Come and tell me how to deal with these work problems...

[PrammyMammy]

Hello,

Well i work in a busy cafe/coffee shop serving customers from 10am till 5.30pm Mon, Tues and Wed.
I am on my feet constantly, except for during my two 15 minute breaks that i have during the day which are spend in the staff room, which is under the center - down a large set of stairs- the 15 minutes are strict, and any longer (even 2-3 mins) are pointed out by the manager.
Anyway!
The past week or so i have been having horrrible pains in my pelvis, back and hips. When i say horrible, i mean that i can hardly walk ten minutes, taking the stares takes me twice as long and getting in and out of the bath requires dps help. I am only 22 weeks pg, and never had anything at all like this when i was carrying ds.
So anyway! My work is quite strict and the manager knows exactly how she likes things. I am 22 weeks pg, and she still hasn't done a risk assessment. I have to stack chairs and lift heavy trays and pots of food and am always on the go. But with these pains im having i just can't do it.
Today i had to hold myself up on the worktop and she really wasn't happy, but i could hardly walk. She wasn't happy with the leaning, i said i couldn't stand any longer and needed to go see a doctor - which i wouldnt be able to do until Thursday. She said it wasn't okay with her, but if i want to go then i was to go.
Soo, i left, and called the docs, but can't be seen till tomorrow. When i called to let her know, she said 'So i take it you wont be in tomorrow then, call after your appointment."

I am in pain, the front of my pelvis is throbbing just now and i feel so angry because i am always reliable and hard working. Smokers can go have a break for a smoke when it is quiet, but i can't even have a seat when i am in pain. I have 2 x 15mins to rush down and back up a flight of stairs and sit and watch the clock because they are doing the same on the floor.

That is my rant! Thank you for MN eh. What can i do?

good for you prammy - let us know how you get on

Hey again!

Firstly thanks everyone for the support on here. If i hadn't posted i probably would have tried to put up with the pain.
Today i visited the hospital physio. She says my right something is dragging, she could tell that by pressing my lower back while i bent forwards. So she gave me a big belt to wear and some booklets to read up on SPD that tell me how to move and things. I have another appt with my GP today to sign me off work (hopefully) as my work said i have to hand in a line.

Thanks everyone :D

Sacroiliac joint? Glad the physio was helpful, and hope that your GP was too. Mine just asked how long I wanted to be off for! Rest is THAT important!

Remember, don't start your mat leave early because of this. If you're sick it gets triggered at 36 weeks anyway.

Hopefully you won't need to be off for too long and they'll do you a proper risk assessment.

I completely second hawkmoth. They can only make you take your mat leave early at 36 weeks - its the law!

This is why i love MN, it can be a banter at times but for things like this it is sooo important.

I know someone who was signed off for good at 20 weeks with SPD. Hopefully this is out of your managers hands and up to company HR in which case your money is safe!

Good work prammy and take care x

That is it hawkmoth!
Yeah, mn is great eh! Where would we be?
She signed me off for a week, but said if i am still in pain next week just to go back and get another line.
I'm only 22 weeks gone, so i still have a long wait before 36 weeks lol, when can i actually take it? Is it 29 weeks?

NO! You can stay off sick until 36 weeks, then go on your mat leave! Don't waste time with your baby because of guilt over being off 'sick'. You never know, they may come up with a package of improvements for your workplace that mean you can do your job... but if they don't, and you take your Mat leave early, before 36 weeks, you are letting them off the hook.

I've told my workplace I won't be starting mine until the Monday of my 40th week... if I am as good as now that'll be fine. They've really looked after me. If however, I have to go off sick in the meantime, the most time at home with my baby I'll lose is four weeks.