Because each job, and each woman, is different, there are no hard-and-fast rules about working during pregnancy. Whatever is right for you, in your situation, is the right answer. There will be times throughout your pregnancy when working will be a challenge, but working while pregnant does not have to be difficult.

Pregnancy Discrimination

One of the most important things to know is that your employer cannot tell you to stop working or change your job responsibilities because you are pregnant. Employers cannot refuse to hire a woman, fire her, or refuse to promote her simply because she is pregnant. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act is a federal law that protects a woman's right to work while pregnant and prohibits these discriminatory practices.

Although there is a law prohibiting discrimination against pregnant women, it's simply a well-known fact that many employers view pregnancy as the first step onto the mommy track. You can avoid this by making clear your commitment to your job and making plans that show you will continue to be an important employee after you return from maternity leave.

Staying Comfortable While Working

As you may already know, pregnancy is not always the most comfortable of conditions. You may tire easily, your feet may ache, your back may hurt, you may get hungry or nauseous, you may feel hot, and so on. These things are hard enough to manage at home, but when you're working they can be even more troublesome.

Don't be afraid to ask for accommodations at your place of employment. If you need to sit more, do so. If traveling has become difficult for you, cut back. If your work area is too hot, ask for a change or more ventilation. Pregnancy does not have to change how well you do your job, but it may have to change how you physically perform your job functions. If you are experiencing problems with nausea at certain times of the day, build your schedule around that. If you find you have no energy at a certain time of the day, try to work around that. Remind yourself that any changes you make are temporary. If your job requires you to work around dangerous chemicals or in dangerous conditions, you are within your rights to ask for a change in job responsibilities during your pregnancy.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that are professional but that also feel good and do not cause you discomfort. Avoid clothes that are too hot or too tight. Shoes that are too tight or too high are likely to cause you problems as well. Bring snacks to work with you, and make sure you eat and drink frequently, even if this is something you never used to make time for before pregnancy. Build rests into your day so that you have a few moments to recharge.

Time off Work During Pregnancy

There may be times in your pregnancy when you simply do not feel well or are directed to stay off your feet or in bed. You can use your sick and vacation leave for these times, but you also can take unpaid time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The law allows women to take time off for their own health care problems (as well as time off to care for a newborn, as described in Chapter 10). There are up to twelve weeks per twelvemonth period available to you under this law. However if you use the full twelve weeks during pregnancy, you don't get another twelve weeks when the baby comes. You may also be able to take time off under a state family and medical leave law, so consult your human resources department.

Talk to your human resources department and get information about pregnancy disability pay. You may be eligible for this if your physician says it is medically necessary for you to stop working during pregnancy.

Making Time for Medical Appointments

All the medical appointments necessary during pregnancy — prenatal checkups, lab work, ultrasounds, and other tests — can be time-consuming and difficult to work into an already-busy schedule. If your schedule is extremely tight, you may want to work with a healthcare provider who makes appointments early in the morning (before 9 A.M.) or on Saturdays. Many labs are open for blood draws on Saturdays and very early in the morning, and many take appointments.

Some procedures almost always have to be scheduled during normal business hours, such as ultrasounds and other tests. You may want to try to schedule these appointments into your lunch hour. Your employer may be flexible and allow you to work later to make up for time out of the workplace during the day if you need to miss work to make an appointment. If none of these options works for you, you may have no choice but to use sick or personal time for these appointments. If so, call before you leave for the appointment to make sure the office or provider is running on time so you don't waste time in a waiting room.