiting to find out if I have a promotion and I’m worried it will influence them. I’m working in a promoted role as maternity cover atm and I know they’ve applied for this to be made permanent, as the maternity cover part is no longer relevant. But I would rather wait for this to be decided if I can.