Women wonder when to stop working when pregnant as their due date approaches. Some prefer to work until the deadline established by law. Others have financial obligations and stay with their company for as long as possible. Some set themselves the date of the last working day – the date of birth. Health problems make it too difficult or unsafe for some to continue working.
Maybe just need to give yourself time to relax and prepare for an important event? This is also normal since there is no one right solution for everyone.
Stopping work during pregnancy is a difficult decision. It includes legal and social aspects in addition to the results of medical examinations. Recommendations regarding the continuation or termination of the performance of their labor duties require the resolution of some other issues. These include the right to benefits, payment for leaving the enterprise, guaranteed job retention.
An acute moment is the recognition of a woman as disabled. Some employers consider all pregnant women disabled. Others think that pregnant women exaggerate their disability to get all the benefits available. Some object to the fact that pregnancy requires a caring attitude.
The decision to stop working during pregnancy depends in any case only on you. In this article, we will talk about when to stop working during pregnancy.
How Long Doctors Recommend Working
The most common reasons for termination of employment in all countries are based on a doctor’s prescription. The reason may be premature complications or high-risk pregnancy. It is necessary to stop and rest more than to work in such cases.
Under normal conditions pregnant woman should stop working 2-3 month before delivery.
You need to weigh the work against the health risks that may result from continuing. The work may not be suitable for the state you are in.
The doctor is the first to tell you whether to stop working. Complications and the safety of the child take precedence over many other reasons. Talk to the doctor about the potential risks to your and baby’s health. Even a healthy pregnancy is physically exhausting in itself. Be sure to pay attention to how you feel. Often this is more of an internal test of intuition, combined with listening to the body.
7 Reasons to Stop Working Earlier When Pregnant
The choice of starting maternity leave is ultimately up to you. Talking to the partner, friends, family, and a doctor will help to make the right decision. Ideally, when there is an opportunity to discuss plans or concerns about motherhood with the employer.
Workplace pregnancy is common. Companies are required by law to have processes in place to assist pregnant women. Complications may occur during pregnancy. Certain aggravations may prompt the doctor to remove you from work.
Planning for the worst and expecting the best goes a long way in making the transition from work to home a success. Let’s take a look at the common reasons for stopping work during pregnancy so you can start planning for any complications.
Reason 1 – Complications of preterm birth
The goal of every mother is to carry a child until it is ready to be born. It’s time to talk to the doctor about inoperability if there are signs of premature complications.
Pay attention to the following factors:
- Menstrual cramps in the lower pelvis or back pain.
- Persistent spotting or bleeding.
- Braxton Hicks contractions or an irritated uterus.
- High blood pressure or swelling.
- Signs of dilatation: mucus plug or spotting.
- Waste or leakage of amniotic fluid.
- Feeling of pressure in the pelvic area.
- Weak dull pain in the back.
The doctor will certainly remove from work if at least one of these symptoms is observed. Need to leave work in case of a possibility of premature birth. Preterm birth can happen to anyone without warning. Here are some factors that can increase the risk of early birth.
Factors that increase the risk of preterm birth:
- Premature birth in a previous pregnancy
- Short cervix in early pregnancy
- Gynecological diseases, injuries, or surgeries
- Infections during pregnancy
- Bearing more than one fetus
- Smoking during pregnancy
- Genetic inheritance
- Age of a woman younger than 17 and older than 35 years
Reason 2 – High-Risk Pregnancy
Many women have healthy, low-risk pregnancies. Some women have risk factors that increase the likelihood of complications. A high-risk pregnancy means that a condition is already developing that exposes you and the baby to complications. High-risk pregnancies require extra monitoring and care to prevent or minimize problems.
High risk pregnancy factors:
- Multiple pregnancy
- Diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure
- Preeclampsia
- Anemia
- Problems with a previous pregnancy
- Problems with the placenta
- HELLP syndrome
- Were underweight or overweight before pregnancy
Smoking, taking drugs, drinking alcohol also cause health problems for a pregnant woman and her baby. It is important to work with the doctor if your pregnancy is considered high risk. He will take control of any health problems.
Reason 3 – Stress and pressure
Feelings of stress are common during pregnancy because pregnancy is a time of many changes. Family relationships, body, and emotions change and can add stress to normal life. Stress in the workplace is not uncommon. Workload usually stays the same despite hormonal changes, nausea, headaches, and lack of sleep.
High levels of stress that continue for a long time cause health problems. The most common are high blood pressure and heart disease. Serious types of stress during pregnancy increase the chances of certain problems. However, most women who experience severe stress during pregnancy can give birth to healthy babies.
Symptoms to consult with a doctor:
- Malaise
- Tachycardia, high blood pressure, and circulatory problems
- Abdominal pain, nausea, heartburn, and diarrhea
- Pain in the head, neck, or back
- Difficulty falling asleep, frequent or very early awakenings
- Feeling overwhelmed
Talk to the obstetrician about ways to alleviate the condition. It’s time to stop working if activity is causing stress.
Reason 4 – Anxiety or depression
Symptoms during pregnancy decrease and anxiety or depression increases in some women. Not everything that causes anxiety is under your control. Hormonal changes affect chemicals in the brain. This causes anxiety and depression.
You will have to regularly visit a midwife or a psychologist if medication is required. Maternity leave may be required. Even ordinary office work can become a problem if there is a feeling of anxiety or depression. It becomes difficult to concentrate or overcome attacks of panic fear of duties.
The danger is present even if the work is not related to physical activity. Emotional losses can add stress and anxiety to an already overworked body. The reason to stop is working in a toxic environment with office drama and stressful responsibilities. Discuss early maternity leave with an employer. Seek support from the family and best friends.
Reason 5 – Physically hard work
Does your job require to sit, stand, or walk around all day? Do you have to move large or heavy items? Talk to the healthcare provider if you have work responsibilities that often require any physical labor. He will tell you if it is safe to continue them. Pregnancy symptoms such as dizziness and extreme fatigue make physical activity dangerous.
Risks of physically strenuous activity:
- Prolonged sitting increases the risk of blood clots.
- Prolonged standing increases the risk of high blood pressure.
- A long stay on the legs provokes premature birth.
- Heavy lifting increases the chance of injury and the risk of miscarriage.
Talk to the manager about changing job responsibilities. Consider stopping work or taking early maternity leave. Give yourself time to rest before the physically demanding chores of having and raising a child.
Each decision is personal and practical. Compare the impact of the job with the health risk. Failure to perform one’s duties well is a clear sign that a decision has been made to stop working in such conditions.
Reason 6 – Harmful work
Some hazardous work can affect the health of the mother or cause irreparable harm to the fetus. The risk group for pregnant women also includes communication with people. Patients and clients bring viruses and germs to the workplace. Any contact with a carrier of viruses is contraindicated for pregnant women.
Stop working while pregnant if the business has:
- Chemical substances.
- Radiation.
- Heavy metals.
- Gases.
- Biological organisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi, or parasites).
Talk to the healthcare provider about any specific concerns you may have. Ask if it is enough to wear protective clothing. Always follow all safety precautions. Stop working at the slightest doubt about the safety of work.
Reason 7 – Need to prepare for childbirth
Not everyone has the opportunity to prepare in advance. There is a category of women who leave everything to the last moment. It is recommended to use the last few weeks for preparation. Preparing for the birth of a child comes with a lot of excitement and a long to-do list.
Things to do before childbirth:
- Share parenting and household responsibilities with your partner.
- Start shopping for essential baby supplies.
- Get on the waiting list after giving birth.
- Sign up for prenatal classes.
- Make a birth plan.
- Pack a bag to the hospital if you plan to give birth there.
It may seem that the pregnancy will last forever, but it is not. There is a lot to be done to prepare for the birth of a child. Planning and preparing at home will help relax and enjoy pregnancy as a delivery approaches.
What Type of Work is Harder To Handel During Pregnancy?
Many professions are safe to work during pregnancy. Some jobs are unacceptable for pregnant women. This is due to the complexity of their quality implementation. Difficult activities in many developed countries are prohibited for pregnant women at the legislative level.
List of jobs not recommended for pregnant women:
- Underground, below ground level.
- In trenches, open water bodies, as well as inside water bodies and canals.
- At the height, as well as climbing and descending hooks or ladders.
- Under conditions of vibration and noise, including ultrasonic noise.
- Under the influence of ultraviolet and ionizing radiation.
- Within the range of high-intensity electromagnetic fields.
- When using monitors for more than 4 hours a day.
- When handling animals with infectious diseases.
- In contact with harmful biological agents.
- Under conditions of exposure to chemicals, regardless of their concentration.
- In an environment exposed to carcinogenic factors.
- In hot and cold microclimates.
- In conditions with sharp temperature changes in the range of more than 15 ° C.
- under conditions of low or high pressure.
- With the risk of severe mental or physical injury.
- In a forced rhythm, for example, on a production line.
- Associated with physical effort and transportation of goods.
Our recommendations fully take into account the interests of maternal and fetal health. We did not take into account the burden of non-work activities. Pregnant women are faced with shopping trips and caring for the rest of the family. Many will confirm that this sometimes takes more effort than work.
