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2nd Trimester
Trouble working... any advice? (sorry kinda long)
I'm only 18 (almost 19) weeks and I've been having trouble working already. I am in housekeeping at a private school and the work is causing me to have bad back pain and cramps. My doctor told me to take off 2 weeks to see if it makes my back feel better and then when I go back to either work less hours or do less work (both of which are impossible). I know when I go back to work I will still get those pains but I really didn't want to stop working this soon. I can't really afford to stop working quite yet. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get medical leave for any period of time since I will not be returning to work after the baby is born. My mother (who works with me) told me I should try to get paid for as long as I can if I can't work any longer but I feel kind of bad because when I'm out she has to do my work plus her own and I feel like the longer I take off and don't quit the longer it'll take my boss to hire someone to replace me which means it's that much longer my mother has to do my work too. I don't know what to do. My mother told me not to worry about it and knowing my boss no matter when I quit it'll still take her forever to replace me but my mother has enough health problems as it is without working herself to death. I would continue to work and deal with the pain but my doctor said she's worried that those pains can cause preterm labor which of course got me worried. I already had a miscarriage scare a couple weeks ago so now I'm extra worried. Sorry if this doesn't make a whole lot of sense, it sounds better in my head. What do you guys think? Any advice is much appreciated!
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Re: Trouble working... any advice? (sorry kinda long)
I was housekeeping at a very busy resort up until my 23rd week. If it helps put things into perspective for you, I was having major issues with back pain and cramping also. My boss and I went back and forth on when I should start mat leave because that line of work is just too tough for a pregnant woman to do until 8.5 months. I was supposed to be leaving work as of March 1st and I thought I could work through the pain. Well I started having realllly bad back issues, to the point where after an hour of work my back was locking up and I couldn't acutually walk. So I went to the Dr and he pulled me out of work that day and said there is no way I can keep going like this and I am now having massage therapy on my back. I had to quit work Feb 1st rather than March 1st.
What im trying to say is trying to "work throught the pain" could lead to more serious issues for you and baby. Do you have any form of insurance or coverage that would help you financially?
Can you afford to leave your job now? It sounds like you aren't planning on returning after the baby is born, so you're really only talking about 3-4 months of pay. I'd say if you can swing it financially, it sounds like it's better for everyone if you leave now.
If money is a real issue, maybe you can talk to your supervisor about making accommodations that will allow you to work for longer. For example, maybe you could take more breaks. Even if it means extending your work day, it might be better for you if you could sit down for 15 minutes every hour, rather than working straight through.
At the end of the day, you need to prioritize your own health and your baby's health over work. It stinks when money is tight, but you don't want to end up with huge medical bills because you tried to work through the pain. Good luck!