Eighty-two percent of women continue working while pregnant, according to Pew Center Research. Working while you’re expecting is safe and legal as long as you’re having a normal pregnancy and working in a nonhazardous environment. However, nausea, fatigue, and the constant need to pee may, at times, get in the way of doing your job.
Despite these pregnancy symptoms, working during pregnancy without risking your and the baby’s health and safety is very much possible. Many women have done it before you have. Here’s how you can do it too.
Knowing Your Rights
Pregnant workers are entitled to the same rights and benefits as regular employees do. However, there are still so many cases of discrimination against pregnant workers.
Workplace discrimination and harassment can cause immense stress to pregnant employees and may even jeopardize their pregnancy. Knowing your rights as a pregnant woman in the workplace will help you protect yourself.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 (PDA) prohibits employers from discriminating against employees because of pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy-related medical conditions, and abortion. Thus, it is illegal for your employer to fire you, not hire you, withhold a promotion, or force you to take a leave for any of those reasons.
Under the PDA, pregnant employees who are having difficulty with doing their job because of their condition can ask for accommodations from their employers to help them do their work safely. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) cites these examples of accommodations:
- Altered break and work schedules
- Permission to sit or stand
- Ergonomic office furniture
- Shift changes
- Elimination of marginal job functions
- Authorization to work from home
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) also protects women with pregnancy-related conditions that meet the ADA’s definition of disability. Pregnant employees may also request for accommodations under the ADA.
If a pregnant worker experiences harassment in her workplace, her employer is required by the law to intervene. The employer should stop the problem and prevent further harassment and similar cases from occurring in the future.
Pregnant employees who experience discrimination in their workplace can ask help from the EEOC and file a charge.
Balancing Work and Pregnancy
Pregnancy symptoms can make it difficult for women to do specific tasks, but pregnancy should not be used as a reason to be unproductive at your job. For your and the company’s benefit, it’s best to share the news about your pregnancy with your immediate supervisor as soon as possible.
Disclosing your pregnancy to your supervisor, manager, or HR personnel helps establish trust and open communication between you. You can better discuss with them your situation and make arrangements about your job as early as possible.
For example, if your pregnancy-related medical condition will make it difficult for you to travel to and from the office every day, you can request to work from home. You can continue working without risking your pregnancy.
You will also need to see your health-care provider and undergo health tests, ultrasound scans (used with a high-end ultrasound transducer), and medical screenings several times in the next nine months. Talking to your boss can make it easier to take a leave to go to your appointment and schedule future visits.
Fighting Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the common symptoms of pregnancy. Your body is using a lot of energy to meet the demands of your growing baby, so much that it can leave you wrung out and unable to do your job. Arranging an altered break and work schedule may help you manage your energy so you can be productive at work.
Another thing you can do to balance work and pregnancy is to curb pregnancy symptoms. While you may not completely get rid of some things, like constant nausea or tiredness. There are steps you can take to control them.
- Steer clear of things and places that can trigger your nausea. Avoid areas like the office pantry, where people heat their food or make their coffee and the cafeteria, where different smells mix and linger.
- Snack often. Since your body is using a lot of energy, you need to fuel up frequently. Prepare snacks, like crackers and bland foods that won’t trigger your morning sickness.
- Eat iron- and protein-rich foods. Iron and protein will help keep your energy up, so include red meat, leafy green vegetables, beans, and whole grains in your diet.
- Get plenty of rest at night, and take frequent short breaks during the day. Pregnant women should get eight hours of sleep every night.
- Avoid strenuous activities. Staying active is generally good for pregnant women but to a moderate degree. Too much physical activity can harm you and your baby.
- Follow a fitness routine. Exercise is essential to prepare for childbirth, staying healthy, and managing stress. Ask your health-care provider about safe activities you can do while pregnant.
With the lack of mandated paid maternity leave in the United States, many pregnant women choose to work as long as they can before taking a leave. Working while pregnant is possible, even with the usual symptoms and discomforts that accompany the condition.
However, expectant moms should be careful to avoid getting stressed and exhausted. They should also avoid exposure to harmful elements, like toxic chemicals, excessive noise, heavy vibrations, and extreme temperatures, at work.