Being pregnant for the first time, most women feel more anxious than excited. Future mothers will have to learn to adapt to a new life. At the same time, it is necessary to balance the work and time to care for an unborn baby. Clan of Pregnants shares the most useful ways to balance life for working pregnant.
Notify boss and colleagues
One of the first challenges in the workplace is deciding who to share your good news with. Please notify your immediate supervisor as soon as possible. He / she will not want to be a person who knows through “the lady club”. However, usually close colleagues will know first. In addition to dealing with aches and pains, headaches and runny nose, you may need to tell others that you are pregnant. Sometimes, especially men, some people do not understand this situation and think that you are “sick”.
While most working pregnant wait until the first trimester to announce it, some people want to delay as long as possible. One of our member kept her pregnancy a secret until the 6th month. The reason was: “My colleagues and boss will treat me differently. My salary and tasks reduced during my first pregnancy. I don’t want that to happen again.”
When the time is right, meet your boss in person. Be prepared for the length of time you’re going to take maternity leave. However, do not mention this unless necessary. We have plenty of time to discuss specific issues. Also, don’t be sorry if your boss is not happy to share as soon as he hears the news. The boss will receive the news based on his / her awareness, responsibilities, and position.
Remember, having children is your right, regardless of whether you are working or not.
Adapt to changes during pregnancy
Many women feel unusually “weak”. Follow the advice of the office ladies below to deal with workplace discomfort.
Sensitive to odor
- Sitting near the meeting room door, thus, you can easily “run” into the WC more.
- Always bring changing clothes, tissues and mouthwash.
- Quickly handle the lunch and return to a comfortable place to breathe. The smell of coffee, grilled dishes, stir-fried cooking will make you suffocate immediately.
- Drink extra ginger tea to complement the water.
Hurt
- Enlist the lunch break time to take a nap as much as possible.
- Don’t be afraid to know that when you’re a working pregnant, no one will laugh at you.
- Get up, do some relaxation movements during work hours to ease aches, pains and stiffness.
Losing focus (“pregnant woman’s brain”)
- Prepare several notepads and regularly use them as well as “task calendars”.
- Try to accomplish hard works first, or when you feel most energized.
- Try to avoid overtime or take on extra work – unless you feel completely in control of it.
- Use the built-in email calendar to keep track of meetings.
Keep safe at work
Enterprises are responsible for arranging a safe workplace in accordance with the law. That is, the pregnant woman at work will be provided with ancillary equipment during the pregnancy. If the job requires exposure to chemicals, risk of infection or requires muscle strength, pregnant women should suggest other work arrangements to ensure health.
If you are unsure of your working conditions, ask the human resources department. They are responsible for providing pregnant women with information about toxic substances that can be exposed. You should consult a doctor and wear protective gear when necessary. At the same time, always follow the safety instructions to minimize risks.
Many office workers – including nurses, restaurant staff, teachers, gas station staff – must stand almost full-time. On the positive side, this can help you control your weight. But if you have to stand for a long time, pregnant office workers need to be very careful. When the fetus gains weight, pregnant women should use different types of abdominal support. This is good for the baby and the mother’s back.
Also, whenever you have the opportunity, sit down!
Planning a maternity leave
The Family and Medical Leave Act 1993 has specific provisions on maternity leave. Pregnant women should learn to ensure their rights regarding:
- Break time,
- Salary when maternity leave,
- When a wife gives birth, the husband is also entitled to leave,
Most state-owned enterprises and administrative units comply with the law. Some businesses have higher levels of support. Please ask the human resources department at the enterprise, the consulting unit, and have a written description for you.
Prepare for the “return day” of the working pregnant at work
The time when women just needed to stay home and take care of their children was long gone. Today, after giving birth, pregnant women still go back to work as before. Only a few women choose to stay at home to raise children full time. In order to make the “return” more favorable, we suggest:
- Notify the workplace in advance of the expected return date. If you return before the deadline, you will be like a hero.
- Before leaving, organize your files and assigned projects orderly and systematically. This will make your successor thank you and give you lots of compliments. Besides, keep a record of the work that is in progress, along with a list of necessary contact information.
- Don’t promise to keep working while you’re on leaving. No one knows in advance what time a mother will have to spend with her children and the related fatigue. It is difficult for pregnant women at work to undertake the work and complete the schedule as before.
Today’s pregnant women tend to work until their due date. Besides, they are less eager to welcome babies than stay-at-home peers. Even so, always make sure your baby is the first priority. You can adjust yourself to the situation, but the baby can’t.
Flexible working trends
Depending on the nature of the job and each business, working pregnant woman can take the job home. The trend of working online is gradually expanding, though still quite limited. Here are 3 ways working pregnant can apply:
1. Negotiate with your superiors and / or human resources department to get a flexible working plan for yourself. A part of the bosses expressed concern that the pregnant office lady will not return after the vacation. If you’re a highly skilled worker, it will be harder for businesses to find a replacement.
2. Don’t be too confident, though, saying: “I will only work 3 days a week.” Instead, focus on work plans that will ensure results for the company. This will help you keep a job and a sustainable source of income. In addition, this is an effective measure for businesses to reduce costs.
3. After giving birth, new mothers can consider options to bring their children to work. This is possible, and such moms still get the job done. 4. Consider part-time or freelance job opportunities. Most of these jobs only require 3-4 hours / day with a sound income. In addition, freelance job networks around the world can bring quite good income for moms. However, these networks are becoming more and more competitive due to the participation of men.
