Your Pregnancy-at-work Toolkit
Being prepared to
deal with any pregnancy symptoms during working hours can help you to
feel on the ball and remain professional with a minimum amount of fuss.
You may want to include:
Bottles of fresh water to stay hydrated and alert
Decaf coffee or tea
Healthy snacks to keep you going
Natural remedies
for headaches, heartburn, and nausea A cushion, heating pad, or hot water bottle for backache A footstool to keep your feet up (under your desk, of course) An alarm clock, in case you manage to catch a few winks during a break A toothbrush and toothpaste, to help recover from vomiting episodes A notebook listing ongoing projects and their status Your job description, highlighting your regular routines and tasks A list of everyone you work with and their contact details A master list of file names and locations on your computer, with a password set up to access all personal files
Rest and recharge
Take extra breaks now
and then to recharge your batteries if you need to, but make sure you
keep up with your work and maintain a professional manner to set the
standard for how people treat you and your pregnancy.
Hazards at Work
It is completely safe to
continue working in most jobs while pregnant. However, it is important
to be aware of any potential risks to you and/or your baby. If your job
involves any of the situations listed here, you are within your legal
rights to ask for changes to be made to your job description and working
practice.
Working with animals, which may carry E. coli or organisms that cause tularemia, toxoplasmosis, or histoplasmosis Working with chemicals,
such as those used in medical, dental, or pharmaceutical occupations,
as well as in painting, cleaning, farming, dry-cleaning, gardening,
pest-control, and carpet-cleaning Exposure to food hazards, such as listeria, E. coli, and salmonella, which can be encountered by handling raw foods Exposure to secondhand smoke, which crosses the placental barrier and increases the level of carbon monoxide in your baby’s developing brain Exposure to radiation, from X-rays Exposure to viral hazards, in medical settings or even childcare facilities, where you may be in contact with viruses that may harm your baby
Requirement to do heavy lifting
Long hours spent standing or sitting
Working excessive hours
Working in awkward spaces and work stations
Working under stress,
an excess of which has now been linked to low birth weight, high blood
pressure, and developmental and behavior problems in your baby
Exposure to violence
Wearing a tight-fitting uniform, which can make you uncomfortable and exacerbate pregnancy symptoms
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