Working mommies- how do you do it?

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

My husband and I have been TTC for 3 months now but I feel like I may have hit a wall. I am suddenly struck with the fear of not being able to handle working and being pregnant at the same time. Between the morning sickness, exhaustion and everything else, I have to wonder- HOW DO YOU DO IT

So for all those ladies who worked through their pregnancy, how did you do it? How did you cope? Is it do-able??

 

[PegasusOnFire]

I am working right now, my first two pregnancies I didn't work, and felt great had tons of energy, though the first pregnancy was lost, my second resulted in my beautiful daughter.

This pregnancy, I am tired and worn out due to the fact that I am chasing a 20 month old and driving a bus 4+ hours a day. I am greatfull that I have a long break between routes that I can take a nap if need be.

 

[purpleunicorn_Andi]

I worked when I was preggers with my son and am working with this preg as well. retail no less...both times through this time of year...with my son I worked right up till the night my water broke... (I was 30 weeks along) I had some complications and got some "privleges" got to wear tennies to work, and go to sit down the last few months.I basically just take it one day at a time... there are some days that emotionally I just want to quit...but I don't think that is just hormones this time...I think once this baby gets here I am going to find me something else, I am not getting anywhere where I am, and after 6 1/2 years with the same company, I think it is time for another change... (find my vent/prayer request to find out what has been going on)i've been lucky for the most part that I haven't had much nausia at work, and as far as the being tired... I have learned a long time ago to keep myself busy and not let being tired stop me from doing what I need to do. and faking a smile at times gets me through when I am ready to scream. With Robert I had three times too much amniotic fluid, and by 6 months I was measuring full term...or maybe it was 5 months... I am a stuborn person by nature, so I am not going to let anything stop me when something needs to be done I am going to do what I need to do to get it done. So far everything is on track this time arround... my son's pedi today said I looked good and the specialist I was seeing said they don't think they will need to see me again this pregnancy...

 

[hisbloodformysins]

Well, I just want to ask the same question. I have a hard time during the first trimester. Fortunately my job allows me to sit a lot. With the first two I worked mainly night shift. I think I like the idea of picking up nights now rather than evenings because there are less demands on you. I call in a lot during the first trimester, and bite the bullet when I just have to go in. I have a hard time going in when I'm not pregnant, and I handle that by praying a lot. It does help.

HB

 

[purpleunicorn_Andi]

oh yeah I forgot to mention I work full time in retail...

all I can really say is take it one day at a time. listen to your body and your dr... rest when you can on your time off, breaks, lunches...

 

[RoseofLima]

You just do it......it's your first lesson in accepting the imperfection involved in parenting . You muddle through, you do the best you can, you become really, really well acquainted with all the restroom facilities, and you try to sit and rest periodically throughout the day when possible.

 

[JulySheMustFly]

I worked with all 3 of my pregnancies. I wasn't able to stay home full-time until last year. I just did it. I didn't have an option at the time.

 

[Redstiletto]

I work about 4 jobs, one is volunteer though and one is coaching and one is just about done for the winter.

But my full time job is very flexible, they know I am uncomfortable and ill most of the day, so they let me take a lot of the easy work home to work on.

And as much as I wish I could stay home, because there is so much to get done around my house, I just cant. I am so busy that by the time I get to come home all I want to do is rest!

But I am doing it one day at a time. Although secretly I am praying for twins so I can have some bed rest!

 

[Beth1231]

Well, I only work 25 hours a week but they are teaching preschoolers, so I think my input counts The first eight weeks were definitely the hardest. Nice moms brought me ginger ale and ginger candy and I nibbled on crackers A LOT. I sat down when I needed to and played with the the children. Also, I learned how to use my adult helpers so I wasn't always the one dragging a mischievious child off the table or something. I let people know how I was feeling and made myself forget about being the perfect teacher until the morning sickness at least subsided. Now I'm 10.5 weeks and feeling SO much better. I get very very tired, but I just sit when I can and try to save my energy for the bigger moments when I know I'll need it (like circle time). I hope some of this helps; I dont' know what you are doing, Burger. You can make it!

 

[andiesmama]

I worked through my pregnancy with Andie, and like the others have said....I just made it through one day at a time!

I was lucky enough to have a job (receptionist) where I did quite a bit of sitting, so that helped. I kept snacks at my desk....PLUS working in a doctor's office helped as well....the doc kept a close eye on me!

It helps if you've got an understanding boss & co-workers....just take it day by day & minute by minute.

 

[purpleunicorn_Andi]

with Robert I had a great boss...(female, with a son of her own, and she had worked in the NICU years before)

I currently have no female management... and only one of my managers has a child...he is pretty understanding, but the rest of them are a bit clueless...

 

[Evangelina]

I've managed FAR better than I expected!

That first trimester really was the 'hump' ... after that it all got easier.

I still go home absolutely exhausted some days, and some days I get very little work done, but in some ways I've been working better, not worse!

 

[ChildByGrace]

Well i know i'm only 6 weeks in but i have been feeling sick for the last 2 weeks of it and all i can say is that the only way i can work while feeling like this is because i have to. If i have time off sick i may not get maternity leave which we need me to be able to have.
The other reason is that i don't want people at work knowing just yet and if i start having time off they'll know (i dont usually have time off sick).

I think its a case of what has already been said - you do just do it. I'm starting to go to bed really early to make sure i get enough sleep and i haven't been doing anything major in the evenings to make up for having to work. I am also doing shorter days at work - not by much, only 20min but it does make a difference

i do have to say though that i'm looking forward to the weekend and time off and i am looking forward to the fact that i am finishing work as soon as i can before i have the baby.

 

[BananaCake]

This is my 1st pregnancy and I'm planning on continuing to work through it, but I work from home for the most part. I'm praying that I will continue to feel well because I'm not planning on sharing the news with lots of folks until I'm further along.

 

[BananaCake]

I thought of this thread, and now that many of us responders are further along, I wondered how you all are feeling.

I'm starting to get extremely tired, and I can't figure out if it's from getting up early and working so much, or if it's simply from being pregnant. I also, in the past week, have had 2 dizzy spells, one pretty bad, so that's concerning to me - that I may be wearing myself out. I work 45-50 hours a week at 3 different jobs, plus the commute (about 1.5 hours, 4 days a week).

 

[PegasusOnFire]

my MIL is begging me to take the week before my c-section off, though I have no idea how many sick days I have left. Guess I will ask on Monday, and then think about taking the extra week off, right now my last day is the day before my delivery.

 

[Beth1231]

Well, the last time I answered this I was in the throes of morning sickness. Now four months later, my coping strategies consist mostly of being very honest with the people I am working with. I don't pretend that I have energy to run around, lift heavy things or pick up tons of toys (in my classroom). I simply do what I can do and try to pace myself in order to get through each day. I'm going on maternity leave one week before my due date and I just hope I'm physically up to making it that far.

 

[ChildByGrace]

I've been sitting down trying to write my appraisal report and i have found that the last 6 months have been a blur lol. I can't actually remember anything. I think i coped with work because i had to. I've ended up taking about 6 days off sick, 2 because of morning sickness and 4 because i actually got so run down i wasn't sleeping. I am now counting the days until a) my next time off work (from this Friday for 10 days yay!!!!) and b) when i actually finish work (8 weeks - or 32 actual working days lol).

Its like i said last time - you just cope with it. I wouldn't be here if i didn't have to be. Next pregnancy i am planning of being a SAHM so thankfully i won't have to go through this again - i feel like my H and i haven't had any quality time together in over 6 months and that is really getting me down. I am so tired that i end up in bed alot of the time lol

 

[AngelaE8654]

My husband and I have been TTC for 3 months now but I feel like I may have hit a wall. I am suddenly struck with the fear of not being able to handle working and being pregnant at the same time. Between the morning sickness, exhaustion and everything else, I have to wonder- HOW DO YOU DO IT

So for all those ladies who worked through their pregnancy, how did you do it? How did you cope? Is it do-able??

{{Hugs}} to you, trying to work while going through all the physical stuff that comes with pregnancy.

One thing I wonder about is how Moms juggle a job and kids, too...especially in my industry. I work in a type of job that expects us to be at their beck and call...any time of the day or night. There are moms who are managers in my industry and I've always wondered how they manage it all.