Laws and Rights
When to Notify Your Employer: There are no laws on when to announce your pregnancy. Some parents wait until after the first trimester, others notify right away. Either way is completely fine. Just remember that you want your employer to hear the news from you and not around the workplace.
Employee Rights: Thanks to the passing of The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978, parents have protected rights in the workplace. This act prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, pregnancy, childbirth, or medical conditions for any employment-related purposes. Fringe benefits like insurance are also protected by this act.
Programs to Support Workers During Pregnancy and Postpartum:
Family and Medical Leave Act: Allows eligible employees to take 12 unpaid work weeks off in a year for the birth of a child or care of a newborn.
Safety Considerations
Being on your Feet for Long Hours: Besides being tiring, long hours on your feet can reduce blood flow and cause varicose veins or other discomforts. Take frequent breaks for sitting, and consider wearing compression stockings to increase blood flow.
Lifting: Research shows that bending at the waist more than 20 times per day or lifting objects more than once every 5 minutes, may increase risks for some adverse birth outcomes. Take breaks whenever possible and sit down frequently. When you are lifting remember to use proper posture and avoid bending at the waist. The CDC recommends following these simply lifting in pregnancy guidelines: https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/files/2013/05/ClinicalGuidelinesImg-NewLogoFinal.jpg
Possible Exposure: Some workplaces have exposure to certain elements that may be harmful to your pregnancy. This could include chemicals, toxins, sickness, trauma, or undue stress. I encourage conversations with your employer about reducing or eliminating exposure to these elements.
Stress and Emotional Considerations: Pregnancy is a time of great change and transition both physically and emotionally. These changes can impact everyone differently and it's important to listen to your body and do what you feel is best for you and your family.
FAQ
Can I keep working in pregnancy? Yes! Many parents continue working throughout pregnancy. However, listen to your body and do what feels right for you, your baby, and your family.
When should I cut back/stop working? The short answer is whenever it feels right to you. Some people work right up until birth, others prefer to take a few weeks off before their due date.
How long should I plan to take off work after birth? My recommendation is also to take as much time as is reasonable for your family. Many family’s take around 6-12 weeks off work.
Resources:
March of Dimes: Being Pregnant at Work: https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/being-pregnant-at-work.aspx#
Mayo Clinic: Working During Pregnancy: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20047441#:~:text=Most%20women%20can%20continue%20working,task%20might%20jeopardize%20your%20pregnancy.
Stanford Children’s Health: Work and Pregnancy: https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=work-and-pregnancy-85-P01244
Family and Medical Leave Act: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla/faq#13
References
Pregnant at Work: https://www.pregnantatwork.org/healthcare-professionals/
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (2019 Nov 15). Reproductive health and the workplace. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/repro/physicaldemands.html
U.S. Department of Labor. (n.d.). Family and Medical Leave Act. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fmla
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (1978). The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978. Retrieved from https://www.eeoc.gov/statutes/pregnancy-discrimination-act-1978