Working while pregnant: tips

Working while pregnant can be a positive experience – and also physically, emotionally and financially challenging. Here are some tips for managing pregnancy symptoms, working through pregnancy and planning your return to work.

Managing pregnancy symptoms at work: tips

Working while pregnant – especially during the early months – can be tricky if you’re going throughmorning sickness and feeling really tired.

Here are some tips that might help you manage these pregnancy symptoms:

• Take regular breaks at work if you can.
• At home, rest when you can and go to bed early if possible. This can help you start the day well rested.
• Wear comfortable shoes and clothes.
• Eat a light breakfast.
• Eat small, regular meals. Being tired and hungry can make morning sickness worse.
• Try snacking on healthy, carbohydrate-rich foods like cheese and crackers, toast, rice, cereal or fruit.
• Drink more water than usual to help keep your body at a regular temperature.

Working through pregnancy: tips

Here are some things you can do to help make working while pregnant a comfortable and positive experience.

Making things easier

•  Consider what could make your life easier at work, such as travelling to work outside of peak hour, having a temporary car space or working from home, if possible.
• Try to plan meetings so people come to you, or set up a conference call, if this is an option for you.
• If you’re a pregnant casual worker, it’s OK to let your manager know what your ideal working hours are. For example, if you work most efficiently after 11 am when morning sickness has eased, your employer might be able to give you these hours, especially if you’ll be more productive at these times.
• Think ahead about how to respond to tricky situations. For example, people might comment on your belly or even touch your belly. It’s OK to tell people not to do this if it makes you uncomfortable – it’s your body.

Organising things at work 

• Depending on your job, you might need to let your colleagues, workmates and/or clients know how your role at work might change.
• Start planning a handover by noting the parts of your job that you’ll need to give to others when you’re on leave. Schedule training and handover activities well in advance so you don’t find yourself doing too much or getting stressed before going on leave.
• If things don’t go to plan and you’re feeling overwhelmed, tell your manager and discuss ways to manage your workload.

Going to pregnancy appointments

• Schedule medical appointments and time off in advance, where possible.
• If you’re a casual worker, you might be able to organise your pregnancy appointments at times you’re not working. Or you might be able to work public holidays (which usually offer a higher rate of pay) to make up for income you lose when you take time off for appointments.

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Your Health Africa is the leading health and wellness blog in Africa.