A Working Pregnancy

There's no reason why you can't continue working well into your pregnancy if you want to, unless your working environment could be dangerous for your baby. Harmful materials or fumes, or heavy physical work, for example, can be damaging. If you do want to go on working during your pregnancy and return to your job after your baby is born, make sure you have all the information you need to protect both your health and your job.

When you're pregnant, your body does change and you may be uncomfortable at times, but working can help you feel more normal. By continuing to work, you can keep up this important and stable aspect of your life at a time when you may be feeling disoriented in other ways because of the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy.

Excersising Your Rights

Most employers will be eager to help you continue working during your pregnancy and after your maternity leave, but it's up to you to tell them what you want to do. You need to let them know when you plan to stop work before your baby's born and when you'll be coming back afterward.

Protect your job Talk to your employer or your trade union representative about what maternity leave and pay you're entitled to. You're allowed time off with pay for prenatal care, and this includes time to go to relaxation classes.

Protect your health If there's a chance that some aspect of your work will harm your baby-for example, exposure to X-rays, doing heavy lifting, or handling harmful chemicals-your employer should find you another job while you're pregnant, or, if this isn't possible, suspend you on full pay. This is your right, under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, no matter how many hours you work or how long you've been employed.

Adapting Your Routine

Working long hours may leave you feeling very tired, and bouts of morning sickness can make the situation even more difficult. Overtiredness can make feelings of nausea worse, and you might also find yourself losing concentration and falling asleep. Added to this, traveling to work, especially if you use public transportation, can be absolutely exhausting, particularly in the later stages of your pregnancy.

Making changes If there's anything about your job that worries you find out if you can make changes until your baby is born. You may be able to start and finish work at a different time to avoid traveling during rush hour, for example. If your job involves a lot of standing or walking, find out if there's something you can do that allows you to spend more time sitting.

Take it easy Don't push yourself too hard. Be more relaxed about household tasks-your health and that of your baby are far more important. Relaxation is vital, and it's important to make time to take care of your body with an exercise routine and massage.

Ask for help If your partner doesn't already share the cooking and cleaning, ask him to do so. Maybe you could leave most of the household jobs until the weekend and do them together. If you let colleagues know you're pregnant from early on, they're more likely to understand your emotional and physical changes, such as mood swings, lack of energy, and need for comfort.

Deciding When To Stop

Some women happily continue working until they near labor. In the US women are allowed and encouraged to work until term, as long as the pregnancy is uncomplicated and the baby is growing well. However, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) protects the right of women who do have complications at some point during their pregnancy to receive the same disability leave and pay that is given to employees with any other disability.

Deciding When To Return

Think carefully about when you'll want to go back to work after your baby is born, and what you'll do when you return. You may want to go back under different working conditions, and you'll need to talk to your employer about this. For example, you might want to try working part-time or try a job share, flexi-work, or some freelance activity that allows you to work from home. Bear in mind that both you and your partner are entitled to' take a year's extra parental leave (unpaid) during your child's first five years, provided you've worked for your employer for at least a year.

Sharing Responsibilities

If you've agreed between you that one of you will go back to work and the other partner will care for the baby at home, the carer will need a lot of support, especially in the early days. Try to share the responsibilities; don't assume your partner will always fix problems or be the one to cope when, say, your baby is ill. If you're both working, share the household jobs and the daily routme, including picking up your baby from daycare or getting home first to take over from the nanny. Far from being a chore, these precious moments alone with your baby will be something you'll come to cherish.