How to Manage Pregnancy and a Stressful Career at the Same Time – Mummascribbles

This is a collaborative post

When I was pregnant with Zach, I was working full-time as an events organiser. It was a job that came with a lot of stress – deadlines, delegates, venues; you name it, there was something urgent to do most days. Then there were the days I had to spend away on site, keeping everything in check, making sure everything was running smoothly and dealing with any urgent matters that came up (there were always urgent matters). 

Pregnancy itself can be pretty stressful, with your body going through the many hormonal changes it goes through, with your brain constantly worrying whether everything is going ok, and for me in particular, when the doctors don’t actually refer you to the hospital and you almost miss that maximum timeframe there is to have that first 12-week pregnancy scan! Having a stressful job on top of pregnancy can be quite difficult, quite overwhelming, and a little scary! 

There are times throughout pregnancy when you’re going to be feeling poorly, times when you’re feeling extra anxious, times when all you want to do is lay down in front of the tv binge-watching your favourite box set! Looking after yourself more can seem next to impossible, but it can be possible. Here’s how you can manage your pregnancy and your stressful career at the same time.

If You Can, Plan Ahead

Pregnancy can feel like a very long nine months but in reality, it can fly by! Feeling the stress of being pregnant alongside having a stressful job can feel a bit bleak, and whilst it’s a slightly different stress when baby comes along, it doesn’t magically go away – there are just new things to worry about!

It can feel difficult to stay motivated when you’re in a stressful job, and knowing you’re going off for a long period of time and therefore needing to get work stuff wrapped up for handover can be daunting. It’s a good idea to let your boss know that you are expecting as soon as you feel comfortable doing so. It will enable you both to make sure the work you are doing is safe for your pregnancy. I remember telling my boss quite early on that I was pregnant because we were doing an office move and everyone was chipping in with heavy lifting. Having that support there at work from someone who knew about the pregnancy was a really positive experience for me.

Remember that the less fun parts of being pregnant can hit at any time so it’s good to be prepared for the times you may be feeling nauseous, or are actually sick. I found Polos a great source of stopping the sick feeling, but an emergency stash of ginger biscuits may also help you out! Making a secret plan for if you actually need to be sick might also be worthwhile. Planning escape routes to the toilet and cover stories will help ease the stress if you do suffer from morning sickness, and planning out your breaks with the times you know you might feel tired will also help! 

Whatever you do, don’t put unrealistic expectations on yourself; you need rest. Don’t think you can handle these changes and the demand of your job at the same time because chances are, you will struggle in some way. 

Never Feel Ashamed for Asking for Help

When people know you’re pregnant, they tend to feel more inclined to help you out, so whether you’re dealing with morning sickness or just need to take a few more breaks than usual, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Hopefully, you have a good relationship with your boss and can be upfront about what you need and why, like extra breaks or working from home on occasion. If not, don’t be afraid to go to higher places like HR. They are there to make sure you are being accommodated and looked after and are the ones that know all about their maternity leave and accommodations for pregnant employees. If you run your own business, is there anything you can outsource or delegate? Sometimes, even clients are fine with pushing deadlines so ask if you need to! 

Put Yourself First

You and your baby’s health are intertwined when you’re pregnant. Keeping yourself healthy and stress-free will ultimately help your baby to thrive in the womb. Make sure you put yourself first throughout your pregnancy because, for the most part, you are the only one that will. Stand your ground if people are pushing more work on you, if they’re expecting you to work longer hours, or if they are putting you in unsafe situations. You and your baby are the most important things at this time and you know what’s best for the pair of you.