Working while pregnant.

[mumma2be95]

Okay, so I work in a busy, popular supermarket - Safeway and I'm from Australia so it's the month of Christmas here nearly so it's flat out busy. People are flat out buying big turkeys, hams, boxes of drinks etc. And as part of my job, I have to lift those things but I know you can't do ANY heavy lifting while pregnant, just the simple stuff and leaving my job could be an option because my babies daddy earns $850 a week but I want to be independent and feel useless at home, plus we would need the extra money. I work about 20 hours a week earning $400 every week so the money is fairly good. I already know I'll be leaving about 5/6 months when things get hard but right now, money is very much needed as I'm only 6weeks so there's alot to buy still, even though I have so much support that people will buy but if I hold out at work, they can give me 3 months off then come back after bubba is born but if I quit, there's most likely no way I could go back although, I'm leaning more towards not continueing working after the 5/6 months when I leave. Also, I only had a three hour shift today, but that means no break so I was flat out on my feet all day and ended up having sore feet and a sore back. That can't be good for the baby, can it?

Can I please get the best and most reasonable advice and tips as I can? This is a very exhausting situation right now.
Also, my babies daddy is casual so sometimes they may call him a few days during the week and tell him he doesn't have to work.

Help?
xxxx

 

[mummytokeelie]

hi i know how you feel with my daughter i was doing 8hr shifts on my feet up until i was about 8 months! have you told them your pregnant? i know its early but if they know they can limit the amount of time you are on your feet and the amount of lifting you do? can you not do a few hours on your feet, then a few on a checkout or something, means you wont have to leave, also could you not cut your hours down would take some stress off you but still means you have a job rather then quitting xx

 

[MummyMana]

I work at Argos so before I was pregnant my job involved lifting flat pack, heavy household appliances and God knows what else (some of it from high shelves on rickety ladders), I told them as soon as I found out and now all my shifts are on the till and they even let me sit down during work :O :L they had to full out a health and safety thing for me. I'm getting terrible hours now though, i'm getting around £36 per week I don't intend to return after my maternity leave

 

[mumma2be95]

Thanks girls. I went to work yesterday and was intending to today but my mum wont wake up! I dont wanna lose my job but its looking good. Ive already had three days off cause of morning sickness. Now this? It feels like I cant rely on anyone but its hard when I need to take public transport and I had a long early shift today which the pay would have been so good then this happens? I wanted to go to work and try as best I can to go but its hard when I rely on my mum to take me just this once and she doesnt wake up! Ugh.

 

[divershona]

in the first few months of pregnancy i'm pretty sure its a case of don't lift anything more than what you are used to, so say you're used to carrying around a 15kg toddler ... then you'll be fine to continue doing that, just don't over exert yourself, and i'd tell work as soon as possible as it will be better in the long run.

I have told work that I am pregnant but not any of my family yet, yeah i know a bit silly maybe but work needed to know as i obviously have midwife appointments etc.

 

[bsd]

I think its different with every woman! My mom literally scrubbed floors on her hands and knees until she was 9 months pregnant.
But with me, I worked at a coffee shop that is extremely fast pace, I was constantly going going going on my feet for 8 hours and would only get a lunch and a 15 minute break. I told them right away when I found out because we have to carry the stock up and down the stairs and cases of cream are pretty heavy! My manager was supportive and worked around me not carrying heavy things, but around 8 weeks I started getting morning sickness and thats when it got tough I was getting sick at work all the time and I had absolutely no energy. I had to cut my hours down from 40 a week to about 30, and I would work until 3 in the afternoon which was awful because by 1 or 2 it was lunch time and since I couldn't eat until after 3, I would get really sick! I talk to my manager about only giving me the early 5-12 shifts, and taking out my saturday completely because that was the busiest day and it was just too much, but literally the next schedule that came out I had almost all 7-3 shifts! I was so mad at my manager I went straight in her office and we got in a little fight a couple weeks later I decided enough was enough (the morning sickness was just awful, I was literally running off the floor all the time to get sick) and I put in my 2 week notice!
I thought I'd share my story because I just felt so guilty for not working when I have a baby on the way, and I knew how important money was! I know plenty of people who work right up until they deliver and I felt like I was being a big baby! But to be honest I'm glad I did quit. Some woman may be able to work their whole pregnancy but every pregnancy is different! I felt like my full time job should be taking care of myself, and that's exactly what I did. I made sure I ate right, if I lost my meal (which I did often) I would eat again so I didn't loose weight. I was really REALLY underweight when I got pregnant so I knew how important it was to keep the fat on! I slept more and nursed myself back to health during the sick times. I also prepared myself like crazy for the LO, doing research and making lists of everything I had to do! I turned being pregnant into my full time job, and I do not regret it.
My suggestion for you, tell your employment about your pregnancy and your weight limit you are allowed to lift. Maybe they will work with you when you are feeling winded and tired by letting you sit down for a minute and drink water. And if you feel like you really shouldn't be working right now then dont! I was in the same situation with my OH, (he had a really good job and made decent money) and we are doing just fine! I admit it was stressful and there were times I wished I worked even 10 or 20 hours a week just to bring in a little money, but we did manage! Good luck hun and really take time to explore your options! You might be able to work something out with your supervisor where you can come back if you need to!

 

[mumma2be95]

My work knows. I told my family and friends but not work yet but somehow they found out before I could tell them! Wasnt impressed because I wonder what they were saying behind my back... I wanted to tell them when I was ready. Anyway, they asked if I wanted me hours cut down but I said no. I need the money. I guess they were being supportive but they pretty much said I have to work all my shifts flat out because they are short staffed for the next few weeks so that made me feel bad.

 

[bsd]

Wow that's really unprofessional that they approached you before you told them. I'd be irritated too. But hopefully they work with you when you need it your LO is the most important thing right now! When you do decide what you want to do have a talk with your supervisor to discuss your options!

 

[mumma2be95]

I know right. It really upsets me. I will be talking to them tomorrow when I go back. Thanks. Xx

 

[bsd]

Nooo problem good luck!

 

[tinkerbelle93]

I worked full-time at McDonalds when I was pregnant, we really needed the money. Once I told them I was pregnant I didn't have to do lifting and was offered extra short breaks if I wanted them, though never really felt the need to. I worked until 12 days before my due date so was pretty big! It was an on your feet at all times job and very busy but I really don't see being pregnant as an excuse not to work as most pregnant women are happy to carry on right until their due date, being tired out and having backache will not harm your baby so don't worry.

Even though it was hard, I am so glad I did it because we saved up all my wages because my OH was also working which started off our savings nicely, then because I had worked I got £500 a month in maternity pay until LO was nine months so it is worth it xx

 

[AmandaBaby]

I really disagree with the above comment. Sorry & don't mean to be rude but every pregnancy is different. Just because one person can work right up until the end, does not mean that another can! I planned on starting leave at 36 weeks however had a bit of a minor scare at 33 weeks so I ended up actually finishing at 34 weeks. I felt terrible finishing so early because of all these silly comments like, "pregnancy is no excuse," "I worked until the end so you should too" etc etc. But honestly, finishing that early was the best thing for me and now I wouldn't change a thing! I've had so much time to just relax as well as prepare the babies room and fully clean the house which was being neglected because I was so terribly exhausted after working all day.

Being tired and having backache may not be bad for your little one but it's a crap way to feel! You're going to get little to no rest soon, so I say take as much time as you need!

 

[bsd]

I agree with the comment above mine!
I left at 26 weeks.. I had my reasons (which I think I explained in my earlier post) and I felt guilty about it WEEKS before I decided to actually do it! And although money is tight and very important, I wouldn't change a thing now! I am a very thorough person and it made me feel 100x better to be able to prepare all day long every day, and to take care of myself when I needed it! I had a pretty rough pregnancy with my symptoms and all, and my mom (who worked all the way up unitl her 9 months) had absolutely none of them!! So I agree it's different for every woman.. I mean no two pregnancies are alike!

 

[amygwen]

I would speak to your supervisor regarding the heavy lifting and standing for long periods of time. Even though it's in your job description to do these things they should be willing to help you out to make your work environment doable while pregnant. I also worked until I was induced at 40w2d and it was pretty difficult. I'm a secretary so I do a lot of sitting but I had to remember to get up and do a walk every 15 minutes. My job was harder just because of having to sit all the time when you're not supposed to when you're pregnant. Hopefully your supervisor is willing to help you out, or maybe they can find you a somewhat easier, less demanding job to do. I wouldn't quit if I were you, like you said - working will keep you busy and will keep you independent with your own money. I loved working, it helped time fly by so fast for me. Good luck!!

 

[mumma2be95]

Well now that work has found out, they've started to give me one three hour shift a week. TIME TO LEAVE! I have the support from so many people so I should be okay. Thanks anyways girlies. xxxxx

 

[MummyMana]

I know the feeling, I get 2 3-hour shifts a week :/

 

[mumma2be95]

Hmmm... I think it's time to leave then. It's a hassle travelling an hour to get there anyway, it's not worth it now.

 

[bsd]

Wow that place is extremely unprofessional!! I'm sorry hun forget that place!!

 

[MummyMana]

I wish I could leave :/ I can't stand my job, and for £30 a week after travel it doesn't seem worth it at all, but unfortunately that's £30 more than 0 and I need it :/ I got more when I was on jobseekers :/ tbh I think my employers would've let me go if I wasn't pregnant, my contract ran out in July :L

 

[tinkerbelle93]

Oops I didn't mean to offend anyone with my comment! I'm not at all saying that every pregnant woman should work full-time until 8 months pregnant, I'm just saying that a lot of women are 100% capable of doing this, and that having a bit of backache or feeling a bit big and uncomfortable aren't really reasons not to.

But saying that, ladies who happen to have complications or who are suffering really badly with pregnancy absolutely have an excuse not to work or to cut down hours, in those cases you're not working due to illness or bad suffering that just happens to be caused by your pregnancy, not just down to the fact you are pregnant, so I can really understand why some people choose not to work! It just annoys me when girls I know in real life just see being pregnant as an excuse not to work at all right from the beginning when there's nothing stopping them. xx