Many women find that 34-36 weeks of pregnancy is an ideal time to start parental leave. So, if you want to start parental leave at 36 weeks, you need to tell your employer about your plans by the time you're 26 weeks pregnant.
In most cases, women with a healthy pregnancy will work until close to their due date. They may consider taking maternity leave during the final days or weeks of the pregnancy, or they may prefer to work until the day their baby is born, which will allow them to have more time off after their baby is born.
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.
Working long hours whilst pregnant
If a pregnant employee begins to work over 40 hours a week and is subject to a lot of stress, it could be harmful to their health and the health of their unborn child.
Most employers will allow you to have a few days off without a doctor's note, but for longer periods of time they can ask for a doctor's note. If your sickness is pregnancy related, you should ask your doctor or midwife to confirm this in your sick note as this will be important to ensure this time off is disregarded.
But it's important to be aware of symptoms of overexertion in pregnancy and make sure you aren't overdoing it. Overheating is one risk, and symptoms like dizziness, a headache, or chest pain while working out can signal a health problem or pregnancy complication.
In most women, working until your due date is safe for both you and the baby. It can even be beneficial and help keep you active during pregnancy.
It is up to you to decide when you want to stop work. You can work right up until the date the baby is born, unless: You are absent from work because of your pregnancy in the four weeks before your expected week of childbirth.
Since every pregnancy, labor and delivery is different, there's no “official” maternity leave start date. Based on the FMLA, maternity leave can begin before baby is born, if an expecting parent chooses to use some of that time for prenatal appointments, severe morning sickness, bedrest or another complication.
The earliest you can start your maternity leave is usually 11 weeks before your due date. However, even if you decide to work right up until your due date, if you end up taking time off with a pregnancy related illness during your last month of pregnancy, your leave will start then.
Week 35 – your 3rd trimester. Many choose to begin their maternity leave around now, and then use the next few weeks to prepare for the baby's arrival. Others prefer to work until the birth. You can do what feels right for you.
Employees should report pregnancy-related sickness absences like regular sickness absences. Employers can ask workers to provide a doctor's note confirming that the absence is pregnancy related.
You are entitled to receive the same sick pay as other employees. If your employer normally pays contractual sick pay, you are entitled to receive it during pregnancy in the usual way. You should check your contract to see how much sick pay you are entitled to or ask your employer, union or HR department.
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).
Tips for managing pregnancy exhaustion in the workplace
Take regular breaks . If you sit at a desk, get up and walk around every 45 minutes to an hour. If you work on your feet, take breaks to sit down as often. If you work on your feet , ask your supervisor if you can sit for all, or at least some, of your tasks.
A high-risk pregnancy is one in which a woman and her fetus face a higher-than-normal chance of experiencing problems. These risks may be due to factors in the pregnancy itself, or they may stem from preexisting maternal medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, or lupus.
For a pregnant employee, leave can start up to 6 weeks before the expected date of birth, or earlier if agreed. If the employee is not giving birth (for example the leave is adoption related or the employee who isn't pregnant is the parent taking leave), leave starts on the date of birth or placement of the child.
Australian Government Parental Leave Pay Scheme. Eligible employees who are the primary carer of a newborn or newly adopted child get up to 18 weeks' PLP, which is paid at the National Minimum Wage.
Having at least six months off work after giving birth is optimal for baby bonding, but women who take more than a year's maternity leave could see their careers suffer, according to experts.
Sleep should never be seen as a luxury. It's a necessity — especially when you're pregnant. In fact, women who are pregnant need a few more hours of sleep each night or should supplement nighttime sleep with naps during the day, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Weight gain in pregnancy varies greatly. Most pregnant women gain between 10kg and 12.5kg (22lb to 28lb), putting on most of the weight after week 20. Much of the extra weight is due to your baby growing, but your body will also be storing fat, ready to make breast milk after your baby is born.
It is normally up to you to decide when you wish to start your maternity leave. However, if you are off sick with a pregnancy-related illness in the last four weeks before your expected week of childbirth, your employer can ask you to start your maternity leave – see box below for how to work it out.
Common reasons that necessitate starting leave early include threatened premature labor or increased blood pressure. If your doctor orders you to stop working after you have submitted your form stating you expect to work until delivery, you will update the request, reflecting the new date that your leave began.