toll of pregnancy on performance at work?

[mambera]

I think we have decided to start TTC (or at least not TTA), and while I am really excited for another baby, I am SO not excited to be pregnant.

Last time I got pregnant my performance at work just tanked. I was gearing up for a new research project and I totally dropped it, and kind of dropped out of doing anything at all except the bare minimum at work for the remainder of the pregnancy. I just felt so ill and nauseated and tired and short of breath all the time.

Now I'm in a super groove, I have a research project and a teaching project in addition to my baseline clinical work, and I have so much energy and things are going just great. I am terrified of what pregnancy is going to do to this. I can't drop my stuff this time, I am too far in and already committed.

I guess I am just looking for commiseration, or tips from working mamas who have BTDT - how did you maintain your productivity at work while pg??

[GuildJenn]

I'm struggling with it now and on a kind of light bedrest so it's been - interesting.

I just do my best to manage my to-do/priority list. But I'm not sure I'm up for a raise this year...some years are like that.

[caenach]

I wish I had some really peppy, fired-up advice to give!! But mostly I just commiserate!

I was completely checked-out on the job during my pregnancy. I'm normally a very productive person at work--and tend to be energetic about my duties, self-motivated, and so on...but I swear whole weeks went by in a fog of minimal email responses and baby shopping online. I even switched positions in the middle of my pregnancy--to a job that I wanted and was enthused about. Nada. It probably didn't help that my job is so minimally overseen and driven by what "I" want to accomplish.

I tell myself I've more than made up for those few weeks of slack before and after my pregnancy. But I did feel bad at the time. I just COULD NOT get myself in gear work-wise.

[Skippy918]

I'm more worried about what being on leave is going to do with my job performance. But, my friend reassured me a little because we had the same boss while she was on leave from May-sept and her performance is still good. I know some managers will find ways to give you a lower ranking cause you're out. Since I'm due in late April, I'll be out during the "meat" of the year (may-sept), so I have to kick butt in the early spring and fall. I'm trying to kick butt now since my boss said I'm due for a promo and I could really use the extra money. It is hard when you're not feeling well, but keeping busy does keep my mind off feeling crappy. Towards the end though, it was like, ok please stop giving me projects cause I'm due next week and may not be here to finish them.