Calling in to work sick first trimester - feeling guilty

[SausageDogMum95]

Hello,

Just wondering if anyone has called in sick to work during the first trimester, or whether I’m being dramatic? A bit of detail about my situation below.

I’m 9 weeks pregnant and this is the first time I’ve called in sick for pregnancy, I have had the odd day where I’ve been able to work from home because I was vomiting in the mornings with morning sickness and couldn’t make the hour commute. I worked from home yesterday, but today wasn’t even able to work at the laptop. The past few days I’ve had bleeding, back pain, on top of the usual exhaustion and have felt like I’ve been on a boat all day with motion sickness 🤢 the EPU were a bit concerned (previously scanned me at 6 weeks and found a haematoma) and have booked me in for tomorrow to get checked but said to wait and see in the meantime.

Anyway my manager emailed me to say she’d been informed I called in sick and wanted to know what was wrong as she hadn’t heard from me personally. When I’ve informed her of the issue and that I had told her yesterday about the EPU appointment, she just said she would speak to me tomorrow and take care. Just feeling very guilty now that I’ve taken time off.

So I would welcome any advice from mums who have called in sick in the first trimester. Usually I do go in but just felt I couldn’t soldier on today even if it is only office based.

Don't feel guilty!
I had two pregnancies last year with hyperemesis both ending in miscarriage. The first I struggled in as much as I could but ended up in a and e following a fall due to over doing it and not being able to keep enough food down.
When I experienced the same in the next pregnancy I accepted a 4 week sicknote and rested. The tole on my body was much less and I coped better
Two months they made half of my team redundant including myself, loyalty only goes one way. Look after yourself and speak to the Dr about antiemetics and potentially a sick note

Do not feel guilty! Your health and baby comes first! At the end of the day your just a number in a business. Also your manager could of showed abit more empathy.

Ive had two losses in the past and put work first, not this time, noway!! I took three weeks off with bad sickness in the 1st trimester. Im not struggling for anyone never mind work xxx

They cant discipline you for pregnancy sickness / absence

Are u in a union?

Highly recommend joining 1 if not

Sounds like your manager was just busy and concerned and wanted to check you are okay. I wouldn’t feel guilty about it.

Do they know you're pregnant? Might be worth informing them so you're protected from an HR perspective.

Absolutely do not feel guilty! I teach and I could not have gone into work during most of my first trimester if it hadn't coincided with the summer holidays, I spent most of it curled up on the sofa or by the toilet.

@SausageDogMum95 i am in the same boat as you now. Im early in my pregnancy and really struggling. I have so much anxiety about calling in sick, I could cry.

How do you feel now after calling in?

If you let them know your preg and its pregnancy related sickness - they have to record it as such and cant use it against u