Most people can continue working during pregnancy. Being pregnant, however, might present challenges in the workplace. To stay healthy and productive on the job, you need to understand how to relieve common pregnancy discomforts — and know when a work task might jeopardize the pregnancy.
Mopping, washing clothes, cleaning the floor and other chores which requires you to bend is not recommended during pregnancy. Pregnancy weight gain can cause a marginal shift in the body's centre of gravity and bending during this time can be risky for the sciatic nerve (runs from the lower back to the leg).
Legally, pregnant women can continue to work the average 40 hours a week or the hours that they were working previously. However, a pregnant employee must only continue to work these hours if it is safe to do so, physically and emotionally.
A common recommendation is to not lift objects heavier than 20 pounds during pregnancy.
A healthy workout will leave you feeling a little tired at first, but energized and refreshed overall. If you feel completely drained or increasingly fatigued long after a workout, you're probably overdoing it.
A woman who is having a normal, healthy pregnancy can work right up until the start of labour. However, you can choose to stop working whenever suits you. Some women choose to stop several weeks before their due date but others will be at work even in early labour.
Answer: No, you are not legally required to tell your employer that you're pregnant as soon as you know about it or at any particular point in your pregnancy. Most employees keep their condition to themselves until they are at least through the first trimester.
It is usually illegal to fire someone for being sick during their pregnancy. Pregnant workers in California are entitled to leave under the Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (PDLL) as long as their employer has five or more employees.
Don t be surprised if you develop a bit of a 6 weeks pregnant belly. Although your 6 week embryo is still well down in your pelvis, some women, especially those who've been pregnant before, seem to show much earlier. General abdominal distention is usually the cause.
For a pregnant woman, standing all day is generally safe. Still, it's better if you're able to move around some or take breaks to sit down, especially if you work a physically demanding job.
Do not touch kitty litter or cat feces. They can cause an infection that could harm your baby. Avoid things that can make your body too hot and may be harmful to your baby, such as a hot tub or sauna. Or talk with your doctor or midwife before doing anything that raises your body temperature.
For most women, the extreme fatigue of the first trimester is soon forgotten with the glow and boost in energy that comes with the second trimester. So, if it seems like all you're doing these first few weeks is lying around, dozing, or napping, don't worry. It's normal.
Myth: You did something to cause it.
It might be stress, heavy lifting, sex, exercise, even an argument. But none of these can make you lose a pregnancy.
You'll likely notice the first signs of a bump early in the second trimester, between weeks 12 and 16. You might start showing closer to 12 weeks if you are a person of lower weight with a smaller midsection, and closer to 16 weeks if you're a person with more weight.
Although you cannot legally be fired for telling, or not telling, your employer you are pregnant, you need to consider your health and the health of your unborn child when deciding how to proceed.
Early ultrasound
If you're not sure when you became pregnant, or if you've had a previous miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, your doctor or midwife might recommend an ultrasound scan in very early pregnancy, often at 8-10 weeks. This ultrasound scan can check for the baby's heartbeat and work out the age and due date.
A new study shows that pregnant women who spend a lot of time on their feet -- and work more than 40 hours a week -- may give birth to smaller babies.
It's common to feel tired, or even exhausted, during pregnancy, especially in the first 12 weeks. Hormonal changes at this time can make you feel tired, nauseous and emotional. The only answer is to rest as much as possible.
Certain uterine conditions or weak cervical tissues (incompetent cervix) might increase the risk of miscarriage. Smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs. Women who smoke during pregnancy have a greater risk of miscarriage than do nonsmokers. Heavy alcohol use and illicit drug use also increase the risk of miscarriage.
Early pregnancy symptoms (at 6 weeks)
sore breasts. mood swings (read about mood swings in week 8) headaches. new food likes and dislikes.
Although most foods and beverages are perfectly safe to enjoy, some, like raw fish, unpasteurized dairy, alcohol, and high mercury fish, should be avoided. Plus, some foods and beverages like coffee and foods high in added sugar, should be limited in order to promote a healthy pregnancy.