Most women continue to work during pregnancy, but you should not need to suffer to do so.
By making some reasonable accommodations, easing morning sickness, managing fatigue, and handling workplace relations, you can successfully cope with pregnancy at your place of employment. With a few simple changes, you can remain safe and comfortable at work.
Below are 8 tips to help you remain save and comfortable at work.
1. Avoid Hazardous Materials And Dangerous Activities
Some chemicals are known to negatively impact fetal growth. Furthermore, some activities like heavy lifting or performing x-rays are known to be dangerous for pregnant women. If you’re in a job with dangerous conditions, you should ask to be shifted to other duties not involving chemicals handling, heavy lifting, or x-rays for the duration of your pregnancy and lactation.
If you work in an industry that handles chemicals, find out immediately what is safe for you to be around and what is not.
2. Make Physical Accommodations For Yourself
Try to make your work experience as comfortable as possible. If you’ll be sitting, choose a comfortable chair. If you’ll be standing in one spot, add an additional mat under your feet.
If you’ll be at a computer, aim to create an ergonomically correct workstation. If you need to grab or pick up items for instance, in retail work, consider using a grabber arm in order to avoid excess bending.
3. Wear Comfortable Clothing And Shoes
Even if your regular clothing still fits, it may press on your body in uncomfortable ways. You can help ease any discomfort and feel cute by wearing specially-made maternity clothes. You may also need to change your footwear.
Choose shoes that cushion your feet, while allowing room for swelling. Dressing in layers can also be a good way to cope with hot flashes.
4. Snack Often
Although it is called morning sickness, pregnancy-related nausea can strike at any time. The best way to keep this at bay is to keep a little bit of food in your tummy at all times. Keep healthy snacks with you at work.
Fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, crackers, cheese, milk/non-dairy drinks, and water are good selections to have at hand. Try to avoid snacking on high-sugar, low-quality foods. These can contribute to feeling tired.
5. Avoid Nausea Triggers
These can be drastically different for everyone, but it won’t take you long to decipher what makes your stomach turn. Avoid eating foods or encountering smells that trigger your nausea.
Consider moving your work station if possible, or asking co-workers to alter their behaviors if you think it will help. Some common triggers include: Food smells, perfume smells, coffee, greasy foods, visual triggers, such as watching people eat.
6. Try Natural Alternatives
You also have a number of natural nausea remedies available to you that you can explore. Every person is different, so you will need to experiment to find something that works for you. You might try, mint essential oil, tea, or candies, ginger tea, hard candies, ginger chews, or supplements, acupressure therapy such as motion sickness bracelets, acupuncture, hypnosis, aromatherapy.
7. Stay hydrated
Particularly if you are prone to morning sickness (but even if you are not), staying hydrated can help keep you healthy and comfortable during your pregnancy. Drinking water after you eat may also help prevent heartburn.
Plain water is your best option, but sparkling water, coconut water, non-dairy milks, and occasional fruit juice are good choices, too. If you have been vomiting, it is especially important to consume fluids.
8. Take Frequent Breaks
Taking short, frequent breaks can help keep your energy up while you’re at work. Getting up and walking around or resting your eyes in a dark room for a few minutes can do wonders for your mood and help counter fatigue.
Do this as often as you are able during your work day. Speak to your employer about working short breaks into your daily schedule.
Credit: HelpLine
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