For many of us, taking time off work during pregnancy is not an option. Sometimes you work until the last possible minute in your pregnancy, to later be able to spend as much time as you can with your baby.

Your type of work

Your type of job will influence how you feel during pregnancy. There are jobs that require more of a physical effort, or long hours standing, others doing repetitive work. This might be difficult to endure during the first months of pregnancy, when exhaustion is common, and also in the last months when the size of your belly causes other problems like swelling of the legs. 

You should also determine if you are doing a job that is a health risk for the development of your pregnancy because of the types of chemicals you handle or possible infections you might be exposed to. But with the exception of dangerous jobs, that will require you to do another activity during these months, there are ways in which you can alleviate the discomfort related to clerical or retail jobs.

Tips to help you endure discomfort at work

During pregnancy you develop a number of symptoms that may be more uncomfortable, depending on your type of job. For example, if you have a backache and are standing for long hours because you are in retail sales, the pain will get worse. If your legs tend to swell, spending long hours sitting at a desk will make the problem worse. If due to the effects of your pregnancy you have carpal tunnel syndrome, sitting in front of a computer is not going to help your problem.

Although you will probably have to bear some discomfort during pregnancy (whether you work or not), taking some precautions will help lessen the discomfort.

• If you work sitting at a desk, stand up every 20 minutes and walk around the office. Go see a co-worker in stead of sending her an e-mail, go to the water fountain to drink or simply walk around. It’s important to improve blood circulation in your legs now that your blood volume has increased considerably.

• If you work on your feet, and you are behind a counter, look for a step stool six or seven inches high and alternate putting your feet up, one leg at a time. If you are sitting, place a box, a foot stool or a chair where you can put up your feet for as long as possible. Your circulation will benefit from that.

• Use a pregnancy support girdle to give your back more support during those hours you spend standing or sitting at the office. Your muscles are now more relaxed because of your hormones and some extra help will do you good.

• Practice appropriate exercises during your pregnancy outside office hours. Exercise, as long as your doctor doesn’t say otherwise, will reduce your discomfort and will give you more physical resistance for the hours you have to spend doing your job.

• Stay well hydrated. Drink a lot of water; even if you have to go to the bathroom often (those walks will do you good). And don’t forget to follow a well-balanced diet and rest as much as you can at home.

Talk to your doctor about any discomfort you experience that worries you. Don’t rule it out as “normal” during pregnancy, because it might be indicative of some other condition.