Serving while pregnant?

brooke&ryan&baby

Just curious if there are any of you who are/have been servers while pregnant.

I am now 33w4d and still serving about 30-40 hrs/wk. Not much has really changed, I am still on my feet for the majority of my shift, still carrying trays, cleaning floors, etc. After a 10+ hour day of course my feet are throbbing - like any server's would be. Also the late hours are starting to catch up with me. I just don't know how much longer I can do it for.

Wondering if you have been a server when did you take time off?  I've heard both people taking time off starting at about 24w to serving right up until their due dates!

brooke&ryan&baby

Or just for general curiosity - when are you planning on taking time off and what is your profession?

shutupanddance07

My cousin did banquet waitressing when she was pregnant with her two oldest. With the first one, she stopped at around 30 weeks because her doctor told her to, and her company counted it as disability pay so it didn't dig into her maternity leave time. With her second, she stopped a few weeks before her due date, because she wasn't planning to go back. 

I think it depends on how you feel, how your employer handles this sort of situation/ your financial needs at the moment, and what your doctor thinks.

 

526SadieSadie

A friend of mine waited tables until the night her water broke, which was two or three days after her due date, I have a desk job and I was working more or less half days the last two weeks of my pregnancy (I was one week late). 

Can you ask your manager if you could sit down a little more?  Or maybe a table busser could help you carry trays?  Talk to your doctor/midwife about it, if its a danger to the baby at any point, obviously you need to slow down or be excused from work until baby arrives safe and sound.

littlemac1117

I work at Starbucks, so I do a lot of bending, stooping, kneeling, etc, as well as being on my feet for 6 hours at a time. I am planning on going as long as I can before going on leave, because I want to maximize the amount I get to stay home with A after he is born. But I am already starting to question how much longer I can keep doing my job effectively.

minervacullen

I was doing hair when pregnant with DS. I had been doing it for 7 years and thought I'd be able to work through to my EDD. Yeah, didn't happen. I had to get several Dr.'s notes and research the information about the federal law regarding pregnant women. I ended up going down to very part time about 32w and stopped all together at 36w.

kdg31684

I am a nurse working 12 hr shifts, am taking off 2 weeks before my scheduled CS

atrinh11

I am not a server right now, but I have been in the past (for many years). I have no idea how you are still doing it. I am also 33 weeks, and the idea of even one shift of serving sounds like torture. I get exhausted just working my desk job for 8 hours a day at this point. I guess I don't have much advice, other than I am impressed you are still doing it at this point. Are you able to just do shorter shifts? Like work a lunch shift and be the first server cut so you can get off your feet? It might help prolong how long you can effectively do your job. Just a thought? Good luck!

graciesmurf

I'm not, but one of my close friends served while she was pregnant.  She started her leave time at 35 weeks.  She had an emergency c-section at apx. 39 weeks (for medical reasons unrelated to serving) and her doctor told her that her recovery would be easier and faster because her body was used to exercise from serving. 

She said that it really helped to to use Dr. Scholls inserts.  She also had a problem with the skin on her feet getting really dry and cracking when they swelled up and she used Aquaphor for that.  She said she'd rub a thin layer on her feet before she went to work.  She also said that she'd wear nursing pads EVERY shift.  She only leaked a little colostrum, but she was always concerned that she'd have a major leak and the customer would complain/leave a bad tip.  And her most important advice was that no matter how busy she was if she had to go to the bathroom she went right away.

sillyrocky

Like pp said, listen to your doctor and do what you need to.  Last time, I worked up until DD was born, but it was soooo tough.  I took an extra day off some weeks rightt at the end and used any paid time off I could for it.  Another employee where I work, who is also pregnant, has a doctors note about needing more frequent breaks and slightly longer breaks.  The company had no problem providing them, but the request was longer than the given paid break time, so any time over that paid break has to be taken off the clock. 

kateraid

I'm serving still at 32 weeks and will be done October 6th. We don't get breaks other than being punched out between lunch and dinner on a double shift. I am finding it tough especially carrying so low and having a lot of pressure in my pelvic area. I'm hoping I get through these next few weeks because my body is so sore after each shift and makes it hard for me to get stuff done on days off. 

mrsmklynch

I was a server while I was pregnant with DS1. I gained a ton of weight in spite of being constantly on my feet and it was really hard on my body. Still, I worked right up to the end. We were closed for Thanksgiving and my contractions started that night, so I didn't go back to work on Friday. DS was born on Sunday. It's hard but it's do-able.

rnbeth477

I'm a nurse too and on my feet for 12 hour shifts. Im a casual nurse so I don't work a lot. I mostly stay home with DS, but during the summers I work more. My DH teaches, so he stays home with DS.

I'm 37 weeks tomorrow and I've now stopped working. My last shift was last week. I was exhausted at the end of my shifts. My feet and back hurt so bad at the end of the day.

Some suggestions, wear a belly brace..I've seen them at babies r us. Support stockings will help too. Plus, comfortable shoes with gel inserts.