Working during pregnancy

elm0262148 · July 2016

Hello everyone, first time posting a discussion here. Just wanted to get some advice or opinions. This is my first pregnancy, and I'm not far along (just 2 months). I work an awful lot, roughly 40 hours a week, and I do lots of heavy lifting, bending, and stand for 8 hours without a break. It concerns me, because I worry about the way it's going to effect the baby. I've voiced my concerns to management, who promptly told me I'm not the first woman to be pregnant, followed by a "get over yourself." What should I do? What would you do? Are the physical demands of my job something I should be concerned about?

Xstatic3333 · July 2016

What does your OB think?

cantalopes24 · July 2016

If you were doing this job for awhile before you were pregnant then I wouldn't worry about it. Once you no longer can do your job they have to make reasonable accommodations for you but you may need documentation from your doctor. I wouldn't consider 40 hours a week working an awful lot.

elm0262148 · July 2016

Well, I won't get to see my OB until the 18th of this month. But this isn't a job I've had long, I was a full time college student first. Recently, after my classes ended, I started this job - I was initially supposed to be a part-time employee.

varimama · July 2016

Anyone who works full time is going to put in at least 40 hrs a week. Personally my job is more like 45-50hrs so the time isn't as concerning as the heavy lifting/standing. You should talk to your OB about this and see what they think. I wouldn't worry about the lifting you have been doing but it'd be good to find out when you need to start cutting back.

Who did you talk to at your job that told you to get over yourself? Do you have an occupational nurse at your job that you can talk to about accommodations or at least HR? My concern would be that if someone actually told you to get over yourself when you were asking a question that concerned you is that they won't be very accommodating when you do actually have to cut back on the lifting and standing.

elm0262148 · July 2016

Well, I was talking to my manager. I was just trying to discuss future changes to my job details, if it came down to it. He just wasn't having it and told me to get over myself. It was only because I didn't expect them to make me lift 50 and 60 pound boxes later on down the road, there are other positions I could do, I wanted to know if I'd be moved. I could call our HR rep, but I wanted to handle it internally; so I spoke with our General Manager, I no longer work with that manager.

BumpasaurusRex · July 2016

I agree with everyone else in regards to the lifting and amount of hours. If you still feel uncomfortable, talk with your doctor.

Now, in regards to the discussion you had with management, how they handled that was very unprofessional. I'd go directly to HR and voice your concerns but I'd wait until you speak to your doctor.

elm0262148 · July 2016

It totally shocked me when he said it. I was stunned and had no idea how to handle it. I wasn't on the clock at the time, my shift had just ended, and I didn't want to use company time to have the discussion. I just kind of left. And we "handled" it the next day.

Xstatic3333 · July 2016

How frustrating. I think it would be worth an early call to your OB to explain the situation in detail and see what they think. I would take notes and document your conversation with your manager, and deal with HR for further questions. Although you can't be terminated for your pregnancy, as a new employee they can always use other excuses and you want to protect yourself.

elm0262148 · July 2016

I think that's what I'll do. My OB has mentioned to me that I'd need to take it easy, mainly because I have medical conditions that can be effected by my job, but we've never discussed my job and my pregnancy together, and what she thinks. And I haven't mentioned any of this to her, my first

scottipino · July 2016

Ask your OB for specific lifting guidelines that you can give your work. This happens more often then you think and if they can switch you to something less strenuous later down the road that would be useful. In terms of hours- I worked between 80-100 hrs a week during my 1st and 2nd pregnancies. Was it ideal- no but my job required it and I survived. I don't work those types of hours anymore but do work 40-50 hrs per week and have after hour call requirements.

LaurenAshley04 · July 2016

It's not the hours that would concern me but the lifting certainly would. Around 6 months I did a bunch of painting and I was fine. Worked 40 hours a week ect. I was not exactly fit for my first pregnancy but at around 7 months I did some PC installs (crawling/bending/lifting) in the dead of summer in a warm building. I got super overheated and couldn't cool down, pounding headache and intense Braxton hicks. I listened to my body....stopped, drank water, took a Tylenol, deep breaths. Called the OB. Eventually it ended.

Needless to say I didn't do anything else like that at work the rest of the summer.

Listen to to your body! It will tell you when your over doing it! Also ask the OB about weight restrictions... I feel like it was #30 unless you have other complications or you start feeling off.

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