Watching the bump grow is exciting!
What’s not exciting is the prospect of working up until the day you give birth. Here are some tips to maintain a career while pregnant.
Know Your Rights:
They’re important to know.
1. According to the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 you cannot be fired from your job as a result of your pregnancy. Here are some of the Act’s related protections: Facts About Pregnancy Discrimination.
2. Maternity Leave: The Family Medical Leave Act grants employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth of a child. There are some exceptions to this rule- such as if your place of employment has less than 50 employees. Investigate the details.
3. State Specific Laws – There are hosts of these laws as well. Research this for your particular state. For instance, California has the Pregnancy Disability Leave Law, which allows for up to 16 weeks of leave while pregnant. This applies to medical conditions which don’t allow you to perform your job- extreme morning sickness is an example.
4. “Pregnancy Packages”- many employers have pre-set packages which detail your rights, applicable laws, the company’s policies, and other resources. Because the question is: why reinvent the wheel if someone’s already done it?
How to Take Maternity Leave:
Plan in advance how much maternity leave you will take and communicate it to your boss as soon as you feel comfortable. This will allow your boss and colleagues to more effectively plan for your absence and relieve stress.
1. Familiarize Yourself with Your Company’s Leave Policies
2. Plan Your Transition- Before you tell your boss about your pregnancy, put together a transition plan for large projects and duties. This will likely make your boss feel like you are making a sincere effort.
Doctor Appointments:
Try to schedule them after work (or before work or during lunch). Leaving during the workday will add to any tension/nervousness that already exists around your upcoming absence.
8:30 PM Bedtime?
Get on a schedule that allows you to get a full night’s sleep (whatever that means for you). Being overly fatigued is a production-buster at work and can set in motion unpleasant side effects. Forgetfulness and absentmindedness being a normal side effect to pregnancy, do not exacerbate that by running on empty in the sleep department.
This may involve cutting some things out of your day. For instance, if you typically make dinner- perhaps it’s time you get your husband a copy of the Barefoot Contessa, so he can cook while you get the rest of your “activities” out of the way.
Don’t Stress:
You will be the most effective at work (and most helpful to your baby) if you keep your stress level as low as possible.
P.S. The image at the top makes for a great shower gift: Bun in the Oven Favors
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