Mums - a question

[Rhythm Junkie]

How did you cope with the whole pregnancy? I'm very early on and I'm already pissed off at people telling me what to do with my body. I've had to my supervisors because of the nature of my job but they're already badgering me to tell my GM and HR and trying to force me onto a desk job. I'm sick and tired of my body being something Health and Safety seem to have some sort of claim to. And the back pain is making me extremely irritable.

Any advice? Please?

[Witch]

Keep your chin up, the constant questions bugged me the most and they just change for a whole new set of questions when the baby's here.
I found asking to wear more comfortable shoes to stand about to be honest ( i wore trainers with a suit)

you'll cope fine, your work are just minding their back by trying to make you take a desk job so you don't get "hurt" but if you don't want one, as far as i can remember they can't make you.

don't be afraid to talk to your midwife and ask her what she thinks as well.

Good luck

[paro]

Originally Posted by Rhythm Junkie

How did you cope with the whole pregnancy? I'm very early on and I'm already pissed off at people telling me what to do with my body. I've had to my supervisors because of the nature of my job but they're already badgering me to tell my GM and HR and trying to force me onto a desk job. I'm sick and tired of my body being something Health and Safety seem to have some sort of claim to. And the back pain is making me extremely irritable.

Any advice? Please?

I have had 2 children, 5 miscarriages.. so I know its frustrating people saying do this or that but really.. i have at times pushed myself far too far in pregnancy trying to do everything the same as when im not pregnant

the body is a wonderful thing BUT pregnancy although natural can tax the body severely.. you must be prepared for the physical changes and the mental ones..

yes it seems unfair but read up on what your body needs to do in the next while and you will see why people are concenred..
there are many life threatening things that can happen in pregnancy.. I know a few happened to me.. Pre-eclampsia and hyperemesis being just two of them.. I also didnt rest enough with me first and went into early labour 5 times.. try to chill and rest as much as possible..

because when the baby arrives.. you will NOT know whats hit you..

I did both pregnancies that went full term alone.. was much calmer.. and I had my best mate as my birth partner for the second child..

I went to hypno-birthing classes.. was excellent fun and really chilled me out

try accupuncture also for the sore back maybe???

[wee scary burd]

tl;dr

[Rhythm Junkie]

Originally Posted by paro

I have had 2 children, 5 miscarriages.. so I know its frustrating people saying do this or that but really.. i have at times pushed myself far too far in pregnancy trying to do everything the same as when im not pregnant

the body is a wonderful thing BUT pregnancy although natural can tax the body severely.. you must be prepared for the physical changes and the mental ones..

yes it seems unfair but read up on what your body needs to do in the next while and you will see why people are concenred..
there are many life threatening things that can happen in pregnancy.. I know a few happened to me.. Pre-eclampsia and hyperemesis being just two of them.. I also didnt rest enough with me first and went into early labour 5 times.. try to chill and rest as much as possible..

because when the baby arrives.. you will NOT know whats hit you..

I did both pregnancies that went full term alone.. was much calmer.. and I had my best mate as my birth partner for the second child..

I went to hypno-birthing classes.. was excellent fun and really chilled me out

try accupuncture also for the sore back maybe???

I've read all the bits, I take incredible care of my body, I take all my vitamins, I have my own personal researcher for all advice/needs. I'm not stupid, I don't intend to do anything I shouldn't be doing. I've put myself on light duties and I don't have a problem saying when I need a rest. I do have issues with people trying to force me into things I'm not ready for. It's my body and my decision and I get to share it when I want. That doesn't seem too much to ask for? And I certainly don't need some anally-retentive-power-control-freak
who hides under the moniker of Health and Safety telling me things that are basic common sense.

I'll look into the acupuncture - the backache is really getting to me (it may show).

Originally Posted by Witch

Keep your chin up, the constant questions bugged me the most and they just change for a whole new set of questions when the baby's here.
I found asking to wear more comfortable shoes to stand about to be honest ( i wore trainers with a suit)

you'll cope fine, your work are just minding their back by trying to make you take a desk job so you don't get "hurt" but if you don't want one, as far as i can remember they can't make you.

don't be afraid to talk to your midwife and ask her what she thinks as well.

Good luck

I have to wear safety boots but they'll have to do something about my uniform. I don't have a midwife appointment for another 3 weeks - apparently everyone in Manchester is having babies.

[LesMTS]

Originally Posted by paro

because when the baby arrives.. you will NOT know whats hit you..

She'll be able to take a decent guess.

[Girshkin]

Honestly, I felt annoyed at people treating my pregnancy like an illness, I was able to function like a normal human being til end of pregnancy where I had to cut working hours a bit cos of high blood pressure.

I felt huge and hot and fed up a fair bit though, being heavily pregnant in the summer is not fun!

A lot of it is knowing yourself what you feel capable of, and taking in mind what your employers feel is necessary health and safety-wise. I would speak to HR, if it's likely you'll have to change role at some point during the pregnancy, a chance to discuss your wishes/requirements with them sooner rather than later is a good idea.

[Rhythm Junkie]

Originally Posted by Girshkin

Honestly, I felt annoyed at people treating my pregnancy like an illness

That is exactly what's getting on my nerves. Women were having babies well before the invention of Health and Safety and the inference that I'm suddenly going to do something I wouldn't have done if I wasn't pregnant - like try and move a filing cabinet on my own - is frankly damn insulting. I know my employer has to cover their back but surely I can be reasonably expected to function without taking unnecessary risks - just like I have been during the span of my employment with them.

[Girshkin]

I've been doing a Radiography degree, as a career they go a bit mental when you get pregnant!

It obviously would be preferable to not be shoved into a desk job you'll hate before you really need to, but a Health and Safety Assessment of your role just now might be a good thing. They can alter the job slightly and hopefully put off the desk job bit

[paro]

Originally Posted by LesMTS

She'll be able to take a decent guess.

in my experience ( im 36) a decent guess doesnt cover it.. especially if the labour ends in emergency c-section.. I have had two kids one is 11 one is 4 so i have experience and nothing prepares you .. no amount of mates telling you or family members with children you have been in contact with..

resting before the baby is here without being lazy is the best advice.. thinking your body is 100% able to do everything as it was before well thats pointless..

I never ever felt anyone treated me like I had an illness.. and i worked till 2 days before I gave birth to my first daughtwer.. so Im not a lazy layabout.. but i was careful..
I had a risky pregnancy in both cases and after 5 miscarriages i sure wasnt going to be risking things anymore than i had to..

[Rhythm Junkie]

Originally Posted by paro

in my experience ( im 36) a decent guess doesnt cover it.. especially if the labour ends in emergency c-section.. I have had two kids one is 11 one is 4 so i have experience and nothing prepares you .. no amount of mates telling you or family members with children you have been in contact with..

resting before the baby is here without being lazy is the best advice.. thinking your body is 100% able to do everything as it was before well thats pointless..

I never ever felt anyone treated me like I had an illness.. and i worked till 2 days before I gave birth to my first daughter.. so Im not a lazy layabout.. but i was careful..
I had a risky pregnancy in both cases and after 5 miscarriages i sure wasnt going to be risking things anymore than i had to..

I don't mean to be rude, I really do appreciate the advice, but could we dial back the horror stories? The more I read about miscarriage and leaking amniotic sacs and stillbirth and cot death and hospital incompetence, the more I can't figure for the life of me how anyone gets through this without having a massive nervous breakdown and never leaving the house.

[Bunnylingus]

In other news: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[Lynnie]

you're lucky you're having an easy pregnancy then and don't need any help from your work or whatever. Got to remember not everyone is in that position, and your work are required to do health and safety assessments to see if theres anything they could help you with.

And Li - my pregnancy was actually like an illness. Horrific. Although lets not scare this girl, i shall tell you over a pint instead!

[mishelle]

From 5 weeks in until my 7th month I was ill, properly ill, basicaly became best friends with the toilet bowl, and threw up so much I did spent a few days in hospital. It was because of that I didnt do much, was too weak to work/ be overly energetic. On the other hand being pregnant didnt stop me from being my usual self (mostly). I attended a few gigs even when my bump was huge, and still traveled about on my bike, up until my bump got in the way of holding on!
I always thought that during pregnancy you shouldnt stop being yourself totaly, your body is going through and extreme change, and changing what its used to : walking to work, using the stairs, riding a bike, would put your whole body out of sync. If that makes sense lol

[Rhythm Junkie]

Originally Posted by Bunnylingus

In other news: CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Thanks Rach