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kazzam34 
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Joined: 11 June 2010
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 Topic: Work!!!
Posted: 15 June 2010 at 10:19pm |
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Hi All
Just wondering how people are combining work with pregnancy.
I find my job very stressful, and feel constantly exhausted. I have spoken to my boss about my concerns re: the workload and the fact that I need some support as my busiest period at work will be during the 2 months before I leave.
My boss said I was exaggerating about the workload, and that babies are born in to all sorts of stressful situations so that it is rubbish that stress is a problem in pregnancy!!!
My husbands advice is to work at a steady pace and not let myself get stressed by the demands being placed on me, but it is hard to do that when there is someone literally standing over you demanding that you do something, or requesting that you do something immediately that will take hours.
I have mentioned it to my obstetrician but he just takes my blood pressure which is always fine, so I don't think there's any possibility of him signing me off work early.
Kazzam
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gypsynita
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Joined: 01 March 2008
Location: Hamilton
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Posted: 16 June 2010 at 5:51am |
be very very careful... it IS more stressful working when you're pregnant - especially if you're used to being able to do quite a lot and then suddenly you can't cope with that workload anymore.
My job through my first pregnancy was pretty stressful (not just the work itself, but the work environment), doing 14+ hour days, and I ended up breaking down really early on, borderline pre-natal depression.
If your boss isn't listening to you is there someone higher up you can go to? I found cutting down to 4 days a week and being really strict with myself on the hours i worked really helped. At the end of the day, if you get too stressed you may end up having to leave work early on mat leave so better to deal with it now (in their perspective) and have you working longer...
7  and good luck!
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Anita
Mum to Cian (Aug 08), Josh (Jun 10)
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SpecialK
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Posted: 16 June 2010 at 8:33am |
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I'd be very careful if I was you. I was in a fairly stressful job with #1, and got given a project 2 months before I finished which was very full on. Luckily my boss was very understanding and I started working from home every friday which took some of the pressure off.
In retrospect I should have had more time off work than the two weeks I ended up having (I had bub at 37 weeks) as I found the adjustment from fast pace, high stress job to sahm very hard.
I'd see what you can do about cutting down your hours - your boss doesn't seem to have the best attitude. Everything is harder when you are pregnant. It's not fair or reasonably to expect women to continue being superwoman at work, then supermum after, and not break down. Something has to give, and you don't want that to be your health.
(sorry that came out a bit preachy... I feel so strongly about it though! Good luck with whatever you decide to do).
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rachaels
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Joined: 10 May 2010
Location: Auckland
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Posted: 16 June 2010 at 10:17am |
Kazzam it sounds like you need to slow down! At the end of the day, your boss can't tell you what to do in this situation. If you are stressed, your baby is feeling it - and although your boss is right and you can be completely stressed right through and still have a healthy baby - why would you???
That's a hard situation because your boss obviously doesn't understand the demands that pregnancy places your body under. Kia kaha and stand up for yourself - your health is more important than your work any day.
Really sorry if this sounds like I'm flaming you! Absolutely not my intention. But your precious little rugrat is worth fighting for in my opinion!
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T_Rex
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Posted: 16 June 2010 at 3:19pm |
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How far along are you? I stopped doing extra as my pregancy progresses - I still did what was necessary but I stopped staying late etc. Then from about 34 weeks I used my annual leave to work 4-day weeks from then til 38 weeks. Could you do something like that?
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Lucky apple
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Posted: 16 June 2010 at 4:35pm |
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It doesn't sound very fair of your boss to be placing such demands on you and telling you how you should feel. Just because babies can be "born into all sorts of stressful situations" does not mean that your baby has to be.
Listen to your body. It's sending you clear messages about how you are feeling - you said " I find my job very stressful, and feel constantly exhausted." You don't have to have high blood pressure just to prove you are stressed! It doesn't sound like your boss is very accommodating, but you are absolutely entitled to use your sick leave when you need it. You've been clear with him (or her?!) about your limitations and that is really wise.
Pregnancy is hard work. Even things you would typically be resilient to will be harder - you might be more emotional and coping with things that you usually cope with fine can be much harder. If you need to finish earlier DO. At the end of the day, someone else can do the job - and if you had to leave tomorrow, truth is, they'd cope.
....my boss has been the same. ...it's certainly easier to give this advice than it is to take it....but really, you can only push yourself so much!
TAKE CARE!
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kazzam34
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Posted: 16 June 2010 at 5:46pm |
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Thanks for your comments. I have already asked to leave at 34 weeks, and am using some of my annual leave to do it.
I'm also trying my best not to get involved in things unless I really have to, for example there is a big thing going on at work that will be September/October and they wanted me to go to the meeting. So I reminded them I won't actually be there in September and October so unless it is desperate then I really don't want to have to be involved.
I have also been used to dealing with lots of things that aren't my job responsibility, because other people are "too busy" but just recently I have started re-directing the people to the staff members who are responsible for that particular area.
So, all in all, I am trying to limit my stress. It's just my boss who drops things on me at the last minute where I don't seem to have any control.
The best thing I keep doing is reminding myself how many days I've got left to work - only 62, and everyday I knock a day off so I can feel that there will be an end to it.
Kazzam
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HuntersMama
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Posted: 16 June 2010 at 7:06pm |
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My work involved alot of working and standing and my boss was really good, but I did keep up with my workload.
Atleast you have bought it to your bosses attention now. Defiantely take it slow, you need to be relaxed and well rested before bubs arrives.
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Work!!!
