Coping with Pregnancy at Work
Managing your workload during pregnancy
Pregnancy can affect women very differently, so it’s hard to know how you’re going to feel as your pregnancy progresses. In the first trimester, you may feel tired and nauseated as your hormones kick in. “Some women feel horrible first thing in the morning, while others crash around 3 p.m.,” Dr. Greenfield says. It helps to plan the bulk of your workload around times when you know you’ll be feeling your best.
“Another option is to book a vacation around the eight- or nine-week mark, when morning sickness symptoms tend to peak,” says Dr. Greenfield. Or, if your job is flexible, arrange to work from home for a few days so you can rest when you need to and still get your work done.
When it comes to juggling work and your medical appointments, try to book the first appointment of the day. “Doctors are more likely to run on time for their first appointments,” says Dr. Greenfield. It’s best to try to avoid midday appointments–they tend to be the most disruptive to your work schedule. And if you find yourself logging a lot of hours away from your desk, do your best to make the time up while you can.
