Working during pregnancy

Work deliveries and deadlines will always be looming over your head, but pregnancy is the delivery of a lifetime. Don’t take it lightly! Pregnancy is a very important period of a woman’s life. However, experience can differ in case of each woman. While some are advised bed rest from the second month, others work until the due date of their pregnancy. So, whether to work during pregnancy or not is certainly a personal decision based on your health condition, the type of profession you are in and your doctor’s opinion. However, you might feel tired as the pregnancy progresses, and then you can cut down on working hours if your office permits.

Taking a break

You can consider taking a break one or two weeks prior to your due date. This will help you prepare for the pregnancy better for the post pregnancy period. You should indulge in yourself and rest, because this can be the last time you will have to yourself for long time.

Handling common pregnancy problems at work

Many women suffer from morning sickness, but pregnancy queasiness can be unpredictable in some women and can hit even during the day or night. The best practice is to avoid the things that trigger nausea. Smells of reheated food in the microwave during the break, or smell of unhealthy oily stuff can cause your stomach to flip-flop. Once you find out what triggers off the nausea try to avoid such things.

Keep bland foods such as crackers always with you as they can be lifesavers. Ginger tea, ginger ale can help. You can even keep on nibbling snacks occasionally, especially when you start feeling nauseated.

Less fluid in the body leads to more nauseating condition. Hence, ensure that you are drinking enough fluids. It is always advisable to keep a bottle of water at your desk so that you can sip along all the day through while at work.

Fatigue and stress during pregnancy

If you do not find time to rest during the day, you might feel tired at the end of the day as your body is working overtime to support your state of pregnancy.

To increase your capacity to work during pregnancy you should bring certain changes in your diet:

Iron deficiency can lead to anemic condition. Hence, you should eat iron and protein rich diet that includes poultry, red meat, leafy green vegetables, seafood, beans, and iron-fortified whole grains.

Take breaks during work. Getting up frequently and moving around after every one and half hour reinvigorates you. You can even recharge yourself by putting your feet up, closing your eyes and sitting calmly for few minutes whenever you feel tried.
Cut down on other activities like shopping or attending social functions that are not very important. This will help you retire early during the night and get the much-needed rest. On the other hand, you can consider shopping online for yourself and even sending gifts to your dear ones for special occasions through online portals.

Even if you are tired after a long day, 15 minutes walk can really pep up your nerves and make you feel energetic and happy. So, do not skip your fitness routine, as it will recharge your body with more vigor.

If you are a healthy working person with a normal pregnancy and safe working environment, you can continue working until the day you actually deliver or very close to it. Try to get sleep for eight to nine hours, and rest on the side so that the blood flow towards the baby improves. This also prevents swelling. For more comfort, you can also place pillows below your legs and under the belly.